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Category: In these last days… Revelation

His Authority to Judge

In these last days – The Revelation of Jesus Christ

to John.

– IS HE TALKING TO US?

– How does CHRIST’s Revelation written to seven first century churches apply to you + millennia later in the 21st century of the Common Era?

What should we expect any DAY now?

– Do YOU have the boldness to SHARE the revealed ending [apocalypses] to your SOCIAL friends?

Take a glimpse and tell us what you think about the apocalypse revealed by the risen Christ Jesus to the Apostle John. THEN SHARE God’s WARNINGS with a comment added to Talk of JESUS .com

7 Epistles of John with the same Revelation
~ A.D. 95 – from Patmos:

John, Pastor and Elder of the Church at Ephesus

As we observed in our chronology of ACTS of the Apostles, the Disciple John was a young man when he followed Jesus.

The Elder John and Leadership of the Church

Now, the Apostle has outlived the other Eleven, Paul, beloved family and many other first generation Christians.

The Elder John wrote the three short Epistles we are studying about ten years ago, but today we are looking ahead at John’s brief revelation to seven churches.
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I suppose you may not have thought of the introduction to 'The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John' as — SEVEN pointed epistles to 7 different churches. 
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~ A.D. 80’s – 90’s – a Cultural context for JOHN’s 10 Epistles

The Greco-Roman world at the close of the first century A.D. was in a state of cultural, philosophical, and religious ferment. Religious syncretism and inclusivism.. ‘the combination of various ideas and beliefs from different sources to form new or aberrant religions. This was the age of developing mystery religions, the age of the occult, the age of the proliferation of Gnostic sects.’

The MacArthur New Testament Commentary 1-3 John

Throughout Italy and the broader empire, new challenges arose: major earthquakes in Campania, famine and pestilence in Rome, and volcanic eruptions ranging from Mount Etna to the cataclysmic destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum by Vesuvius in AD 79.

The Julio-Claudian dynasty—embodied by Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, and Nero—witnessed both grand construction projects (like the amphitheater at Alba Fucens) and notorious episodes of tyranny and scandal. .. After Nero’s fall in AD 68, civil war engulfed the empire until Vespasian founded the Flavian line, ushering in reconstruction efforts (such as the Colosseum) and culminating in the more stable governance of Nerva and Trajan by century’s end.

source: RomanHistory.net

an A.D. First Century culture of 7 Asian churches

Do you remember from back in Acts of the Apostles how the Spirit, at first, had instructed Paul NOT to preach in Asia?

Acts on Mission to Macedonia

And do you recall that Ephesus (in Asia) became a major city for Christian worship where later Paul had appointed Timothy as Pastor of the Ephesian Church?

PLACE AND TIME OF WRITING.

–The best authorities among the Fathers state that John was exiled under Domitian (IRENAEUS [Against Heresies, 5; 30]; CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA; EUSEBIUS [Ecclesiastical History, 3.20]). VICTORINUS says that he had to labor in the mines of Patmos. At Domitian’s death, A.D. 95, he returned to Ephesus under the Emperor Nerva. Probably it was immediately after his return that he wrote, under divine inspiration, the account of the visions vouchsafed to him in Patmos ( Rev 1:2, 9 ). However, Rev 10:4 seems to imply that he wrote the visions immediately after seeing them.

source: Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Introduction to Revelation
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Ἀποκάλυψις Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἣν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ ὁ θεός δεῖξαι τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ ἃ δεῖ γενέσθαι ἐν τάχει καὶ ἐσήμανεν ἀποστείλας διὰ τοῦ ἀγγέλου αὐτοῦ τῷ δούλῳ αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννῃ
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The Revelation of Jesus Christ

which God gave Him
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The Disciple who knew the Lord best refers to GOD THE FATHER simply, as God.
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to show His servants

that is, the saints or followers of JESUS, bond-servants redeemed by His blood on the Cross

—things which must shortly take place.

The Elder writes this same introduction to ALL seven churches who John has shepherded in the Way of Christ Jesus.

What he means by ‘shortly‘ is much debated in the immediacy of what these beloved saints have endured through the end of this A.D. first century. — Or perhaps God intends this epistle of revelation more millennially for all saints of every age.

Christ makes certain that Christians know the cost of faith until the unknown Day of His return.

He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:1b-2 NIV

The risen and ascended Lord Jesus Christ sends an apokalypsis via and angelic messenger to John on Patmos — and the Elder to these seven churches consequently, by his apostolic duty, sends out this same ‘disclosure of divine things formerly unknown’ and testifies to the truthfulness of what is to follow.
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It makes little difference if John had opportunity to send it from Patmos with a human messenger much in the way the Apostle Paul sent epistles to his churches OR if the Elder would have written it later upon John's return to Ephesus. 
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“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” – Question of the angel messenger in Revelation 5:2

a Book Sealed within: Addressed to 7 mortal Elders

What does John’s epistle enjoin each Elder to do?
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Set aside for a moment the imagery of the apocalypse with its angels, seven stars and seven candlesticks — the Elder John is FIRST to address issues of his own current church. 
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Most Christians know both exhortation and encouragement offered to the seven churches.

Which ones speak to YOU with some urgency (and hopefully, perhaps, to any Elder of your local church? (So which church looks like yours?)

Ἐφεσῖνος – Ephesus
- “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance,
- and that you cannot tolerate evil people.
Of course, John knows all this personally.

And does the Elder imply that the Ephesians will not be inclusive of those who insist on evil works opposed to Christ’s love?

You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.

Revelation 2:2 CSB

And do your Elders test the theology and witness of your church leaders and members?
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And the pattern of this pointed epistle for each church now turns to exhortation and rebuke demanding repentance. 
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“But I have this against you:

You have abandoned the love [agapē] you had at first.
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Look it up.. IF you don't quite remember what agape love is.
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“Remember then how far you have fallen;

repent, and do the works you did at first.

Do YOU? Do christians ever repent more than once (that time we claim to have come to Christ)?

OR will He return to say, “I never knew you…?’

“Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the *Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

*Revelation 2:6 CSB

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the one who conquers,
I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 2:7 CSB

Σμύρνῃ – Smyrna
- “I know your affliction and poverty,
- but you are rich.
- I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Do YOU know any who avoid the Name of Christ? Do some swear to be Jew or Christian while afflicting others? Who then, do they truly worship?

“Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer.

Does your prosperity preacher dare suggest suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ? OR REMIND of the Lord’s Judgment of all?

The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.

Πέργαμος – Pergamum

“I know where you live — where Satan’s throne is.

.. where Satan lives. [Another mention of the nearby Nicolaitans]

But I have a few things against you.

You have some there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block in front of the Israelites: to eat meat sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.
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Again, the common issue *even of this era is worship of idols and fornication. 
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In the same way, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the *Nicolaitans. So repent!

Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

Revelation 2:15-16

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.
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Doesn't this even sound like the preaching of JESUS? 
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I AM the Bread of Life

To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna…

Revelation 2:27b

Θυάτειρα – Thyatira
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Just a REMINDER of Who Is speaking:
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Thus says the Son of God,

the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze:

Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 2:18b CSB
- “I know your works —
- your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance.
- I know that your last works are greater than the first.
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Quite an encouragement and blessing to believers.
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“But I have this against you:
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This one thing of importance to the Lord Jesus Christ
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Jezebel

You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat meat sacrificed to idols. I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality.

Revelation 2:20-21 CSB

WHY is this issue of idolatry so important (in addition to God’s prohibition in the Ten Commandments of worshiping other gods)?

Ἰεζάβελ – Jezebel – the symbolic name of a woman who pretended to be a prophetess, and who, addicted to antinomianism, claimed Christian liberty of eating things sacrificed to idols.

Of Hebrew origin אִיזֶבֶל (H348) (used as a synonym of a termagant or false teacher):—Jezabel.

אִיזֶבֶל

Jezebel recalls the opposition to the LORD’s prophet Elijah.

Jezebel = “Baal exalts” or “Baal is husband to” or “unchaste”

queen of Israel, wife of Ahab, daughter of Ethbaal (King of Tyre)

It’s a contest of serious consequence between the LORD God and the false gods, false prophetesses, false priestesses — brash and shameless sinners claiming sin as worship of their gods.

This disaster happened because the people of Israel sinned against the LORD their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt and because they worshiped other gods.

They abandoned all the commands of the LORD their God. They made cast images for themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed in worship to all the stars in the sky and served Baal.

2 Kings 17:7,16 CSB

And it all goes back to Ahab and Jezebel in 1 Kings.

Ahab also made an Asherah pole. Ahab did more to anger the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.
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Just one last application from Revelation, the mention of Jezebel, the Nicolaitans and (from a theological definition {above}) - antinomianism.
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Antinomianism is the belief or teaching that since believers are saved by grace through faith, there is no further obligation to follow any moral law or command.

.. At its core, antinomianism proposes that under the New Covenant, Christians are completely exempt from all moral guidelines because divine grace supersedes any need for abiding by commandments.

source: Biblehub.com

Σάρδεις – Sardis

I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.

Revelation 3:1b CSB
- “Be alert
- and strengthen [guard] what remains, which is about to die,
- for I have not found your works complete before my God.
- “Remember, then, what you have received and heard;
- keep it, and repent.
- If you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you have no idea at what hour I will come upon you.
“But you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels.

Revelation 3:4-5

And the Lord Jesus again seals His warning to the Sardinian church calling on the MANY to follow the example of the FEW.

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.

Revelation 3:5 CSB

Φιλαδέλφεια – To the Church in Philadelphia

Permit me first to remind you that simply as the name, Christian, witnesses the Name of Christ; Philadelphia or Philedelphos φιλάδελφος witnesses [From φίλος (G5384) and ἀδελφός (G80)]as a FRIEND and BROTHER.

“I know your works.

Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Quite a compliment of Christian LOVE of these saintly brothers and sisters in Christ.

“Note this: I will make those from the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews and are not, but are lying — I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I have loved you.

A.D. first century followers of the Messiah Jesus considered themselves to be true Jews, who have now been redeemed. And the love they hold in Christ will include Romans (like much of the population of this city of Philadelphia) and Hellenists, Greeks or gentiles as they worship God in truth side by side.

“Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Revelation 3:10 CSB

Λαοδίκεια – Laodicea

And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 3:14 NKJV
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an urgent CAUTION, perhaps, for many a 21st century Common Era christian church claiming Jesus in some lesser way than in Truth.
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“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

Revelation 3:15 NKJV

“So then, because you are lukewarm,

and neither cold nor hot,

I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Laodicea: Lukewarm Prosperity
- Banking hub, black-wool trade, renowned medical school with eye powder.
- Water arrived by aqueduct, lukewarm by the time it reached town.
- After the AD 60 quake, the city rebuilt itself without Rome’s help—boastful self-sufficiency reflected in the church.
Source: BibleHub.com commentary
Because you say…

“I am rich

and have acquired great wealth,

and need nothing,”

but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,

take my advice

and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich!

Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed,

and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see!

Revelation 3:17-18 New English Translation

Do you know of a Common Era Church like this — so in need of taking this advice from the risen and returning Christ Jesus ?

LISTEN! Hear His Voice. Open the door of your lukewarm heart. Allow the Lord to give you manna and living water of eternal life.

Sit on His Throne with Him.. just as He too conquered and sat down with His Father on His throne.

“Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.”

the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 3:22 CSB

Next: INTRO — 3 Letters (10 yrs earlier) from the Apostle John
April 3, 2026
God’s Personal Love -5- for flickering flames of Faith
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches.
Revelation 1:11 NKJV

Golden Lampstands with flames from flickering faith

Darkness dominates a cold place behind the veil of the Holy of Holies – an unseen flickering faith of worshipers of the LORD.

The Temple had been Jerusalem’s replica of a former glory now departed – a white-washed façade of cleansing since the broken covenant of its faithless shepherds.

Then like a Light in the darkness their Messiah unexpectedly appears among God’s chosen. And His Sacrifice substitutes as the Passover lamb — the Lamb of forgiveness which takes away the sins of the world.

A flickering flame of hope is now the shining star of David as Scripture had proclaimed. And Jesus returns once more in Body and Spirit — in victory over death!

The Light of Life stands within the Tabernacle of this world and offers Himself as its Sacrifice.

The Son now rules from above in the Temple of Glory!
- The Prophets told of His coming.
- Jesus’ Disciples preached His Gospel of Light.
- And now His Church must shine as a brief candle lifted into the throne room of Christ’s glory.
Revelation to Churches with Flickering Faith

Even prior to the end of the first century A.D. faith in the Church flickered in the winds of the world. And the love of the saints sometimes extinguished in false gospels of darkness.

As it was before the incarnation of Christ Jesus, so it was after the Lord’s resurrection and ascension.

Yet a risen Christ Jesus lifts the dead from their graves.

And discouraged disciples of these last days stand as brief candles in the darkness looking upon the eternal Light of glory.

a Vision from the Lord

While the world stumbles in the darkness of sin, a Personal love of God Almighty shines into the darkness (as the Prophet Isaiah had said).

And the people will be oppressed,
Each one by another, and each one by his neighbor;
The youth will assault the elder,
And the contemptible person will assault the one honored.

Isaiah 3:5

“Make the hearts of this people insensitive,
Their ears dull,
And their eyes blind,
So that they will not see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their hearts,
And return and be healed.”

Isaiah 6:10

Exhortation from Peter

After the Lord’s resurrection and ascension the Apostles all proclaim His death, resurrection and returning again. He is the Light of the world, they preach in their letters to a growing Church as every Apostle exhorts the faithful.

Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

Sound familiar?

James and Jude, brothers of Jesus also write similar loving greetings to the church in their letters.

Before we continue in Christ’s revelation to John, hear just a bit more of what the Apostle Simon, ‘the rock’ on which Jesus promised to build His Church had to say in his second letter:.

God’s Personal Love -3 Brothers Beloved & more

Peter to the church as the Apostles death is near

.. For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty..

And like Isaiah and the Prophets Peter assures the church:

And so we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

Message to the Seven Churches

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands..
the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:12 NASB20

7 Exhortations for all churches

We all need a true light in this place of darkness, don’t we?

God’s Personal Love -4- from Him who is to come

Revelation!

His face like the sun shining in its strength..
in the midst of seven golden lampstands..
His voice as the sound of many waters..
and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.
Revelation excerpts 1:16,12,15,16

As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Revelation 1:20 NASB

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

7 Candles of Flickering Faith

.. and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. – the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 2:5b

1-Ephesus
- “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people..
But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. [agape]
Revelation 2:4 NASB20

Remember therefore from where you have fallen;
- repent,
- and do the works you did at first.
If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

2- Smyrna
- ‘I know your tribulation [thlipsis – a pressing, pressing together, pressure, oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits]
- and your poverty (but you are rich)
- I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. Strong’s G988 – blasphēmia
- Do not fear what you are about to suffer.
Prove yourself faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Revelation 2:10c

3-Pergamum
- “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne,
- and you hold firmly to My name,
- But I have a few things against you,
  - Remember:
    each ‘Church’ is plural,
    while every single ‘saint’ is accountable to Christ
- you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam,
  - Doctrine is more than your ‘church vision’ taught, but not applied
  - Teaching among claimants of Christ may mislead others.
- who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel..
- In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.
  - (Nicolaitans, that is “destruction of people” in your gathering, are those who listen to your teaching (preaching or doctrine) yet are easily tempted to follow false teachings they prefer.)
  - (Note: the root name, nikolaos, may refer to a proselyte of Antioch and one of the seven deacons of the church at Jerusalem. His name Νικόλαος means “victor of the people.”)
  - Christ Jesus is our ONLY teaching, for He alone is victorious over death. And from the Throne of glory Jesus warns the church:
- Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly,
- and I will wage war against them with the sword of My mouth..
4- Sardis
- “‘I know your works. You have [a name] the reputation of being alive,
- {go ahead, substitute Your Church Name, here & see how you receive Christ’s admonition.}
- but you are dead.
- Wake up,
- strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die;
  - {Some works yet to do in your church?}
- for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.
  - {My fellow saint, our Lord Jesus says we have incomplete deeds yet to do.}
- Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly.
- Repent and turn to me again.
- If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly..
  - The general exhortation is for all, yet some not in need of repentance Christ encourages specifically.
- You have a few names even in Sardis .. [who] shall walk with Me in white [unsoiled garments], for they are worthy.
The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Revelation 3:5 NASB

5- Philadelphia

φιλάδελφος (root word) – From φίλος (G5384) and ἀδελφός (G80) – ‘friend’ & ‘brother’
BlueletterBible.org

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
Revelation 3:7a
– note the definition of angel of the church could include any of its ‘messengers,’ as its ‘saints‘ – a most holy thing – could include any of its faithful.

He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
The Revelation [3:7b NASB] of Jesus Christ to John – to the messenger of the church in Philadelphia
- “I know your works.
- See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;
  - for you have a little strength,
  - have kept My word,
  - and have not denied My name.
- Behold, I will make those.. who say that they are [ __ ]
  - Jesus calls them worshipers of Satan as the Lord refers to some Jews, BUT
  - could HE fill in the [ __ ] with ‘christians’ who gather in the church of the world?
- and are not, but lie—
- I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
  - The Lord Jesus assures His friends and brothers in Philadelphia.
- Because you have kept My command to persevere,
- I also will keep you from the hour of trial
  - (Christ’s covenant with the faithful!)
  - which shall come upon the whole world,
  - to test those who dwell on the earth.
- Behold, I am coming quickly!
- Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
Flickering faith transformed into Pillars of Worship

The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore..
Revelation 3:12 NASB

.. 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 out of heaven from My God, and My new name.

The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Flickering Faith in the winds of the world

Suppose the letter to you arrives by messenger from Patmos.

Jesus’ Apostle John still resides there and occasionally Rome allows a letter from him to depart for your Roman-ruled city in a distant province of Asia.

Your own church community suffers in its own isolation, because most of your neighbors, merchants, fellow workers, Roman government officials and even some fellow worshipers seem caught up in the life of other things in your city.

NOW, as you gather for worship, a leader of your church reads a letter. (Messengers have previously brought guarded precious Good News from Mark, Luke, Matthew and even John.) You puff up a bit as your pastor begins:

καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον
τάδε λέγει ὁ ἀμήν ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστὸς καὶ ἀληθινός ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς κτίσεως τοῦ θεοῦ

7- Laodicea

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Origin of the creation of God, says this:

…

“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot!
Revelation to the saints of the church in Laodicea [3:15 ESV]

So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
Revelation 3:16 NASB

Lukewarm ‘christians’ – saints spit out!

I could NEVER accuse you of THAT! But this IS JESUS giving final warning to the church.
- χλιαρός – chliaros From chlio (to warm)
This is the only time Christ uses it in Scripture, as the last warning to the last of seven churches — (to become warm, liquefy, melt)..

The Gospel which heated your faith, the cold water of your baptism which refreshed you — these no longer satisfy and Jesus is a Name seldom seen in the places where you dwell.

Lukewarm – metaphorically, of the condition of a soul wretchedly fluctuating between a torpor —
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from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
 noun A state of mental or physical inactivity or insensibility.
 noun Lethargy; apathy. synonym: lethargy.
 noun The dormant, inactive state of a hibernating or estivating animal.
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and a fervor of love.
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THAYER’S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database.
 Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc.
 All rights reserved. Used by permission. BibleSoft.com
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Jesus counsels a lukewarm church

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.
I counsel you to buy from Me
- gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and
- white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and
- ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.
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Have you, dear lukewarm saint, invested your mortal time here in Jesus?
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Dear Claimant of Christ,

Those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline;
therefore be zealous and repent.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 3:19 NASB

‘Those whom I love — its phileō here, that familiar affectionate love of a friend —
1. I reprove [convict, generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted, correct or call to account] AND
2. discipline [see the definition].
If Jesus is your Lord, if you have ears to hear and eyes to see His love — then receive Christ’s correction and discipline while your candle yet flickers with so little faith.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock.
If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.
Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne,
just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne.
The Revelation of Jesus 3:20-21 NLT

AND for the 21st c. church..

“Anyone with ears to hear ..
must listen to the Spirit and
understand what he is saying to the churches.”
Revelation 3:22 NLT

ANYONE, my fellow saint of this 21st c. A.D., anyone with ears to hear Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

NOT only seven churches — not some other church — not even a flickering excuse of a saint in your own church. YOU, dear Christian — you with ears to hear what JESUS is saying to you and to His Church.

Amen.
May 12, 2021
God’s Personal Love -4- from Him who is to come
A Letter from Him who is to come

Whatever does that mean: a letter from Him who is to come?

We receive a letter (email or text, if you will) from a person about to visit us here in the certain place where we live. They are a friend or family member who will return here some time in the future.

Our first question may be when, but our reaction is likely, what must I do in preparation for their return to be with me in person?

What must you do?

It’s an ordinary communication delivered in the usual manner by a messenger (a mail delivery person in a vehicle or on a horse) or even by a direct ‘message’ as is now possible (without an angel of heaven).

How will you react? For this is sudden unexpected NEWS; perhaps Good News OR possibly the message contains some not so good news.

What must you do prior to this inevitable return visit?

Challenges to Scriptural Faith

Two thousand (2000) years ago we could have witnessed events in the life of the young Son of Man, Jesus. In a few years He would be introduced to the world in the opening lines of the Gospels.

Jesus, James, Jude and others in Nazareth must have seemed like any other Jewish young men who worshiped the LORD God and attended festivals in Jerusalem.

a little history of 1st c. letters

The Epistles or Letters address various churches and Christians with exhortations of scriptural constancy to comfort and encourage our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
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A.D. 1st century history of the Gospels & letters (Epistles) to the Church + Note the timeline of communication below:
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Between Jesus’ ascension ~AD30’s & Revelation ~AD90’s the Church grew in faith

As I mentioned last time:
- James, brother of Jesus was called to become the pastor of the Jerusalem church and was martyred around A.D. 62.
- Jesus’ brother Jude also wrote to fellow Jewish believers in Jesus (Yeshua) sometime after A.D. 65.
God’s Personal Love -3 Brothers Beloved & more

Jude called the church to fight, in the midst of intense spiritual warfare, for the truth. – John Macarthur
- After Jerusalem’s destruction by Rome in A.D. 70 many false teachers leavened Christ’s Church.
Jude 1:3 NASB –

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints.

Christianity was under severe political attack from Rome and aggressive spiritual infiltration from gnostic-like apostates and libertines who sowed abundant seed for a gigantic harvest of doctrinal error. It could be that this was the forerunner to full blown Gnosticism which the Apostle John would confront..
John Macarthur from commentary on Jude
- By the AD 90’s John is the only remaining Apostle alive (exiled on Patmos). The others had been martyred for their faith in Christ.
Christians under construction – the saints of seven churches

Suppose that your church received a letter from one of the Lord’s brothers, James or Jude AND that Jesus also sent an appeal for the faith of scripture.
- How would you receive the Lord’s exhortation urging your church to contend for Him against false teaching?
- Would you even act on a letter sent by a messenger from heaven?
Jesus’ message sent by revelation to John is specific exhortation for the ‘saints’ of His ‘Church.’

Then and now the message is for:
- Followers of the Lord
- Souls called, beloved and kept to eternal life through Jesus
- Servants who will proclaim Christ
- Obedient ‘saints‘ [small ‘s’] who must respond to Him who is to come
Exhortation

παρακαλέω – parakaleō
1. to call to one’s side, call for, summon
2. to address, speak to, (call to, call upon), which may be done in the way of exhortation, entreaty, comfort, instruction, etc.
In His Book of Revelation, Jesus summons John UP to His side – a summons to the Throne!

Jesus’ general and sometimes specific exhortations challenge every saint of the church to contend for our original faith through scripture.

Revelation 1-3:

By the hand of John, only remaining Apostle of Jesus – a decade after Jude’s letter (A.D. 94–96)

This took place from Patmos some decades after the Lord’s ascension.

‘JOHN, WRITE to these churches and tell them.. this.’

That is, I have a few exhortations – instructions for you, beloved, who I have called and will keep in the Church for eternal life.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John is also exhortation for the saints of the church in every age.
Roger@talkofJesus.com

Our Lord called John UP to Him!

Jesus appeals to each church and every believer through a Revelation to the Apostle John.

EXHORTATION means to:
- admonish, exhort
- beg, entreat, beseech
- strive to appease by entreaty
- console,
- encourage and strengthen by consolation,
- comfort
- receive consolation, be comforted
- instruct, teach
The risen Christ consoles John and instructs this last Apostle to take His message to seven churches.

Dear (BELOVED),

We hear a similar loving greeting to the church as that of Jude (before).

John to the seven churches that are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come,
and from the seven spirits who are before His throne,
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:4

Exhortation from Him who is to come

For those ‘christians’ with rail in eye, Christ’s exhortation is NOT meant for any who refuse to bow down to the Lord God until the Day of their Judgment. Jesus writes to those with ears to hear.

Forget for a moment that these letters to certain saints of different churches are meant to refine their faith in a first century context.

Christ’s exhortations are for you, my fellow saint — the Church. (And Jesus sends these through John to me for my own refinement.)

Now, beloved brother or sister in Christ Jesus,

Perhaps an encouragement will pierce your own heart.

Which exhortation to one of the seven churches of Revelation does Jesus write to pierce your heart and purge your sin?

BEHOLD, HE IS COMING WITH THE CLOUDS, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.
the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:7 NASB20
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To be continued...
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May 8, 2021