Episode 80
Revelation 3
Revelation 3
Welcome back to Moments with Moni
I’m so glad you’re here.
Today’s Episode is on the last three of the seven churches of Revelation
- A bit about their History
- How God revolved Himself to them
- What the commendations were to them
- What the warnings or counsel were to them
- What the promises are to the Overcomer
INTRODUCTION
Blessings and prayers to and for you during this Christmas Season 2020
Wether you are able to listen now or later, my prayer is that you digging deeper into God’s Word to find the treasures hidden within. Mine God’s Word as if you are mining for gold. For His Word is lamp to show us where and how to step and a Light that exposes darkness and all of it’s pitfalls
Last week we looked at the first four churches of Revelation. The sister Churches in Asia Minor who were sent a letter. That letter came from Jesus to the Angel to John to those in the seven churches to us today. God’s word transcends time and is a message to our hearts today.
Link previous Episode in show notes If you missed the previous episode you can find the link below
The next church on the list is Sardis in Revelation 3:1-6
Last time I mentioned how important it is to be aware of the Historical and Geographical context of the scripture. It helps us see the writings of the Churches History here in Revelation in the true light. If we just do the reading of the story and make a quick judgement based on our own thoughts, we miss the whole picture. Stories online or stories we read can be fairy tales in our minds eye, and dismissed as such. However, if you look at the Historical and Geographical aspects of these seven churches, we get a “3D” picture of Reality.
Sardis, once a part of an Ancient Persian Kingdom, Lydia, with a very polytheistic environment liberated in 340 B.C. Sardis means “escaping” and was one of the seven churches in the Roman Provence of Asia, or Modern Turkey, filled with worship of false gods. Sardis was known for it’s gold and wealth. The city was destroyed in the 16th century by the Persian Army.
John writes what Jesus told him to say to the church of Sardis.
Jesus revealed Himself to the Sardis church as ”One with the seven Spirits of God and seven stars in His hands” and quickly tells them, “ I know your works, that you have a name, a reputation of character and reveals it as one who is alive, but dead. Giving us a picture of a corpse who walks around....
Philadelphia which means “brotherly love”
Thirty miles East of Sardis, and about 50 miles from Laodecia, was the church of Philadelphia, representing a faithful church. Founded in AD 17. It was the newest of the cities and almost destroyed by earthquakes in that same year. Philadelphia resisted Moslem take over, and became an island of Christianity.
Jesus revealed Himself to the Philadelphia church as, He who has the Keys of David and He that opens the door that no one can shut, and what He shuts, no one can open. If you studied through the Covenant Series here on Moments with Moni, you might remember the Covenant with David that proclaimed a descendant of his would forever more sit on the throne for eternity. Yes, here is the fulfillment of the New Covenant. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, He now holds the Keys to death and Hell, and is sitting at the right Hand of God, waiting until the time that God puts all of His enemies under his feet. His work is done, and He is waiting in Heaven
To the Church in Philadelphia Jesus says, I know your works and that you have just a little strength left. I also know that you have obeyed my Word and have not denied my name......
Most Bible Scholars see the hour of trial as prophetic reference to the Great Tribulation, on the timeline we are following here as just before the Earthly Kingdom. Jesus has promised to keep the faithful from that hour of trial.
For it will be a time when those who dwell on Earth will be tested. Mentioned nine times in Revelation, it refers to those who are not believers in Jesus.
Revelation 17:8
And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. This test is for unbelievers, not Christians.
Christians are promised a different outcome through the Covenants. Even thought we walk in the world, we are not of it. Our home is in the Heavenly places with Jesus.
There are some who believe a different time line, and you can study those if you like such as
Pre Trib, Mid Trib, Post Trib or Pan Trib (However it pans out)
It is best not to take the lazy way out and “Play it so called safe with the Pan Tribe view, because what we believe today will affect how we live our life right now.
To Philadelphia Jesus promises that He will come quickly. Translated into English at bit better would be sudden and unexpected, not nesscesarily immediately
So until He returns, Hold Fast, so no one may take your crown of victory. Stay in the race. As was mentioned by our Pastor this past Sunday, that we may be running this race, or walking in this race, or maybe even just crawling, just keep going!
Let’s keep our eyes on the finish line.
And the Last of the Seven Churches of Revelation: Laodecia 3: 14-22
Laodecia means “People ruling” and represents the unbelieving, materialistic church.
It was famous for wealth, banks, and medical school with popular eye salve and textile industry with the most luxurious black goats hair suits.
To this church, Jesus revealed Himself as the Amen, the Faithful True Witness and the One who was at the beginning with God at Creation. One of the problems that Laodecia had to contend with was an inadequate water supply. So a series of aqueducts brought water from the Hierapolis hot springs. By the time it arrived, the water was lukewarm and unfavorable.
Jesus then gives this church some advice.
Be serious and repent!
He continues with His advice and counsel
LOOK! WATCH! I AM standing at the door and knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will eat with me.
It is sad news when a church goes through the motions of being a church, but leave Jesus outside the doors.
Be serious and repent.
As we come the the end of the letters to the seven churches, I saved one last thing that was mentioned to each of the Churches for last as they pertain to them all.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit has to say to the Churches
More on the Podcast…….Or read on the Blog.
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