Turkey with the Seven Churches of Asia
| Vol. V Number 4 | January 28, 2001 |
Turkey with the Seven Churches of Asia
Last week I thought that we would be able to finish talking about the seven churches in Asia, but Thyatira had a lot about of points that needed discussion. This week we will attempt to discuss:
Revelation 3:1-13
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Here we see that the Lord Jesus Christ has the Seven Spirits of God and also holds the seven stars of God. This shows that in Jesus you have all of the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
Colossians 2:9
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
This church was both alive and dead simultaneously. They had the name of Christian, but in reality a dead church. This same condition is prevalent in the church today. Many churches claim to be Christian, but in reality they are dead. There is no evidence of the movement of the spirit of the Lord. What an awful state for a church to be in, having the Christian name that lives, but are dead in the Lord.
Sardis is admonished to to strengthen what little truth that they have remaining for they are ready to die! Sardis needs to hold fast to what they have and repent of their shortcomings. Sardis is further admonished to:
This same admonition is is appropriate for all of the churches who once knew the Lord in the power of the Spirit but are now dead. There are just a few even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments. These few are the key to a revival of the Christian church. The phrase, ``Even in Sardis,'' carries a great significance. Doesn't it sound like the Lord is surprised that there are a few in Sardis that are holding on to the things of the Spirit? Doesn't it seem that the city of Sardis is so prone to the lusts of the world that it is surprising that there are some in Sardis who will still cling to the Gospel of the Lord.
Those who hold fast to the Lord and not falter, will be counted worthy to walk with the Lord in white Raiment. Those who hold fast to the Lord and the Lord's righteousness will not be blotted out of the book of life by the Lord Jesus Christ. Can you imagine the condition of those who once knew the Lord to be blotted out by the one who saved them? Finally those who hold fast to the Lord Jesus will have Jesus confess their name before his Father, and his angels
Revelation 3:7-13
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
The description of the Lord to the Church in Philadelphia has a very interesting description.
The first two attributes of being holy and true are accepted by all faiths. Here we see that Jesus is the one who holds the key of David.
Isaiah 22:20-25
20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah:
21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
23 And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.
24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.
25 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
Elikim had the keys of David for the historic city of Jerusalem, while Jesus has the keys for the New Jerusalem. These keys dictate who can enter the city by opening or shutting the doors of the city. No one will be able to break into the city, or be able to pick the locks of the city, though many may try.
Matthew 7:21-22
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
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