Revelation 4:7-11

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7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” ~ Revelation 4:7-11

We return to John's vision of heaven and of God on His throne. All who are present in this scene are worshipping the Lord God Almighty. God's awesomeness creates in the hearts of the humble a response of worship which is preoccupation with God in all of His fullness. Worship causes us to place Him at the center of everything, and it diminishes us. When we see God as He is, we cease existing for self. As a result, worship frames up all things in a way that we recognize how it all serves us to love the Lord more and more.

In v.7-8 we read, "7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come."

John begins to describe this scene of worship by turning our attention to four created creatures. Ezekiel records the same living beings surrounding God in heaven. Ezekiel identifies them as "cherubim." Isaiah, in Isaiah 6, describes them as "seraphim." The main difference between the types of heavenly beings known as cherubim and seraphim is their appearance. Cherubim have four faces and four wings, while seraphim have six wings. Ezekiel also describes them with the faces of a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle. 

Some say these four creatures correspond with the four gospels. The Man refers to Christ’s incarnation and humanity. The Lion refers to Christ’s power, courage and victory. The Ox refers to Christ’s sacrifice, And, the Eagle refers to Christ’s divinity and ascension to heaven. These Four Living Creatures before His throne all refer to the Redeeming Work of Christ.

Cherubim appear in several books of the Bible, including Genesis, Ezekiel, Kings and Revelation. Their four faces are ox, lion, man and eagle, although Ezekiel exchanges the ox for the face of a cherub or an angel. 

Seraphim only appear in the book of Isaiah. They use two of their wings for flight. As the cherubim, they are among the highest order of angelic beings.

These four creatures had eyes everywhere and six wings each. Eyes symbolize discernment and knowledge. Wings describe swiftness of movement. The first was like a lion which speaks of power. The second creature was like an ox which speaks of patience. The third had the face of a man which speaks of intelligence. And, the fourth was like a flying eagle which speaks of swiftness. These four living creatures are involved in leading creation to worship its Creator.

And worship is always their priority. They must cover their face, lest they be consumed by seeing the fullness of God’s glory. They must cover their feet, lest they be consumed, because they stand on holy ground. And so they are engaged in worship day and night, nonstop. This is their eternal occupation, joy, and privilege.

At the end of v.8 we read, “Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come."

This crescendo of praise begins with a quartet, and then are added twenty-eight voices, and then are added harps. And then, all the angels; and finally, every living being chimes in on the worship of our gracious God. Whereas Revelation 4 focuses on God as the Almighty God of creation, Revelation 5 focuses on God as the God of redemption.

And the four living creatures recite, unceasingly, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” Their worship focuses, as all worship should, on the character of God, His attributes, and His nature. And the first thing that causes them to worship is His holiness.

“Holy, holy, holy” is the only attribute of God repeated three times. The Bible never says God is love, love, love. God’s holiness is His utter and complete fullness, accentuating His separation from evil. He is holy or complete and lacking nothing.

Not only do these four creatures accentuate the holiness of God, they also put the spotlight on His power. Notice that these beings identify God in v.8 as the Almighty. This means God is the strongest, and the most powerful being there is and He has no rival. This term, “almighty,” brings the idea of an overpowering strength that cannot be withstood.

At the end of v.8, these four creatures describe the Lord as, “...who was, and is, and is to come.” This phrase speaks of God’s eternality. This means that God is self-sufficient and He is independent of anything outside Himself. As a result, God has no needs. In fact, Psalm 50 teaches us that the worship of the true God is not intended to meet God’s needs, but to acknowledge Him for His sufficiency to meet our needs.

In v.9-10 we read, “Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne.”

The worship of the living creatures influences the twenty-four elders who fall down before Him who sits on the throne. This is the first of six times, in the book of the Revelation, when these elders prostrate themselves before God and the Lamb. (Rev. 5:8,14; Rev. 7:11; Rev.11:16; Rev. 19:4). And their posture is the posture of worship. They fall down prostrate before God.

And then, they cast their crowns before the throne. They have no preoccupation with their justified status before God. They have no concern about their own honor or reward. They are lost in adoration which is preoccupation of God above all else. This is voluntary worship prompted by the God of their redemption.

In v.11 they cry out, "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

The word “worthy” is axios in the Greek. This word was used when the emperor marched along with a triumphant procession, attributing worthiness to him. The crescendo of praise is prompted by the fact that God created all things. God has the right to judge and redeem His creation. This is the beginning of the momentum of paradise regained.

Revelation 4:4-6

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4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.  ~ Revelation 4:4-6

We return today to the vision the Lord Jesus gave to John the Apostle of heaven and of Himself on the throne in heaven. The Bible refers to heaven about 550 times, and both the Hebrew and the Greek words used, refer to what is lofty or what is high up.

In v.4 we read, "Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads."

From Revelation 4 til the end of the book of Revelation, we are shown the future. Revelation 4-5 sets the stage for the rest of the book. It describes the throne room in heaven, the presence of God and the Lamb, and it sets the scene for the judgment which begins to unfold in Revelation 6.

Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.

The stage here is being set in order to teach us about real worship. These twenty-four elders are mentioned twenty-four times in the book of the Revelation. In Revelation 20 we read, “I saw thrones and they sat upon them and judgment was given to them.” Clearly, there is a shared rulership in heaven. These are “elders” who have been granted the privilege of ruling with the LORD God.

According to v.4 “They’re clothed in white garments.” These are the garments of righteousness, imputed to them by faith in the Lord Jesus. They have become overcomers by faith in Christ and have been granted His righteousness. And, they had crowns of gold on their heads. The Greek word used for crowns is stephanous, which is the crown of the one who won the victory, the runner’s crown, the laurel wreath that was given to one who competed and won the victory. 

In 2 Timothy 4:8, we read, “There is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing.” 

Paul says there’s a day coming when believers are going to be coronated, enthroned, and crowned, and that glorious day is known as the Rapture. These are those who have been raptured and they represent the masses who entered heaven just before the seventieth seven of Daniel 9 begins.

In v.5 we read, "From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God."

These sights and sounds are reminiscent of the time Moses was given the Law on Mount Sinai. They are symbolic of the judgments of God. Revelation is basically the time when God turns from grace to judgment. All through the Bible He has been gracious, appealing to people to open their hearts, seeking to encourage them stop and listen and adjust to the truth. The book of Revelation is about how God will visit judgment upon all those people on the earth who have rejected His Son.

The symbols here of lightnings, rumblings and peals of thunder, are repeated several times through the book of Revelation. They represent a reference point to which the book returns again and again. When we read of them we will realize that we have come again to the final scenes of God's judgment of man's evil. Each time they appear an additional element of judgment is added. 

In v.6 we read, "Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back."

Here, John saw a great sea of crystal before the throne which speaks of the holiness of God. The sea is the Spirit of God in his purity and unsullied holiness. That is why we call him the Holy Spirit. It is that holiness which He must impart to anyone who dares to stand in the presence of God. "Without holiness," we are told in Hebrews "it is impossible to please God." 

In Revelation 21:1 we read, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth and the first heaven and the first earth passed away and there was no longer any sea.” 

So Revelation 21 says there’s no sea in heaven. What John saw here was crystal glass like a sea. On the throne sits God. His refracting presence coming through, as it were, diamonds and rubies and an emerald rainbow. And then at the very base of the throne is crystal glass, refracting through every imaginable prism that it could possibly contain the light of God’s glory and bouncing it throughout the infinite universe. A huge crystal base stretching out before it, glistening. This is the pavement of crystal on which the throne of God sits.

Heaven is not a world of shadows. It is a world of incredible light, refracting through jewels and crystals beyond anything we could ever describe or even imagine. This scene is of the God of the Bible who in all His glory, is ready to pour out His wrath on rebellious man. And, this sets the scene for worship. Not worship as we have known it in our churches. True and deep and heart-felt worship because we will see it all as it truly is. And, at that point, we will be totally invested in it because we will finally realize the utter magnitude of what the Lord Jesus did for us on the cross.

Without the awe that is created by this scene, we do not get the whole concept of worship. It was A.P. Gibbs who once said, "Prayer is preoccupation with our needs. Praise is preoccupation with our blessings. Worship is preoccupation with GOD Himself."

Revelation 4:1-3

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1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. ~ Revelation 4:1-3

Today, in our study of the book of Revelation we come to the second of John's great visions. The first vision was the revealing of the Lord Jesus Christ living in His church in the great vision of Revelation 1-2. Now we have the second of his visions, a vision of heaven, covered in Revelation 4-5. And John, as in the case of the first vision, was instructed to write it down. 

With John's second vision, we now move to the third division of the book. The thesis of this book is found in Revelation 1:19 where John the Apostle heard the Lord say to him, "Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later." In this one verse is the threefold outline of the book. John was told to "write what you have seen." That covers the vision of the Lord Jesus in Revelation 1. 

Then he was told to write "what is now" which is covered in Revelation 2-3, the letters to the seven churches which is a sweeping prophecy of the present age of the church. Then he was told "write what will take place later." It is to that division we come in Revelation 4, the beginning of what will take place after the church age.

In v.1 we read, "After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."'

Notice, here is the door to heaven and it isn’t closed, it is open. The door on earth was closed to Christ. The door in heaven is open to all who are willing to believe on the Lord Jesus. This door allows entrance into the very throne room of God. It is a door standing open by which John will take us into heaven.

The word "church" is mentioned 19 times in Revelation 1-3. Yet, in Revelation 4-21 the church is not mentioned once. The church is mentioned in Revelation 22 which happens after the Tribulation or the seventieth seven of Daniel 9. It seems that the church has vanished, and it has. John, who represents the church, is now in heaven and he is first allowed to see into heaven. What he sees is a door opened which enables him to look into heaven. 

Then, in today's text, we read that John heard a voice "like a trumpet." 

In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 we read, "13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

The trumpet mentioned in Revelation 4:1 is the same trumpet mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Revelation 4:1 pictures for us the rapture of the church. The rapture takes place to deliver the church from the wrath of God which will be poured out on the earth during the Tribulation or more accurately called the Seventieth seven of Daniel 9:27.

The remainder of Revelation 4:1 reads, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." Heaven is the viewpoint of John throughout the rest of the book of the Revelation. Heaven is another dimension of existence right here and now. It is a realm of being just slightly beyond our senses today. When John saw a door opened into heaven he was permitted to see into a dimension that is present all the time and which governs the visible affairs of earth. That is the biblical position from beginning to end, from Genesis to Revelation, and especially in Genesis and Revelation. We must learn to think of it that way. What we are given in this book are certain reference points, certain events to which the book returns again and again. 

In v.2 we read, "At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it."

The first thing John sees in heaven is the throne of God. The word "throne" is mentioned 13 times in Revelation 4, indicating it is the main theme in the chapter. There are only five chapters in the book of the Revelation where the word "throne" is not found. It is very important and impressive to remember that despite all that takes place on earth, all the events we read of in the newspapers and see on television, as exciting or saddening as these things are, they all somehow relate to that central throne from which God rules His universe. We must never forget that behind all human events is the government of God. The fact that there is a throne, means there are absolutes which cannot be altered or changed. They are guaranteed by the authority of the throne! Nothing man does, or can do, alters them in the least degree. 

In v.3 we read, "And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne."

John not only sees the throne, but he sees the one sitting on it, and he describes Him. The one on the throne had the appearance of "jasper," which is a diamond, the most beautiful of all gems because it has the ability to capture the light and flash it in brilliant displays of color. The brilliant crystal reflects the dominant attribute of God the Father, His holiness and perfection. 

The second stone is "ruby" which is a glowing, beautiful, blood-red stone. This, of course, immediately suggests the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. His major characteristic is His willingness to shed His blood on the behalf of wretched and hopeless mankind. He is the Lamb of God, slain from before the foundation of the world. 

The third color was the emerald. John saw a great rainbow circling the throne, green as an emerald. Green is the color of nature, of creation. A rainbow was first seen at the end of the flood of Noah. After that terrible event that wiped out the world of that day by a flood, Noah for the first time saw in the sky a rainbow, not a green rainbow, but a rainbow of various colors, just as we see them today during a mist or a rain. The rainbow was the promise of grace expressed in nature. "Never again," God said in Genesis 9, "will I ever visit the earth with a universal flood." That is God's grace shown in the natural world.

This rainbow with various shades of green circling the throne speaks of the Holy Spirit administering the holiness and the redemption of God to all creation. A rainbow is made up of the seven colors of the spectrum. All rainbows are a circle. We usually see only part of it. Where the rainbow touches the ground we see an arc, but if we saw the whole thing it would be a circle. About the only time you can see a rainbow as a circle is when you are flying in an airplane. At the heart of the circle, invariably, is the shadow of the plane you are flying in! It is a promise of grace in the midst of a storm.

Interestingly, according to Exodus 28, the jasper and the ruby were the first and last stones on the breastplate of the high priest. They represent the first and the last of the tribes of Israel; namely, Reuben, the firstborn, represented by the ruby; and Benjamin, the last born, represented by the jasper. These stones represent God's covenant relationship to Israel and even though they will go through this seven year period of God's wrath, they will be saved.

Finally, Reuben, represented by the ruby, means in Hebrew “behold a son.” Benjamin, represented by the jasper, in Hebrew means “son of my right hand.” Those names speak of the greatest Jew ever, the Son of God whom John saw sitting at the right hand of the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Revelation 3:19-22

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19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. 21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ~ Revelation 3:19-22

We return to the second half of the seventh message from the Lord Jesus to the seventh church, the church at Laodicea. God disciplines those whom He loves. Don't misunderstand, He loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to let you remain as you are.

In v.19 we read, "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent."

The word translated “rebuke” here means “to expose one’s faults.” It is a term used in Scripture to speak of God’s dealings with sinners. The word translated “discipline” can also be translated "instruct, learn, teach." Christ loves the church, even if it is full of unbelievers and He is calling them to come to saving faith.  The goal of God's rebukes and His discipline is that we might repent from self-dependence to God-dependence. Up to this point this church appears to have been content with just being religious. Salvation must always begin with repentance, an agreeing with God that we are sinners at odds with Him and that in and of ourselves there is nothing we can do to change that. It is only through Christ's death and resurrection that we can be reconciled to God.

In v.20 we read, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."  

The Lord Jesus was standing at the door of this church and He was knocking to be let in. Motivated by compassion, the Lord Jesus knocks, because He was shut out of this church that bore His name. The promise is if anyone hears His voice and is willing to repent from self-dependence, they will be saved.

The nature of saving faith is that it admits our spiritual bankruptcy, nakedness, and blindness, and it rejects self-righteousness, and self-sufficiency. The result is a deepening fellowship with the Lord Jesus wherein we experience intimacy with both He and His Father. 

Our intimacy with God is vital for us to experience the security of our salvation and to do the work that God has called us to. It is crucial for us to experience God in a personal way everyday, in order to to share the truth with others. And, the events of our everyday lives create the framework whereby He expresses Himself to us and we are given a story to share with others. It is out of these God-given stories that He gives us with Him that we share the Gospel with others most effectively. 

In v.21-22 we read, "21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Again, as we have seen in the last three letters, the promise is to share in our Lord's reign. The church is intended to reign with Christ, but notice the distinction the Lord Jesus makes here. Notice how he distinguishes between his throne and his Father's throne. The Father's throne, of course, is the sovereign government of the universe. God is sovereign over all. The whole universe is under His control. Every human event comes under his jurisdiction. That is the Father's throne. When the Lord Jesus had overcome, when He, too, had endured faithfully to the end of His life, trusting God, He sat down on His Father's throne. When He ascended, we are told in Hebrews 12:2, "He sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

But He too has a throne. He calls it "my throne." The overcoming Christian is invited to reign with Him on it. His millennial kingdom has been mentioned several times in these letters already. The church, resurrected and glorified, is to share with Him in that reign. That does not end the reign of the church with Christ. It goes on into the new heavens and the new earth. But this is a particular promise looking to the coming kingdom on earth when the Lord Jesus will reign over the earth for a period of a thousand years. 

For the last time in these letters we hear the Lord Jesus say, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches." We listen to His Spirit and we receive truth from Him and then we dispense it to the world. But we do not originate the truth. We do not think up the things that we would like to believe and spread abroad. We are responsible to hear what the Spirit says to the churches and then to pass that along, as we we grow in our ability to dine with Him.

Revelation 3:14-18

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14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. ~ Revelation 3:14-18

We come to the seventh message from the Lord Jesus to the seventh church, the church at Laodicea. The city of Laodicea was located about 100 miles east of Ephesus. It was known throughout the Roman province of Asia for its wealth and its medical practice. As the banking center of Asia, it was the most prosperous of the seven cities. 

In v.14 we read, "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation."

The Lord Jesus, on the outset of His address to the church at Laodicea, describes Himself first. We must understand who the Lord Jesus is if we are to walk with Hm and represent Him on this earth to others.

In v.14, the Lord Jesus uses the word "Amen" to indicate that He is saying something extremely important to them. The utterance of "Amen" always highlights significant truth. So when we read "Amen," we must always pay close attention because He is underscoring something very important.

In v.14, the Lord Jesus also refers to Himself as "the faithful and true witness." He has emphasized His truthfulness before in these letters, but here he adds the word "faithful." His word and His purposes are dependable and worth investing in to the greatest degree. The problem with the Laodiceans was they were investing more in the comforts and the pleasures of this world than they were in the kingdom of God.

The last phrase in v.14, "the ruler of God’s creation" highlights the fact that the Lord Jesus is most sovereign. In John's Gospel, he opens with: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Two verses later John says, "All things were made by him and without him nothing was made that was made." This means the Lord Jesus created all things. He is the source of all of God's creation. The Laodicean Church had lost sight of the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus, and this is why the Lord Jesus identifies Himself as "the ruler of God’s creation."

In v.15 we read, "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!"

In addition, the church at Laodicea had lost sight of the Lord's love for them. When we lose sight of His heart for us, we tend to lack a heart for Him. We love Him because He loved us first, the Apostle John tells us in 1 John. As a result, the Lord Jesus identifies the church at Laodicea as lukewarm. Archaeologists have long discovered that the city of Laodicea had no local water supply, but obtained their water through an aqueduct from the hot springs at Hierapolis, some six miles away. Traveling that distance, the hot water partly cooled down, and when it arrived in Laodicea it would be lukewarm and nauseating. 

In v.16 we read, "So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth." The words "spit out" are better translated "vomit." The compromise of the church at Laodicea created this response from the Lord Jesus. Their real God was comfort and they were compromising spiritually for comfort's sake. It is much more comfortable to attend a church where nobody takes doctrinal issues very seriously, where, for comfort's sake, one avoids a discussion about certain issues. This church was compromising its teaching for the sake of peace. They had enough truth to ease their conscience without becoming an uncomfortable church. 

As a result, they really weren't involved in real ministry. They had forfeited their ability to truly make a difference in someone's life because they avoided the real issues.

In v.17 we read, "You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

The Lord Jesus is the one who tells the whole truth, even though it may hurt us. This church at Laodicea was focused on money. They thought that God's blessing was measured by the amount of money that they possessed. The problem with money is that it can easily possess us. As a result, the Laodiceans had become self-sufficient. They thought they were doing well. But when the Lord Jesus looked at them, He said, "you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked."

In each of these messages to these seven churches, we have pointed out that at any moment one of these seven different types of churches can be located on the earth. It has also been said that these seven churches describes the church as a whole during the various periods in the history of the church. As both history and prophecy would confirm, the Laodicean church is descriptive of the end times church. 

Laodicea means "the rights of the people." That is the cry of our times, is it not? Laodicea is where the people tell the ministers what to preach. We are seeing this happen today. The Apostle Paul predicted it in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, where he wrote, "In the last times people will gather unto themselves teachers having itching ears, who will turn many from the truth and turn them unto myths and fables." Unfortunately, and sadly, that is what is happening today.

In v.18 we read, "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."

The Lord Jesus has all that we need to function. The "gold refined in the fire" pictures our faith in God which comes from the Lord Jesus. The church at Laodicea lacked faith in God, because they pursued the comforts of this world. They didn't have many trials in their lives, their wealth insulated them from many troubles, and, as a result, their faith suffered. It suffered because trials serve us in our pursuit of God. It is through trials that we seek God. And, the beauty of trials is that they force us to pursue God.

Their need for "white clothes" was symbolic of their inability to cover their shameful nakedness. Everyone is morally naked before God. Every one of us knows something about ourselves that we would not want anyone else to know. But God knows! All through these seven letters we have seen that white clothes stand for redemption or the imparted righteousness of Christ. We are no longer to be clothed with our own self-righteousness, which is as filthy rags in the sight of God, but we are to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ. This is the only righteousness that God accepts. 

Then the Lord said they needed eye salve so that they could see. Laodicea was known throughout the world for their eye ointment, but they needed spiritual eye salve that will enable them to see with their hearts. Unless the Spirit of God opens our eyes to the meaning of truth that is taught, it will fall upon deaf ears. But if we have the Spirit of Christ within, our eyes are opened to understand the Word of God and we will see the Bible in a new, fresh and wonderful way. In fact, it will become the lens through which we see Him more and more vividly. The Lord Jesus was offering them an abiding faith, an abiding righteousness, and an abiding intimacy with Him because they were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. This is the blessed posture that precedes the heart to cry out to Him. 

Revelation 3:11-13

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11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. ~ Revelation 3:11-13

Having considered the first part of the Lord's message to the church at Philadelphia, we return today to the conclusion of that message given through the Apostle John while he was in isolation on the island of Patmos.

Today's text begins with the promise, "I am coming soon." The promise of His soon return is given in relationship to the seventieth seven of Daniel 9:24-27. The church has been expecting His return since these words were penned, but He still has not come. The timing of the promise of His soon return was not made to the believers who were on the earth when John wrote this book. It was to those who will be on the earth when He returns at the end of the church age. So, it is in relationship to those who are alive at the end that He said His coming is a soon coming. As we near the final days on this earth, His promise that He is coming soon is relevant and is a great comfort. 

The remainder of v.11 reads, "Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." As the times get harder and it is even more difficult to be a Christian in this world, as hostility increases and the world becomes more and more secular and rejects the teachings of God's word, we must be diligent to remain faithful to the One who is the truth. These words are not a reference to the possible loss of salvation. These words of the Lord Jesus reference our opportunities in His millennial and eternal kingdom yet to come.

In v.12 we read, "The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name."

Let me remind you that our Justification or our acceptability into God's presence, is based only on the hold the Father has on us through the finished work of the Lord Jesus. And, our Sanctification, or our ability to grow in the grace and knowledge of His culture, is largely dependent on the grip we maintain on Him. We will all be given the same crown the Lord Jesus earned for us, but we will all have different stones in those crowns when we get to heaven. 

In 2 Corinthians 3:10-15 the Apostle Paul describes the process for determining how well or how poorly believers spent our lives on this earth for God's kingdom. The more profitable our lives, the more rewards we earn, the greater will be the position that we will have in heaven. To him who did much for the kingdom while on this earth will be given much responsibility in God's kingdom to come.

Now, there are two promises given to the ones who hold on to what they have: The first is a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it.

A pillar is a symbol of strength and permanence. The promise is that those who hold on to what they have, they will be someone who upholds things. And, this promise, "Never again will they leave it" is a reference to the fact that these Philadelphians who had to frequently flee the city because of the earthquake tremors that came, will never have to leave His kingdom. When we labor for the Lord Jesus, we will reach a place where we will not have to go out ever again. This is a picture of security, permanence and strength.

The remainder of v.12 reads, "I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name."

A change of names would be meaningful to the Philadelphians because that city changed its name twice in its history. It called itself Neocaesarea when Tiberius helped it; and later on, in honor of Vespasian, one of the Flavian emperors, it changed its name to Flavia. Thus these people understood what it meant to have a different name. 

Three names will be written on the overcomer. The first name is, "the name of my God." This is a promise that believers will bear God's likeness. The purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to make us godly or godlike. Godlikeness is the promise to the believer who overcomes by faith.

The second name is, "The name of the city of my God." The last two chapters of Revelation give a vivid description of this wonderful city coming down out of heaven as a Bride. This is a picture of loving intimacy. That is the second promise given to those who hold on, who remain steady in the midst of a sin sick world. They will know the intimacy of a husband's love for His beautiful bride. 

The third name is, "I will also write on them my new name." In Revelation 19:12 we are told that when the Lord Jesus appears He will have that new name written upon him, but it is a name that no man knows. Jesus is His redemptive name and it means "Yahweh saves." But when the work of redemption is finished, when we are all home in glory with Him and God's work of saving and redeeming us is over, the Lord Jesus will be given a new work to do. No one knows what it is; it will be a new role -- but the church is promised a share in His new assignment! 

In v.13 we read, "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Following the lead of the Holy Spirit is a must if we are to be effective in our work here on earth for the Lord. If we are not following with His leading, our work will be for naught. We must be diligent, daily, to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit by listening to Him with both ears and hearing what He says to the churches.

Revelation 3:7-10

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7 To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. ~ Revelation 3:7-10

Today, we come to the sixth message from the Lord Jesus to the sixth church in Revelation 3. The recipient of the sixth letter was the church at Philadelphia which was located about twenty-eight miles southeast of the city of Sardis. It was the youngest of the seven cities whose churches are addressed in these chapters.

Philadelphia was destroyed by an earthquake in 17 A.D. Most of the cities in that area recovered rather quickly from the disaster, but the after-shocks continued in Philadelphia for quite a number of years, with the result that the people had to flee the city repeatedly. Tiberius Caesar helped to rebuild it, and out of gratitude the city changed its name to Neocaesarea which means New Caesar.

The church in Philadelphia is unique among the seven churches because it, along with the church at Smyrna, is the only church the Lord registers no complaint against. 

In v.7 we read, "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open."

In His address to all of the other six churches, the Lord uses symbols to describe Himself that come from the vision that the Apostle John had of Him in Revelation 1. In this message to Philadelphia, however, the Lord Jesus uses other titles to describe Himself. He tells them plainly who He is and what He is doing. 

He said, "These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David." The Lord Jesus is holy and He lacks nothing. Therefore, His character is without flaw. And, He is genuine reality. He is the one behind all that really exists. That is who He is. 

He also "holds the key of David." That is a reference to an Old Testament prophecy that predicts the Lord Jesus will not be opposed. It is He who governs the events of history on earth. He opens doors and He closes others. What He opens no one can shut, what He shuts, no one can open.  

In v.8 we read, "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no man can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."

It is obvious that there is no such thing as a perfect church, for the obvious reason that there is no such thing as a perfect Christian. A church is a collection of imperfect Christians and, therefore, it is in itself imperfect. Having said that, it is still possible to be faithful and to be obedient to the Lord. This describes the church at Philadelphia.

The Lord Jesus gives the reasons why He opened a door of ministry for them in v.8 which reads, "I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut because you have a little power and have kept my word and not denied my name."

Doors are opened by the Lord when we fulfill the conditions that will allow us to move through that door once it has been opened. Most importantly among those conditions is our willingness to follow the leading and the power of the Holy Spirit who renders a power which is obtained by faith. When we expect God to act, it is then that He opens doors. When we look for an opportunity, and when we respond, a door opens for continued ministry in the lives of others.

Without closed doors, we do not see the open doors. We never enter because we never see the need. And, when things don’t go as planned, we realize we need more than our resources. We need more than our wisdom. We need a Savior to intervene. 

It is at this point that His power moves into our context. When we first trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Spirit came to live within us. But the power of the Spirit is given only to those who learn to keep His word and to not deny His name! 

The Word of God must be central to all that we do in this world. We must study it, we much preach it, and we must teach it. The Bible is the most amazing book the world has ever known. It is the self disclosure of God to man. It conveys insights into life that we find in no other place. Corrie Ten Boom once said, "Voltaire expected that within fifty years of his lifetime there would not be one Bible in the world. His house is now a distribution center for Bibles in many languages." 

In v.9 we read, "I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars -- I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you."

To those who are responsive and ready to be used of the Lord, He will use his power to make our enemies respect us and openly acknowledge God's blessing upon us. 

This phrase, "the synagogue of Satan," was used also in the letter to the church at Smyrna. It referred to certain Jews in that city who claimed to be spiritual descendants of Abraham but in actuality they were only his physical descendants; their attitude toward the truth of God was far removed from Abraham's faith. 

These enemies will acknowledge God's blessing upon us because we have responded to their hostility toward us with love which they do not possess. The Lord Jesus said while He walked this earth, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.'"

In v.10 we read, "Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth."

The context of this verse is a reference to the seventieth seven of Daniel 9:27. It will be a time of distress that will come upon the whole world, the likes of which has never been known before in human history. This will be the worst time of distress and bloodshed that the world has ever seen. And it will be particularly sent "to test those who live upon the earth." This is a reference to those who live as though this life is all there is, to those who live upon the earth, for the earth, and for the things of earth. 

The promise given here to the church is specifically that it will be delivered from that hour of trial. Actually the word is not "from," but "out of." We, at any moment now, are to be delivered out of, not just the trial but out of the very time of the trial! This is one of the clearest promises in the Bible of the catching away of the church before the great tribulation begins. I trust you are ready for that next big event. I know that I sure am!