Revelation 3:9-11 “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 upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
 
JESUS, the Door, protects the Philadelphia church. He locks out the synagogue of Satan (false teachers). And he opens the door for the church to do his work in the world. What work might he have planned for this church?
   Although it was a small city, Philadelphia was a center for Rome’s postal route. Travelers and traders moved through here from Europe to Asia. Faithful disciples would use the mail and trade routes as a means to communicate the gospel. God had opened doors of commerce to open people’s hearts to him. The church was in a prime evangelism position.
   Jesus encourages the church to continue its stand against unbelief. His promise, “I will also keep you from the hour of trial.” is the same language as the Lord’s prayer: “Deliver us from evil (or Evil One).” He will keep spiritual and physical opposition from the Philadelphia church for this work he has prepared for them. “I am coming soon” likely means he would come soon in the Holy Spirit’s power to strengthen the church into its mission.
   What would your church do if it received such a letter? Or wait. Isn’t the Bible God’s letter to form, direct, protect and strengthen the church into his purpose? Does your church expect the Holy Spirit to come to empower its work?
   Jesus is the Door. He will not let unbelievers steal away his church’s faith. He protects his church to minister the good news. Yes, martyrdom occurs under the Lord’s watch. Christians die for Christ. But even this is a means to protect the church from evil. Martyrs do not abandon their faith and deny Jesus. They stay strong and true. They know they are protected with God’s eternal life. Their testimonies glorify Jesus, and the church grows.
   How is the Lord pointing you as a church and as an individual to open gospel doors? Regardless of your church’s size and our own limitations, we all have a Kingdom purpose. Seek God’s wisdom. Understand his gifts. Awaken to the circumstances around you. True disciples believe Jesus’ promises that he will open the doors for their work.
    
Prayer: Open my eyes, Lord, to see the doors you have opened for me to evangelize your gospel. Amen.
 
 

Revelation 3:7-8 “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.”
 
IN John’s gospel, the apostle records Jesus defining one aspect of his character as the “gate” or “door”. What does Jesus, the Door, do? John 10:7 “I tell you the truth, I am the door for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
   A shepherd became a door for his sheep at night. He would lie in the opening of the opening of a sheep pen to keep predators and thieves out, while holding the sheep in their protective pen. The Door protects. He locks in his sheep to keep them safely in his church. In turn, the Door locks out the thief who comes to steal away the church’s faith and security in the Lord God. Jesus promises he will be the Door for his faithful church in Philadelphia.
   First, he confirms he holds the key of David. This illustrates he alone is the prophesied Messiah, who opens the door for believers to enter his Kingdom. His key also locks away the intruders. The power of God is at the ready to defend his own.
   One essential theme of Revelation is to confirm what Peter preached in Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” This is the apostolic mission, the purpose of the church. Close your church’s doors to unbelief. Open your doors to faithful believers. Protect them in the truth.
   When he said, “I know that you have little strength.” Jesus acknowledged they are a small church in number. And he is pleased they have strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We’ll see in our next lesson the reward Jesus has for his small, faithful church. He has put them in a strategic place to open more doors to the gospel of God.
 
Prayer: Protect the true churches of our land, Jesus, to be open doors of your salvation. In your name I pray, amen.
 

Revelation 3:3-6 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
 
THE Lord has rebuked the Sardis church to wake up from their complacent response to false teachings. We can trust our Lord is good because he continually awakens us to our purpose to make him known. Our Lord is also gracious. He gives to us the wisdom and knowledge we need to enjoy our life with him now and forever.
   Jesus’ loving purpose here is to teach the Sardis church five commands to enjoy God’s blessings. First, he commands, “Wake up!” People who don’t “get it” need to wake up, don’t we? We may have said, “Wake up!” to someone who was “asleep” in their habits. He may have refused to follow directions or to obey a request. To wake up is to open one to correctly respond to wrong and right.
   Second, Jesus urges the church to “strengthen what remains.” To renew and restore something that is broken or weak, we must often know the good things we already have. We can build on these. Jesus commands his church to recognize those who have not soiled their clothes – those who have remained true to Christ. They must be the pattern for rebuilding the church with true, uncompromised teaching. Otherwise, the church is about to die.
   Third, Jesus commands Sardis to “remember what you have received and heard.” To remember is not simply to recall. It is to faithfully know and cherish God’s gifts. The church has been given the Word of God, good leaders and some obedient followers. Cherished gifts must be used well. Fourth, then, we not only remember, we obey Jesus’ teachings. And fifth, we repent. We confess our sins and call on the Spirit to turn us spiritually in a new direction toward our Lord. Jesus commanded Sardis to turn from their complacent hearts to passionate, faithful disciples.
   Yes, Jesus loves his church – then, now and forevermore. His rebuke to Sardis is to raise up faithful disciples who will constantly live and teach the ways of Christ to all, knowing they will eternally walk with Jesus. The names of the faithful will always be on the book of life. Thank God he confronts you with your sins. Rejoice he points the way to your salvation.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your truth that sets me free into your eternal life. Amen.
 

Revelation 3:1-2 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.”
 
ONCE the city of Sardis was a strategic and wealthy city. It was the capital of the vast country of Persia. Gold and silver coins were minted there. Large amounts of goods were traded in Sardis’ shops and ports.
   Also, Sardis was safe. High natural cliffs from the sea gave Sardis a strong defense. But Sardis’ leaders “fell asleep”. Within the high cliffs was one unguarded, seemingly hidden, pathway to enter the city. Watchmen paid no attention to this path. But two times attentive enemy soldiers found the way to enter Sardis to open its gates to invasion.
   Changing rulers eventually removed Sardis’ wealth and security. Then an earthquake leveled the city in 17 A.D. Sardis was barely a functioning town when the Lord spoke to the Sardis church. Sadly, the Sardis’ leaders had “fallen asleep” against false teachers. Founded on the unassailable Word of God, the church allowed the enemy of lies to open the church’s doors to sin’s invasion. Their work lacked spiritual power and focus. Sardis preferred to be a “good” church in the world, forgetting to be God’s church in God’s kingdom.
   A church’s purpose easily changes, doesn’t it, if we allow intruders through the hidden pathways? We have hearts to help people. But loving hearts can become complacent and routine if we forget it’s the Lord’s work. We might be excited to serve at a food pantry or donate to supply school materials for children. But do we remember why we do the work? Be alert! The church is formed to preach the gospel. It is not a service organization simply to serve. The church serves to point people to God, so they will know him, obey him and receive his salvation. Everything we do must be to proclaim, “Jesus saves.” as we defend our Lord against the disobedient world.
   Is your church an organization where “everyone’s friendly”? Or is your church a congregation of warriors eager to defend the Truth? Guard the gateway against the lies. Hold fast to the Bible’s secure, unassailable truth. Be dedicated to love God and love one another with true teaching. Encourage people to confession, repentance, and cross bearing. Be eager to teach of sin and call people to salvation. Hear Jesus’ love to reveal his forgiveness to you. Know what is true.
   Let’s see next how Jesus teaches us to be his alert, faithful church.
 
Prayer: I pray, Jesus, I remain faithful to only your word, to remember you are Lord of your church. Amen.

Revelation 2:26-29 “To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nation – 27 ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery’ – just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
 
ONE of the many unique principles of Christianity against all other belief systems in the world is our sure hope in Jesus. We know that our God-given faith has secured us for eternal life. No one can remove our faith because God’s Spirit has broken sin’s stronghold to give us eternal life. Faith in Christ secures one in this unmovable truth.  
   Jesus affirms this doctrine in this portion of his message as he quotes from Psalms 2:8 “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
   Iron is the symbol of God’s strength in judgment and salvation. Christ declares the great reward for his faithful followers. In Jesus, we have the power to destroy sin as iron destroys clay pots. As a reward, we will rule over the unbelievers. This rule is as a shepherd. When our Good Shepherd leads us in his authority, we will be given authority to lead others to Jesus. We will rule over the sin in our hearts, and we will reign with Jesus in Heaven above all sin and death.
   Does the Lord’s promise fill you with confidence, hope and joy? Do you live in wonder at his eternal grace? As Jesus has received authority from the Father, he anoints his faithful church to minister his justice and grace. Remember he commissioned his apostles, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18) His authority transcends to his faithful. His light causes you to be the light of the world. The morning star is Jesus’ light of salvation bursting forth into the world as the sun breaks forth in the morning dawn. Hearts born in darkness receive salvation’s burst of glorious light.
 
Prayer: I pray faith rules my heart like iron to destroy sin, so I am filled with the eternal morning star. Amen. 

Revelation 2:18-25 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): 25 Only hold on to what you have until I come.”
 
JESUS continues to speak his holy authority over his church. When he says, “These are the words of the Son of God.” he declares himself above all false gods, especially Rome’s emperor, considered a god. This is God’s first command: Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.” The image of Jesus’ blazing eyes indicate he sees all things; his bronze feet are strength and judgment. Faithful Jews would be reminded of Daniel 10:6 His body was like chrysolite, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude. The all-seeing Lord praises Thyatira’s love, faith, service and patient endurance. The church is getting stronger in these ways of God.
   Then Jesus addresses the church’s problem. Jezebel was a woman in the church who claimed to have special prophetic powers. She was influencing the church to accept sexual immorality. Sexual sin is a great challenge in the church, isn’t it? It was a problem for Abraham, Samson, David and all of Israel throughout history. It is a sin today that destroys more pastors and churches than any other. Immoral sex compromises the family, children and communities. The Righteous Lord Jesus will not tolerate it.
   “Jezebel” refers to Jezebel from 1 & 2 Kings. This pagan queen of Israel, born in Assyria, was the wife of King Ahab. She infected God’s people with her pagan worship of Baal. She murdered God’s prophets (1 Kings 18) and innocent people who blocked her desires (1 Kings 21). She threatened to kill the prophet Elijah when he destroyed 600 of her Baal priests. The Lord God judged Jezebel to a violent death, reflecting her evil life.
   The One whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze will not tolerate sin. It was time for Thyatira to remove the Jezebel among them. They needed to purify the church to live faithfully and prepare for Jesus to come.
   Does anything in your life, in your church need to be cleansed? Jesus is coming.
 
Prayer: Grant us faith and courage, Lord Jesus, to remove evil from our midst. Amen.

Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives the message.”
 
THIS is the third part of Jesus’ message to the church in Pergamum amid the larger letter we know as Revelation (Also known as the “Revelation of Jesus Christ” .) Our Lord has revealed his comfort, encouragement, correction and assurance to a church planted amid many spiritual and physical enemies. The Lord has also drawn a sure line against sexual sin and warned the church to stay true to him.
   Now he promises three rewards for the faithful: hidden manna revealed, a white stone and a new name. What are these? Hidden manna refers to the biblical theme that God is the author and sustainer of physical and spiritual life. Again, Revelation looks back to the Old Testament to remind the new church God is Jehovah-Jireh, their Provider. The hidden manna refers to the life-sustaining bread our Lord gave to his people in their 40-year desert journey. Six days a week God sent bread from Heaven to help feed his people. It ended when they settled in the Promised Land. Then Jesus became God’s spiritual bread to lead us to eternal life. John 6:33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “from now on give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus’ faithful disciples will eat forever of the “hidden manna” revealed in Jesus’ life, death resurrection and ascension.
   The white stone, too, relates to a feast with Jesus. In those times, people invited to a banquet often received a small white stone with their name on it. The stone was their invitation and admission to the banquet.
   The new name Jesus promises is our new relationship with Jesus. Saved in Jesus, we are his brothers and sisters; we are God’s children, new in Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! And savor the truth of 1 John 5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. In Jesus, your name is Overcomer!
   The Holy Spirit has given us many images of God’s love graciously poured out for us. From the past to the future, God is continually at work to save his church unto himself. Rejoice in that comfort. Know that in Christ, you have a white ticket labeled “Overcomer” to savor his eternal Feast.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for purchasing my ticket to your eternal feat. Amen.

Revelation 2:14-16 “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15 Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.”
 
THE Lord has just praised and encouraged the church at Pergamum for their faithfulness against idol worship. They have remained faithful to Jesus even as one of their own members has been martyred.
   But then the Lord addresses the sexual immorality infecting the church. This is the reason for his reference to Balaam and Balak written in Numbers 22-25. Again we see how Jesus, the Living Word, refers to the entire Scripture in his teachings. The point here is that Balak, a king in Moab, hired a sorcerer Balaam to curse the Israelite encampment near Moab on their journey to the Promised Land. The sovereign Lord made it clear to Balaam he was not to do such a thing. Ultimately, though, the Israelite men intermarried with the pagan Moabite women. Here’s the result: Numbers 25:1 While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, 2 who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. 3 So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them. 4 The Lord said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the Lord, so that the Lord’s fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”
   Idol worship is death. Many pagan worshipers sacrificed children into fires. God judged the sexually immoral and protected his people in the desert. Then he spoke to protect the church in Pergamum. They needed to know their sin, so they could stop and repent.
   God commands us to be pure in our sexuality, so we will worship him only. His love is too great to keep quiet about our wanderings away from God’s commands.
   Condemning sexual sin seems to be off-limits in the church today. Remember, though, Jesus is Lord. He is the one who wields the sword in his mouth to judge sin and to save. There is only life in him when we are willing to faithfully live in his way.
 
Prayer: Lord God, open my eyes to keep me from the idols. Amen.  
 

Revelation 2:12-13 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live – where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city – where Satan lives.”
 
REVELATION has many symbols of Jesus’ authority and sovereignty. In this text, for example, Jesus referred to his authority for the second time as him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. Do you find it difficult to visualize Jesus, the Good Shepherd, wielding a sword? Swords are vicious weapons. How does that coincide with seeing the Bible as God’s love story, pointing to his comfort, love, peace and eternal life? Would people read the Bible if they were told, “Open your double-edged Sword each morning and hear of your sin, God’s justice and God’s mercy.”
   But isn’t this the right approach if we are to understand God’s deep, eternal love for us? Remember that God’s comfort and salvation is the result of Jesus’ double-edged sword. He first loved us even as sinners to call us to himself. He has battled Satan and is victorious over death. Jesus is a Warrior for you. When you know your sin, you confess it and you repent of it, the Lord’s blood shed on the cross continually cuts away your sins. He protects you from destruction. Yes, Jesus must wield his sword against sin, so  you can stand safely with him.  
   There was a great challenge to the authority of God’s Word in Pergamum. When Jesus says, “I know where you live.” he assures his church that he knows the threats around them. They live in a demonic stronghold. Pergamum was an area capital of the Roman government. Rome’s emperor is considered a god to be worshiped. Also Pergamum was the home of four idol-worshiping cults. When Jesus says, “city where Satan has his throne” he speaks against the idolatry attempting to infect his church.
   Our Lord commends the church for remaining faithful amid these pagan forces. Their faith had held true even as cult worshipers killed Antipas, one who was faithful to Jesus.
   The one who wields the two-edged sword will not tolerate any blemish on his church. He will destroy the church’s enemies. He will preserve and defend his faithful.  
 
Prayer: Lord, there are many demonic strongholds around us. Let us boldly attack the enemy with the authority of your Word. Amen.  

Revelation 2:8-11 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty – yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.”
 
THE Smyrna church is second of the seven. Note Jesus again affirms his resurrection authority: “of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.” How often do we consider Jesus’ teachings as coming from the eternal, resurrected Son of God? Isaiah 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. Would this true consideration change your faith walk?
   The everlasting God is a Protector. Deuteronomy 23:14a For the Lord your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. The church is the “camp” for his people today. Jesus, Lord and brother, assures Smyrna he knows of their trouble. People of the world spoke evil of the church. We know that today, too, don’t we? The battle is always engaged. Our work is to defend the gospel’s power amid a slandering enemy. We can only call people to faith when we are faithful to the First and Last.
   That’s why Jesus inspires and comforts Smyrna. “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.” For ten days they will experience persecution that could lead to death for some. What if your pastor tells you that? You’d quickly dismiss his exaggeration. But this is Truth. The one who died and came to life again prepares us for the possibility we must offer our lives to the church as many have throughout history. Graciously, then, he promises a “crown of life” awaits the Lord’s faithful martyrs.
   Jesus again commands the church to “hear”. And trust in your heart that “He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.” The One who lives promises death will not hurt believers. Yes, both nonbelievers and believers die a first death. But the faithful who die in Christ will not die the second death, which is Jesus’ final judgment over unbelievers.
   Yes, the Everlasting God will protect his own forever. He has said so. He has died to make it so. Believe him and live.
 
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for your great words of life everlasting to John. Amen.