Lessons for Us Today from the Churches of Revelation

Joy overflowing. That's what we should have today on God's Holy Sabbath Day. A day of rejoicing, a day of exaltation, because God has called us out of this world and given us true hope. Now, brethren, the book of Revelation is undoubtedly the most talked about, the most argued about, the most misunderstood, and the most disputed book of the Bible. At least, I think so. We all have a natural inclination and desire to understand it and to benefit from understanding it. And in fact, there is a blessing within its pages for those who do understand. In Revelation 1, verse 3, it says, Blessed is he or she who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is near. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy. So there is a blessing that we're going to have today just by going through this. So that's good. One of the most interesting and thought-provoking segments of the book of Revelation is the message to the seven churches in Asia Minor, now called Turkey, in chapters 2 and 3. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to visit these seven churches. I've actually been to Ephesus twice, starting back in 1989 when I went on a Mediterranean cruise that was awesome. For the Feast of Tabernacles, we went to Ephesus. And then I went on the tour of the seven churches of Revelation in 2023, just two years ago, with Darris McNeely and a group of people. It is very interesting if we've been able to visit any of the sites that are mentioned in the Bible. So I would encourage you to go to Israel if you can, to go to Turkey if you can, and you will certainly benefit from those trips. But you don't need to have been there to learn the lessons that we're going to talk about today from these churches that God wants us all to learn. Today I'd like to focus on 12 important lessons that we may all learn from the message to these seven churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3. Now, I will say that the United Church of God has put out a wonderful series of sermons on this topic. I do not intend to cover five and six hours of material in 50 minutes. I will leave that to them. You can go to the website. Peter Eddington is on the website in this particular series. I think Gary Petty, Steve Myers, and also Darris McNeely are a part of that. I would encourage you to do that. Also, Gary Petty has a fine series on this topic that you can go to. It's several sermons. There are lots of other materials that you can use. I'll quote from the NIV Archaeological Study Bible. There's also the Cultural Background Study Bible that has information on these churches that you would find helpful. And also, the Daily Bible Study Series by William Barclay on the Book of Revelation. Lots of information there.

But today, we're going to talk about 12 lessons. And the first one is the message to the churches mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3. It is a prophetic one for those living in the last days for sure. So it is something that we can all benefit from. There's more to it than that. It also applies to the churches to some degree at the time it was written. And we'll see in the next point that it applies from the time it was written until now, all through the ages. But the first lesson is that these things are for us today. Those living in what we believe are the last days. Now, we don't know how long the last days will last. Some of us thought they weren't going to last this long. But they obviously have, and they may last quite a bit longer than we realize, even at this point. We honestly don't know. God hasn't told us. He hasn't revealed that to us. But He will in time. So this was a revelation of Father to Son to God's church. The Book of Revelation, of events which were to shortly come to pass. Now, it's been almost 2,000 years since this revelation to John was given. But, frankly, 2,000 years is a very short time from God's perspective. When you look at eternity, that's a long... eternity is a long time. 2,000 years, very short time for someone who's lived that long and will continue to live. So I think it's important to have that perspective. From a human perspective, 2,000 years does seem to be quite a bit of time. It has passed since then. And I believe it is logical to believe that this message was primarily to God's church in the last days. Because, for one thing, we're here. And it will apply to all of us. So it is good that we listen to what the churches... what God has to say to the churches. First of all, this message is contained in a highly prophetic book. The book of Revelation, highly prophetic, considered an apocalyptic book. So that's one thing. Secondly, the internal wording to many of the churches indicate the words are primarily prophetic. And they apply certainly to the last days as well as at all times throughout history. Thirdly, because we have no Church of God congregations in any of these seven places today, there isn't any way of living there that we know of. Now, there was a recent inquiry from Turkey. So who knows? Maybe God will call some people, and there will be people living in the seven churches before Christ returns. You know, we don't really know what's going to happen there. But no one really living there now that we know of that's what we would consider a part of the Church of God, keeping the Sabbath, the Holy Days, doing all that God has revealed to us. And they haven't for hundreds of years, frankly. These words are meant primarily for those living just prior to Christ's return. No doubt there was some application at the time these words were written and when they were sent around to the seven churches. The seven churches cover only about 50 miles, you know, from starting with Ephesus, going around in a circular motion, ending with Laodicea. I think it's only around 50 miles. It's not that long of a journey for us today. Now, back then on walking and horseback and things, it would have been obviously longer.

The locations of these seven churches in some ways seem quite irrelevant today in regard to a presence of God's church being there at the present time. Again, the Bible talks about an innumerable multitude. So perhaps there will be people in Turkey that will be a part of this innumerable multitude. You know, we don't know. We wonder when we read that. Now, when we were in Turkey, we had a guide who considers himself—he's a Christian. I think—I don't know if it was evangelical or exactly what, but I know he identified with a lot of what we believed as well. He's from Izmir, which was Smyrna. Modern-day Smyrna was Izmir where he's from. So it was quite interesting to talk to Levent about that. Who knows what God may do there? So I say this message to the seven churches as primarily for the end-time church because within the message, Jesus does say, I come quickly.

He is returning, and we know his return will take place at the time of the end of this age. We're certainly closer to Christ's return than ever before. It also makes sense that these seven churches are representative of the totality of God's church from the time written nearly 2,000 years ago up to Christ's return. In fact, that's going to be my second point, so I'm jumping ahead a little bit here. The first point is that it's for us today. The second point will be it's for people all throughout history. So Revelation chapter 1, 1 through 3 clearly state that the words in this book are a prophecy for the future. Revelation 1 verse 1. 1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants things which must shortly take place, and he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John. Now this is the Apostle John, the one whom Jesus loved. He was referred to as that in the book of John. Jesus loved all of the disciples, by the way, but he had perhaps a special relationship with the Apostle John who bore witness to the Word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it, for the time is near. So again, that blessing. Notice Revelation chapter 1 verse 7. Revelation chapter 1 verse 7, Behold, he is coming with clouds, and every eye will see him, even they who pierced him, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him, even so, amen. And then in verse 9 through 11, they state that John is in vision regarding the day of the Lord, a time we are still waiting upon, a time when God will reveal himself as never before. He's going to shake this earth in a way that we've never seen. Revelation chapter 1 verse 9, I John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos. Now in 1989, we were also able to go to Patmos. We were not able to go a couple years ago because we're not allowing people to go from Turkey over to Patmos for whatever political reasons they have. So it was interesting, but when we were on Patmos, they actually showed us the very imprint of John's knees in the rocks because he prayed so faithfully. Do you believe that? No, they did show us that and claim that's what it was. I have my doubts. That would be an awful lot of praying. I don't think that's humanly necessarily possible. I think the knees would give way long before the rock did. But there was also a fellow there that did memorize the entire Bible, and he proved it to us. Because we would ask him and he would spit it out. We would just throw out scriptures and sure enough, so he must have spent his entire life memorizing the Bible. He had a long beard down to about here. He was an old guy, but that was quite amazing. It was the most beautiful water I've ever seen in my life, the island of Patmos. Just absolutely translucent blue, beautiful, gorgeous.

So John says, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. In other words, he was taken in vision on the day of the Lord. Not Sunday. That is not the Lord's day. It wasn't Sabbath either. It was the day of the Lord. That's what it was talking about. The day that comes up to Christ's return. The day of the Lord. So I heard behind me a loud voice as of a trumpet, verse 11, saying, 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 which are in Asia, a mail route in Asia, about 50 miles, to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. So the first point, the first lesson, is that this is a prophetic, it's in a prophetic book, it's a prophetic message, it's for us today. The second lesson is that the message would be relevant for God's church from the time the message was given until Christ's return. Any called out ones over the last 2,000 years who read this book or heard it read to them would benefit from it. Revelation chapter 2, 1 through 6 states that Jesus is in the midst of the seven candlesticks. That's talking about the seven churches. Jesus, yes, He's in heaven, He's at the right hand of the Father, but He's very actively involved in this church today. Jesus Christ is our Lord and our Savior, He is the Messiah, He knows what's going on in your life, and He loves you. And it states that Jesus is in the midst of the seven candlesticks, the seven churches. Jesus is alive today. We are awaiting His return. He is the head of God's church. It makes sense that these churches are representative of the time frame from then when it was written until Christ's return. The gates of hell or the grave were not to completely prevail against God's church. They were not to snuff it out. It is to exist at Christ's return. Certainly it exists now and will continue to exist. Oh, I'm looking bad for the camera. Got to look good for the camera? All right, there we go. Thank you for your help with that. Appreciate it. All right, back to the sermon. Matthew 16 verse 18. Matthew 16 and verse 18. Christ said, And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church. And rock is talking about a massive rock, not just a little pebble, not a patros, but a patro, or not a patros, but a patra. It's talking about Christ Himself who is the head of the church, and the gates of Hades, the grave, shall not prevail against it. So it will be existing at the time of Christ's return. So the number two lesson was it's relevant not only today, but throughout the ages. For any that God has called out and chosen and opened their minds, they can benefit from the message to the seven churches. The third lesson. Hang on to your first love.

We all have a first love, right? I had a first love. I was 18 when I came in God's church. It's important that I hang on to that, and that I don't ever let that diminish. It's important. It's something that we need to stir up through the power of God's Holy Spirit, and that we are growing in love for God's truth, for God's way of life, for God, and for each other. Now that's essential if we are to grow and to overcome. So hang on to your first love. So in Ephesus, to the church at Ephesus, in Revelation chapter 2 verse 4, reread, Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. So there were some in Ephesus who had left their first love. It doesn't mean that every single person had left their first love, but there were some who did. You've left your first love. Verse 5, Remember therefore, from where you have fallen. It was better at one point, and you have fallen. Repent and do the first works. Perhaps they were weary and well-doing. You know, love and good works go hand in hand. The more we love, the more good works we do. We help others. We're kinder to one another. We probably pray and study more because we love God and we want to please Him. So remember therefore, from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place. That doesn't sound good to remove the lampstand from its place unless you repent. And we're going to find that this is the message throughout the messages to the churches. Repent. Repent. That's the main overall message. We'll talk more about that as we go along.

So in Revelation 2, we see that those in Ephesus are told to repent because they have lost their first love. And this is likely true in all ages since Christ's death, that some have lost their first love because we're human, we're fleshly, and it's easy to let down and to not stir up the Spirit of God within us as much as we ought to. Some lost their first love. So it seems that this church is certainly representative of all God's people throughout the ages. We must all be on guard to not lose our first love.

Those who repent and overcome will eat of the tree of life, it says in Revelation 2. They will eat of the tree of life. So the final analysis is a good one. As long as we repent, God is very gracious and very merciful. So we should look inside ourselves and ask ourselves, have we lost some of that first love? Or are we just as zealous today or more so than we ever were?

And then apply ourselves. You know, if we need to repent, repent. God forgives and life goes on. Much better, by the way. Repent and learn to really love God and to love His children. So observe the two great commandments that Jesus gave. Number one, love toward God, and number two, love toward your neighbor.

The two great commandments. The first is to love God, because without that, you can't love your neighbor. God is the one that gives us His love by seeking Him and knowing Him and believing in Him. So love toward God and love toward your neighbor, toward all people. When you sin by not showing proper love, then obviously you should repent of that sin. Now, if you sin by not showing proper love.

Now, that's a key element, but it happens all the time. That we hurt one another. We don't really think things through. We make decisions without really thinking through how that's going to impact things, what that's going to do. Perhaps it's because of pride and vanity, because it's a need to control. Whatever it might be, we need to analyze. When we've hurt someone, we need to ask ourselves, am I the cause? Did I do something? Did I hurt this person? Should I repent? Do I need to go say, I'm sorry? You know, that goes a long way. When people say, I'm sorry, then we know their heart. Otherwise, we don't trust them very much, do we?

If they've hurt you once, they'll hurt you again. And we don't trust them. But if they come and say, you know, I'm really sorry, because I know that I should not have done that. You know, that heals the breach, and that's so wonderful when that happens. So let us all repent wherever we need to repent. I believe that you're all fine people, by the way. I'm glad to be associated with all of you. I don't feel all beat up.

I feel good about my relationship with all of you, and I'm thankful for that. I appreciate that. And I hope that's the way you feel about all of us, everyone in this room. In Revelation 2, verse 18, And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things says the Son of God. It's nice, because we're not moving around much today. We're going to stay right in the book of Revelation for the most part. And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass.

I know your works, verse 19, I know your works, your love, your service, your faith, and your patience. And I will commend all of you, because you have works, love, service, faith. I think God would say that about this church, about the people that I see in front of me today.

I know your works, and as for your works, the last are more than the first. So this was a growing church, a church that was overcoming. So God's commending them. So that's a wonderful thing. Those in Thyatira had grown spiritually, while some on the whole in Ephesus had been compromised and were weary in well-doing. Maybe it was because of the society, partially, that they lived in. It was a very decadent pagan city. Ephesus had lots of foreign gods, lots of influence. The emperor worship was extant there. There's lots of things going on in that society that could really weigh a church member down.

In Matthew chapter 24, let's go there for a second. Matthew chapter 24, and we'll read verses 10 through 12 because it does apply. Actually, we'll read in verse 8. All these are the beginning of sorrows, it says in Matthew 24, verse 8. Obviously, this is prophetic as well. Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many, and because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. I'm sure there was quite a bit of lawlessness in the city of Ephesus.

Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold, but he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. So there's still a work to be done. And we can be a part of that work, as God wills.

So the love of many is going to wax cold just before Christ returns. And we have to be careful that we are not victims and not casualties along the way. So that's lesson number three. Don't lose your first love, but stir up. Love is the fruit of God's Holy Spirit. Stir up the spirit of God. You'll stir up love in your heart and mind. Number four lesson. Expect persecution. Now, we just talked about that in Matthew 24, that persecution is coming, so expect it, so expect it, but don't fear it. If it happens, it happens. God has promised to never leave us and to never forsake us. We mustn't live in fear. Expect persecution, but don't fear it. Remain faithful even unto death, and you shall receive the crown of life. It is that important that we remain faithful, and we do not give in to persecution, and we compromise, and we forsake Christ. You know, Peter did that three times one night. Thankfully, he repented of that, and he was a different man after that. But we need to stir up the spirit of God that we may be faithful. Revelation 2, verse 10, do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison. This is Smyrna, the church at Smyrna. He's going to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. So we don't know exactly what was going on in Smyrna at this time, but evidently there was persecution. Ten days, was it ten years? People have speculated that it was later on during the reign of Diocletian, but that's just speculation. There were ten years of persecution supposedly during Diocletian's reign, which was between 284 and 305 CE. But that's just speculation, and you can't prove that from the Bible.

Revelation chapter 2, verse 12, and to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, these things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword. Talking about Christ, I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is, and you hold fast to my name, and did not deny my faith, even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr. So Antipas was a faithful marcher who was killed among you where Satan dwells. Satan frankly dwells on this earth, doesn't he? He's going to and fro. He's seeking whom he may devour. He was doing the same thing back then. He's doing the same thing today. There have been martyrs throughout the ages. Even today, we've had people that were perhaps close to being killed. They had to run for their lives, basically. They had to move to other cities. We don't know what's going to happen next for some of our people. Thankfully, we have a great deal of freedom and liberty in this country at this point. So the fourth lesson is expect persecution. Don't fear it. In some form or another, it's probably going to hit us in some form or another. So we just need to be able to persevere. And if we're persecuted for righteousness' sake, then that's a good thing. You know, many were persecuted for righteousness' sake. God's going to take care of us. So that's number four. Fifth lesson, beware of false prophets and do not believe their lies. Beware of false prophets. Do not believe their lies. There are still false prophets today, as there were back in the time that this was written. And we know that Paul, who founded the church at Ephesus, warned the Ephesians about false prophets and about wolves in sheep's clothing coming among the flock of God. So that was back in the time of Paul. Prior to this being written on the island of Patmos, Paul was dead by then, but he had founded the church at Ephesus and he had warned them about false prophets and wolves in sheep's clothing coming among the flock of God. And in Revelation chapter 2 verse 2, to the Ephesians, to the church at Ephesus, I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil, and you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not. So we too need to test whether or not someone's telling us the truth. Is that the truth? Does that square with what the Bible says? Is that what the Bible teaches? Okay, the Bible needs to be our guide, so we need to know the Bible, which means we need to be students of the Bible, and the better we know it, the less likely we're going to be duped and deceived. So let's all study our Bibles faithfully so that we will stand and be able to tell whether someone's lying to us or not. So these people were commended in Ephesus because they could tell a liar from someone telling the truth, and we have to be able to do the same. That's the fifth lesson. A sixth lesson is be zealous, not lukewarm. Be zealous. Do not be lukewarm, and if you need to repent of your lack of spiritual zeal, repent of it. Be honest with yourself. If you've let down, then you need to repent. You know, if you are lackadaisical, lethargic, you don't pray, you don't study, you're going through the motions, you come to church, but you're not doing a whole lot more than that, that's a sign that you are lukewarm, or that at least Satan is trying to get to you.

So in Revelation chapter 3, we're going to talk about the Laodiceans now.

Revelation chapter 3 verse 14. And 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. So this is Christ to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. I believe it was a city nearby Hierapolis, which we went to when we were on the trip to Turkey, and it was an amazing place. Hot springs, it was really cool. I'd love to go back. Don't know if I'll ever get to, but I really liked it. And it was pretty cool. They had hot air balloons that we could see from the mountain that we were on. It was just a really neat place, but there were hot springs there. It was a resort area. And then there was also, I think it was Colossae, where there was refreshing cold stream that went through there, and there was a lot of cold water. He says, I know your works, that you're neither cold nor hot. You know, cold does refresh, and from a spiritual standpoint, we need to be refreshing. We need to be really cold, icy, refreshing, encouraging. You know, that's what we all need to be from a spiritual perspective, but we also need to be hot. We need to be hot for God's truth, for God's way of life, for each other. You know, we shouldn't be lukewarm. We should stand up and be counted.

So then, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Cold is good. Hot tea is good, as long as it's not too hot. You know, hot coffee. But if it's lukewarm, I will vomit you out of my mouth, Christ says.

Because you say I am rich and have become wealthy. Now, that sounds like someone who may be a little bit vain, possibly full of pride. You say I am rich, I have become wealthy, I have need of nothing. But you don't know that you're wretched, that you're miserable, that you're poor, that you're blind and naked from a spiritual perspective. You're not pleasing to Jesus Christ. You're lukewarm. You think too highly of yourself. And so you are lukewarm. You are missing the mark.

I counsel you to buy from me gold. Now, this is talking about spiritual gold, refined in the fire, that you may be rich spiritually, and white garments, that you may be clothed in white garments, that the shame of your nakedness. Because if you're sinning, and if you're in your sins, then you are spiritually naked.

And we should be ashamed if that's the condition that we're in. That means we should repent. God will forgive, but we have to admit where we're at. Now, I don't know that anyone in this room is there. God knows, and perhaps the person sitting knows, but none of the rest of us know. And I'm glad we don't. That's between you and God. That's between me and God. But I know this. If we're in that condition, then we do need to repent.

That our nakedness may not be revealed. You know, that's interesting, because you can hide things, but eventually it comes out.

You know, eventually it comes to light.

Those who are spiritually naked will be exposed. But if we can repent and save ourselves from being exposed, isn't that so much better? I think that's a lesson that we need to get there. And anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see. So people who have a problem with their eyes, there are certain salves that help people heal. If you have pink eye or something going on with your eye, then you might be able to apply some kind of a physical salve so you can see better physically. But this is talking about spiritually. You need to point anoint your eyes with that oil that you may see, that you may be able to repent and see. As many as I love, verse 19, I rebuke and I chasten. So Christ doesn't say this out of any kind of animosity or hatred or any such thing. He says that out of love, as many as I love, I rebuke and I chasten. We're not supposed to speak smooth things up here. We're supposed to speak things that God wants you to hear that may help you change, that may help you be a better Christian, a better person. And the benefit is that a minister gets to preach to himself at the same time, because we need it too. So be zealous and repent. Some in Pergamos must repent too. All church members throughout the ages have need of ongoing repentance in their lives. Those who do and who overcome will be given hidden manna to eat, it says. The hidden manna. Now, Christ is the unleavened bread, the unleavened manna. Christ is the unleavened bread. We put Christ in. We become like Christ.

So in Thyatira, they were told to repent or great tribulation would come upon them. Great tribulation would come if they didn't repent. If speaking of the great tribulation, the actual great tribulation, this is clearly a future and indicates some who have this overall approach are going to be alive at Christ's return. Those who overcome will be given power over the nations, it says. I don't see any of you having power over the nations at this point. I really don't think the nations are listening to me. No one's calling me up for advice from Hungary. Or any other country. I don't have power over the nations.

So again, the Laodiceans were considered lukewarm. We have members in various Church of God groups who are zealous, not just here in the United Church of God, but in other groups. They're zealous people.

They're there for whatever reasons. God knows.

God knows exactly what's going on down here. So there are some who are zealous, but no doubt there are some who also lack the direction and the single-mindedness of a more united and unified Church. The more united and unified the United Church of God is, the better off we are if we're united under Christ. If we're doing it His way, if we're pleasing Him, then that's a beautiful thing. So be zealous, not lukewarm. Repent of any lack of spiritual zeal. A seventh lesson is to beware the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Nicolaitans, not Liatans. It's Nicolaitans. We are to hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans. Now, in Ephesians 2, to the Church at Ephesus, not Ephesians 2, but Revelation 2, to the Church in Ephesus, verse 6, But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. So God is commending the Church at Ephesus because they hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans. They had other problems, but they did hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which God also hates. And then in Pergamos, it also talks about these Nicolaitans, verse 12, And to the angel of the Church in Pergamos write, These things says he who has the sharp two-edged sword. Again, Jesus Christ, I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is, and you hold fast to my name. And you did not deny my faith, even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr. So there was persecution, and he was killed among you where Satan dwells. Verse 14, But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam. Now, do you remember Balaam? Old Testament character. Remember Balaam's donkey. All right. So that's the story. And Balak was the king of Moab, and he was trying to get Balaam to curse the Israelites.

And Balaam wanted to curse the Israelites because he wanted the money that the king of Moab was offering him. But he was smart enough to know he dared not.

He pronounced a curse when God was telling him to bless them. So it was very frustrating to Balak that every time he was expecting a curse upon Israel, he got a blessing instead. Pretty interesting story. You can't make this stuff up. You know, you really can't make it up. It's true. It's in the Bible. All right. So he says, I have a few things against you because you have those who hold the doctrine of Balaam who taught Balak to put a stumbling block. So Balaam still wanted money from the king of Moab. He was greedy, and so he did a workaround.

He basically told Balaam to send in the women. Send in the women, because the Israelites had a weakness. And it was the women. And they weren't a really converted bunch. And the women caused a problem. Also, idolatry was a problem. And so they committed sexual immorality, it says.

Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. So God hates that sort of thing. It's interesting, the archaeological study Bible, the NIV version, says the Nicolaitans were a heretical sect that purported to be a part of the church that had worked out a compromise with the pagan society. They apparently taught that spiritual liberty allowed them to practice idolatry and immorality. Now, doesn't Paul address this in Romans? You know, he does. You know, grace is not a license to sin.

And that was a problem that some people had, thinking it was going to give them a license to sin. Ah, the more we sin, the more we can be forgiven. The more grace applied, the better off. That's not how it works. No, they apparently taught that spiritual liberty allowed them to practice idolatry and immorality. And I've added to what they say, two things God clearly condemns. God clearly condemns idolatry and immorality.

Going back to the NIV archaeological study Bible, tradition identifies them with Nicholas of Acts 6, one of the first seven deacons in the Jerusalem church, a prophesylate of Antioch, though the evidence for this claim is merely circumstantial. There's no proof that Nicholas the Deacon was corrupt. He might have been, but if he was, and I'd sure hate to use his name in vain, we don't know. Perhaps it was another Nicholas that also had an influence, but regardless, it was circumstantial, but it did have an impact. And a similar group at Pergamum held to the teaching of the Old Testament, Balaam, through whose influence the Israelites had eaten foods, sacrificed to idols, and committed fornication. So we are to learn and to abhor to hate evil of all sorts. That's what the Bible tells us. God hates the Nicolaitans and their teaching. Christ hates the Nicolaitans and their teaching. And the people in Ephesus also hated this. We should hate evil as well. Psalm 97 verse 10 says, You who love the Lord hate evil. If you love the Lord, then hate evil. He preserves the soul of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked. Proverbs 8, 13 says, The fear of the Lord is to hate evil. Pride and arrogance in the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate. So we should hate all of these things. We should not go there. We should resist that type of behavior and learn to hate evil. Pride and arrogance is not something that we should cozy up to. It's very destructive. And the perverse mouth. You know, we need to be careful with our mouths. Bridal our tongue.

Amos 5 verse 15, a final scripture on this point. Hate evil, love good. This is also a prophetic book. Hate evil, love good, establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. There will be a remnant of Joseph that it talks about. Are we not spiritually the remnant of Joseph? Joseph was a fine man. In many ways, Joseph set one of the best examples of any man in the Bible.

So lesson number seven again was to beware the doctrine of Balaam and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, idolatry, and sexual immorality. You know, those are very fleshly things, especially the sexual immorality. That's something that we should resist. Even though we live in a very permissive society that says, it's okay, it's not a problem, if it feels good, do it. You know, you don't have to worry about any consequences. We'll cover those up for you. Don't worry about it. We'll take care of it. It's a very permissive society, and we have to be careful that we don't allow this society to rub off on us like they did in Ephesus. We need to be careful. Eighth, an eighth lesson, goes right along with what we've just been saying. Don't commit physical or spiritual fornication, and allow the spirit of Jezebel to seduce you. There is a spirit of Jezebel, and it's talked about in the churches of Revelation. Revelation 2, verse 18. And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things, says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like brass, I know your works, your love, your service, your faith, and your patience. And as for your works, the last are more than the first. So that was a good thing that he was commending them for. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you. Because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls you to the church, calls herself a prophetess. Now, nowhere else in the Bible is she called a prophetess, but she certainly was cozied up to the prophets of Baal. Remember that incident with Jezebel and the prophets of Baal, and the prophets of God, and the seven thousand who would not bow, and the incident with the altar, and God intervening, and showing exactly who he was with, those who worshipped him. Not those who worshipped Baal.

So here it speaks of Jezebel. She calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality. Okay, that's, you know, that's not a thing of the past. That still goes on today. And it does cause problems in the church. So we need to be careful that we don't exercise any kind of sexual immorality, whatever type that may be.

And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed, I will cast her into a sick bed, and those who commit adultery with her, into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. So again, repentance, a huge theme. Now from the archaeological Bible, it says, others at Thyatira, and this is along with the section that I already read, others at Thyatira were followers of the wicked queen Jezebel. From their heretical tendencies, it would appear that all three groups were Nicolaitans. So this group of people who were influenced by Jezebel were also Nicolaitans, it says. A sect of Nicolaitans existed later among the Gnostics in the third century, as is known from Church Fathers at the time, Araneus, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian. It probably had its origin, and the group condemned in Revelation. So number eight was don't commit physical or spiritual fornication. So spiritually, we should not allow other false religions to influence us. We should be very careful that we don't allow that. That's something to stand up against. Number nine, watch. We're told to watch, or I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I come.

So to the Church at Sardis, it tells them to watch. And to the angel of the Church in Sardis, write, these things says, he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, I know your works, that you have a name, that you are alive, but you are dead. So that's not good. They had some issues. Be watchful. They weren't completely dead, were they? Because he's telling them to be watchful. And strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die.

They haven't completely died. They're ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. So we need to be careful while we're still alive, spiritually. Remember verse 3, therefore, remember therefore how you have received and heard, hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief. So we have to be watching. And what does that mean?

And you will not know what hour I will come upon you. So we need to be watching. Jesus tells them that if they don't watch, I will come quickly upon you. The main way one watches is by being always spiritually prepared. And in good standing with God as a righteous, God-fearing, and God-loving man and woman. So that's how we watch. By being in a good relationship with God the Father and with Jesus Christ. In Luke 21, verses 34-36, we're also told to watch. Remember, watch and pray always. Let's go to Luke chapter 21.

Luke 21, verses 34-36. Luke 21, verse 34.

And take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. So it is allowing the permissive society to influence us, the pagan society, the ungodly society, the cares of this life, to become drunken, to do that sort of thing. For as a snare shall it come on all of them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. So this is coming upon the whole earth. This has not yet happened. Watch you therefore and pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. So it's interesting when we tie that into the direction to the church in Sardis. Watch and pray that you may be counted worthy.

So going on to a tenth lesson. Even in Sardis, the dead church, there are some faithful members who are worthy so make no excuses. Make no excuses because even in the dead church there were some faithful members who were worthy. So you can't use the excuse, no one else was spiritually strong.

No one else was. That doesn't cut it. We need to be spiritually strong no matter what's going on around us, no matter what everyone else is doing. We have to stand up and be counted.

No matter where a person is when God calls them, they need to be faithful to God.

Wherever it is.

In Revelation 3, 4, even in Sardis, it says there are some who have not defiled their garments and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the book of life, but I will confess his name before my father and before his angels. Again, God will never leave us, never forsake us, He will be there for us always. He will confess this person's name before my father and before his angels. So let us stay faithful. Number 11. Keep God's word. 10 leads right into 11. Be faithful, keep God's word, and do not deny His name. Persevere, hold fast, and escape the hour of trial. In other words, exercise your faith in God, in Christ, and in His way of life. Be faithful. Now, it's very interesting, and I'm going to go through this quickly because I'm running out of time. But in Ephesus, Revelation 2, 3, and you have persevered and have patience and have labored for my name's sake and have not become weary. So in Ephesus, there were some who had not become weary. They were faithful, they persevered, they had patience. In Smyrna, verse 10, chapter 2, Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. To Pergamos, and to the angel of the church in Pergamos, I know your works and where you dwell. This is chapter 2, verse 13. I know your works where you dwell, where Satan's throne is, and you hold fast to my name. You do not deny my faith, even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr who was killed among you. So they were faithful in Pergamos, some of them, Thyatira, but hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations. So Thyatira, there were those who held fast. Sardis, I already read that, be watchful, strengthen the things which remain. Revelation 3, verse 2, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect. Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Hold fast and repent. Hold fast and repent. That's the big message from all the churches of Revelation. Philadelphia, in this one, verse 10, Revelation 3, verse 10, Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial, which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth. We shall be tested if we happen to be alive when Christ returns. We will be tested regardless. We're being tested now. Every day we're being tested.

Last lesson, number 12, those who overcome and endure to the end will be given great reward. They will be given great reward. I think you've probably picked up on that by now, that there is great reward for those who are faithful, who overcome and endure to the end. In every case, after each one of the churches, to Him who overcomes, to Him who overcomes, to Him who overcomes, I will give them to eat from the tree of life. I will allow them to eat the hidden manna. They will receive a new name. They will be given power over the nations. They will be given the crown of life. They won't be hurt by the second death. They will be clothed in white garments, and your name shall remain in the book of life. You will be a pillar in the temple of God. That's the message for those who overcome. You will sit on Jesus' throne. Those are all awesome promises for those who are faithful, who are repentant, and who overcome. So, brethren, the book of Revelation is a fascinating book, and the message to the seven churches applies in many ways to all of us today. I don't have time to summarize all twelve of them, because I'm already over time. But if you need one, let me know. I know I went quickly. I've got them all here for you. You can take a picture. You'll have them all. So, let us apply these twelve lessons that we've talked about today, and let us be sure we are ready to face whatever may come our way in the days, the weeks, the months, and the years ahead. We simply do not know what tomorrow will bring. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Continue to have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend.