Chapter 3: More Testimonies from Jesus
“Thy judgments are a great deep.” Psalm 36:6
More messages of reproof. Let’s face it, God is a consuming fire to sin. It feels like He scourges every son He receives! God is tough. He has to be, because humanity is stubborn and tough. But behind His majestic toughness, is a never-dying compassion. He will struggle on with us as long as we are willing to struggle along with Him. He will wrestle until we cry uncle and bow to His justification.
Sardis (3:1): A letter of hope and also of warning. The Protestant Reformation would begin with power to turn the church around, but then begin to retreat. “I am watchful over you. Be careful, and strengthen the things that are ready to die. Remember back to the things you received and heard from Me, and cling to them and you will stay repentant and alert. If you don’t watch and stay repentant, I will come as a thief and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have only a few names which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.”
Philadelphia (3:7): The second advent of Christ was finally to come about. Centuries had passed since Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin, and only a small group among those who professed Protestantism clung to the principles of the Reformation while most turned down the global revival that sprang up in the 1830’s and 1840’s. “To the angel of the church of brotherly love write: These things says He that is holy, He that is true, He that has the Key of David, He that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens; I know your work, and behold, I have set before you an open door which no man can shut; for you have only a little strength, and have kept My word and have not denied My name.” Holding onto the Bible when everything seemed hopeless in a world of deism; clinging to the dim light of truth through the long period of pressing Biblical darkness that had fallen on the churches, resulted in receiving the cherished hope of the final redemption of the world. The door of acceptance, as instruments of truth, was fast closing on the mainline Protestant churches and opening to one last chance for the Reformation. The Adventists had come to town. To them it was written, “Because you have kept the word of My patience, I will also keep you from the hour of temptation which will come upon all the world, to try them that live on the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.”
Laodicea (3:14): Back into the slump for God’s church; back into apostasy, but this is the final time, for this is the last church period for Christian dispensation. The door to heaven is open, never to be shut again. The great controversy is almost over. The hour of temptation is come upon all the world. The words from Jesus are blinding in their starkness and pointedness, no less than those written to Thyatira. “I see your reckless life, and I will remove you. Because you boast, I am wealthy and self-sufficient, and I will never have sorrow; yet you don’t know the fumbling drunk of Ladies Hour that you are, how wretched you are, how miserable, how poor, and blind, and naked—.” “Buy of Me real love tried in the fires of hardship and persecution—the true riches, and purity, that you may be clothed so that your embarrassing self-indulgence may not appear; and let Me touch those blurred eyes so that you again can see the truth and the possibility of holiness.” “The ones I love, I rebuke and chasten. Arouse, then, and repent.” “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone can hear Me calling, and allows Me in, I promise we will have a very nice visit together.”
Now we are clean through the word which He has spoken to us. Our heavenly High Priest has prepared our hearts and minds to receive the revelation that follows. Thus completes Christ’s messages to the church from John’s day down to ours. They are full of warning and they are full of reproof, but recognize the evidence of long-suffering mercy throughout and the sound of a caring parent in the voice of One who confided before, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” These words are full of evidence that Christ’s presence is still among us today, albeit He calls from without. Concise, but to the point are the testimonies for the church. For they show us the seriousness with which Jesus regards the mission of His gospel.
Despite the gift of His Son in this new dispensation, God’s people again have “provoked Him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.” Nevertheless He will regard their affliction, when He hears their cry: and He will remember His covenant with them, and repent according to the multitude of His mercies. He will make them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives. “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto Thy holy name, and to triumph in Thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.” Ps. 106:43-48.
More messages of reproof. Let’s face it, God is a consuming fire to sin. It feels like He scourges every son He receives! God is tough. He has to be, because humanity is stubborn and tough. But behind His majestic toughness, is a never-dying compassion. He will struggle on with us as long as we are willing to struggle along with Him. He will wrestle until we cry uncle and bow to His justification.
Sardis (3:1): A letter of hope and also of warning. The Protestant Reformation would begin with power to turn the church around, but then begin to retreat. “I am watchful over you. Be careful, and strengthen the things that are ready to die. Remember back to the things you received and heard from Me, and cling to them and you will stay repentant and alert. If you don’t watch and stay repentant, I will come as a thief and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have only a few names which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.”
Philadelphia (3:7): The second advent of Christ was finally to come about. Centuries had passed since Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin, and only a small group among those who professed Protestantism clung to the principles of the Reformation while most turned down the global revival that sprang up in the 1830’s and 1840’s. “To the angel of the church of brotherly love write: These things says He that is holy, He that is true, He that has the Key of David, He that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens; I know your work, and behold, I have set before you an open door which no man can shut; for you have only a little strength, and have kept My word and have not denied My name.” Holding onto the Bible when everything seemed hopeless in a world of deism; clinging to the dim light of truth through the long period of pressing Biblical darkness that had fallen on the churches, resulted in receiving the cherished hope of the final redemption of the world. The door of acceptance, as instruments of truth, was fast closing on the mainline Protestant churches and opening to one last chance for the Reformation. The Adventists had come to town. To them it was written, “Because you have kept the word of My patience, I will also keep you from the hour of temptation which will come upon all the world, to try them that live on the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.”
Laodicea (3:14): Back into the slump for God’s church; back into apostasy, but this is the final time, for this is the last church period for Christian dispensation. The door to heaven is open, never to be shut again. The great controversy is almost over. The hour of temptation is come upon all the world. The words from Jesus are blinding in their starkness and pointedness, no less than those written to Thyatira. “I see your reckless life, and I will remove you. Because you boast, I am wealthy and self-sufficient, and I will never have sorrow; yet you don’t know the fumbling drunk of Ladies Hour that you are, how wretched you are, how miserable, how poor, and blind, and naked—.” “Buy of Me real love tried in the fires of hardship and persecution—the true riches, and purity, that you may be clothed so that your embarrassing self-indulgence may not appear; and let Me touch those blurred eyes so that you again can see the truth and the possibility of holiness.” “The ones I love, I rebuke and chasten. Arouse, then, and repent.” “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone can hear Me calling, and allows Me in, I promise we will have a very nice visit together.”
Now we are clean through the word which He has spoken to us. Our heavenly High Priest has prepared our hearts and minds to receive the revelation that follows. Thus completes Christ’s messages to the church from John’s day down to ours. They are full of warning and they are full of reproof, but recognize the evidence of long-suffering mercy throughout and the sound of a caring parent in the voice of One who confided before, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” These words are full of evidence that Christ’s presence is still among us today, albeit He calls from without. Concise, but to the point are the testimonies for the church. For they show us the seriousness with which Jesus regards the mission of His gospel.
Despite the gift of His Son in this new dispensation, God’s people again have “provoked Him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.” Nevertheless He will regard their affliction, when He hears their cry: and He will remember His covenant with them, and repent according to the multitude of His mercies. He will make them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives. “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto Thy holy name, and to triumph in Thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.” Ps. 106:43-48.
posted by David | 10:19 AM
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