9303a

This is Pamphlet #9303a, Study #308 in our series. Much of it taken from ntrevelation3
The truth about:

REVELATION

OF SAINT JOHN THE DIVINE BY JESUS CHRIST

Chapter 3 begins after the line of red stars ************* below.

But First please note:

Many churches stay clear of the Book of Revelation on a verse by verse study, because they teach;

"You're going to be gone anyway at that time".

They also say;
"It's not to be understood yet".

This is odd because the very word "Revelation"
means to "to reveal" or "unveil" something.

When you unveil anything,

you make it known.

The book of Revelation is a sister book to the book of Daniel in the Old Testament.

Both of these books were written to the people who live in the final generation, of the "latter days".

Daniel was told to, "shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:" [Daniel 12:4].

He was told by God; "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand: but the wise shall understand." [Daniel 12:10]

The wise are those who study God's word, line upon line, chapter upon chapter, and all these words are wisdom from God.

This is why the wise should understand.

As we study Revelation, let us take a fresh look at the book, and allow God's Word to speak through us. Let's permit the Holy Spirit to allow His words to speak to our hearts which is our minds with understanding.

This chapter covers a time period that most people living on the face of the earth today will live through, and the wise Christian should understand these teachings.

So, be very cautious of any group that would tell you not to study, or to throw away part of God's word. Those are words Satan would use.

Caution to students of God;s Word - Please remember two things when using our American Wisdom Series studies:
#1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Drake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it? Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "studies". These studies contain knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God.
May the Holy Spirit be your only guiding light. Sincerely, John Rhine

Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you

This Bible Study was originally written by Roger Christopherson,
published at http://www.theseason.org/.

Without the leading by the Holy Spirit, there is no understanding of the truths, for all the truth of the Scriptures are revealed to us by God's Spirit.

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Revelation 3:1 "And unto the angel of the church in Sar'-dis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."

Sardis was the ancient capital of Lydia, and as such, attracted merchant and commercial activity from all parts of Asia. Traditions were common and many. The "seven Spirits" mentioned here are those possessed by our Lord Jesus Christ. See the notes on verse 1:4. The "seven stars" are the angels overseeing the seven churches.

This church is dead, with no spiritual life left in it. Their religious service has become nothing but a form, a process to be followed, usually within a church system.

Revelation 3:2 "Be watchful, and strengthen [stablish] the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect [found no works of thine fulfilled] before God."

This church is in trouble with God. They are dead because they are so far from the truth of God's Word that they don't even understand the simple terms of the Bible. Words such as Passover, salvation, sin, repentance and so on, just don't fit in their Sunday morning sermons.

Historically, this church at Sardis was strong in the worship to "Cybele" [the mother of the gods], also called "Ishtar". Do you remember her? Well God despised Ishtar, and many churches today get this heathen worship all mixed up in their Christianity. They call it "Easter", and use it instead of "Passover".

This church of Sardis forgot all about "Passover", However the fertility rights of rolling Easter eggs to Ishtar became a sacred and holy thing; something special at Easter. It is one of the tradition practiced today which ties many churches to the church at Sardis.

Sexual orgies also took place during the egg rolling times, however today most churches have cleaned up their act, and Christianized their heathen customs and holidays. The Sardis church also practiced Sunday morning sunrise services to honor the rising of the sun, in their sun god worship, also relating to Ishtar practices. By redefining words and acts, this practice has become traditional, so its a way of hanging on to the heathen customs of the past, and soothing our minds to convince ourselves that it is unto the Lord. Its like a Muslim becoming a Christian, and continuing to bow to Mecca, only now he has changed the word "Allah" to "Jesus", and he thinks that it's all okay with God.

The church at Sardis never offended anyone, even the Sodomites and those in other strange practices were patronized; so as not to offend anyone who desired to worship with them. The Sardis church believed everyone has the right to worship in their own way. Spiritually, Sardis is dead to the Almighty Father. Do you know of any churches that fit this description of Sardis?

Revelation 3:3 "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon you."

Jesus is telling Sardis and any church that is in a pattern to the church of Sardis; to repent and come out of their sin. We are living in the final days and the "hour of temptation" is well under-way. If you remain in a church continuing to practice as Sardis did, you are in trouble when Satan arrives on earth to rule as the Antichrist. The Sardis like churches are spiritually brain dead, and God will not revive them.

Jesus is giving those in this church a stern warning before it is too late, get out!.

Revelation 3:4 "Thou hast a few names even in Sar'-dis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy."

Even in this filth trap of a church called "Sardis", God has a few that understand and study His word and follow the truth. If you can make it in a church like Sardis, you have much going for you in the eyes of our Lord. Many through marriage are trapped into remaining in such a church, and God is with them and will bless them.

Revelation 3:5 "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels."

When you hold true to God's Word even while in Sardis, Jesus said that He will call out your name when you stand before our Heavenly Father, as one of His own. What joy to the believer who overcomes out of Sardis. Your "white garments" are made up of your righteous acts, and thank God for each of these dear souls.

Revelation 3:6 "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."

American Wisdom Series Editor's Note: We are going to stop here in this "Revelation of Jesus Christ" study to review some commentary from verses 1 through 6 in an earlier study we published on the "Revelation of Jesus Christ." I don't believe you will find much difference in the general opinion of these 2 authors, but to read another person's perspective of events that did and will take place may prove helpful in our understanding of Jesus' revelation. Also, our introduction #9300 was taken from this earlier study so keep your eyes open for study tips and rules to help simplify your grasp of Jesus' end time revelation.

Sardis, if you care to research it's history, was a wealthy merchant town and the capital of the ancient Lydia (which Homer called Moeonia), once the "Queen of Asia". How interesting. Not too many years ago there were 6, and there are still 2 standing, of the pillars of Cybele (60 feet high). Those with eyes and ears will take note of the 6's and multiples thereof.

Cybele, also known as Rhea, was the goddess of the growth of natural things in Greek mythology. She was also called the mother of the gods. Hmmm, this sounds like something that could be mixed in with Christianity, don't you think? Hey, people will love it! We'll add some eggs and bunnies.

[2] Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

How much impact does it have upon your mind to realize that these are the very words and instructions from Jesus Christ Himself, as if He were standing talking directly to you, face to face?

[3] Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

You see, if you don't watch, then you'll be in the dark! And if you don't know when the day of the Lord comes, you'll worship the false messiah, guaranteed! Paul told us the exactly same thing as Jesus just told us in verse 3.

1 Thes. 5:2-9
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
[3] For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Hey, the Berlin wall has fallen, the Big Bear (Russia) has gone to sleep, supposedly. The USSR no longer exists. And if you think they aren't saying peace and safety, you haven't got your ears on!

[4] But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

These brethren are "watchers".

[5] Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

There are no surprises to God's elect. He will do nothing lest He first reveal to His servants through the prophets. It is all written in the set of plans.

[6] Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
[7] For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

[8] But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

[9] For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

We completely and totally escape the wrath of God, completely and totally. He's not angry at His children who love and obey Him. Do you get angry with your children when they love and obey you?

Oh yes, God keeps books. He is well organized and maintains a complete database file on everyone of His children. It's much more extensive than Big Brother, it's Big Father. Of course His technology and software far exceeds that of the PC and Windows. His Spirit is linked directly to your brain and the thoughts of your heart and He downloads everything, I mean everything.

So just make sure that your Father is pleased with you so He doesn't "blot out", i.e. hit the Delete Button, on your file in the Book of Life. Why? Because if you check out the word "blot out" in Greek, it means "gone", "erased", i.e. there is no recovery program available, no recycle bin. And so you will not even be history, there will be no record, no archive. It will be as if you never existed. And once again, no matter what the traditions of five out of the seven churches teach, that is Biblical! Test it yourself.

Finally, you should know what is written in the books concerning you. After all, you are writing the story of your own life even now. The question is, have you read His Book to see if maybe yours needs some serious editing?