Revelation
Early Warnings

Revelation
Introduction
 

Matthew 24:3
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

The “this” above is the destruction of Herod’s Temple and the rest of the question belongs to “the end of the age.” In the letter that we call Revelation we find many answers to the questions concerning the end of the age. From Revelation and other prophetic offerings in scripture, (especially from the Book of Daniel), we can accurately piece together the purpose and events of the end of this age and even get a glimpse into the glorious age to come!

Revelation 1:1-2
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw-that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Prophetically speaking the terminology of “soon” is more relative to things eternal than temporal. However, the word “must” is an absolute.

Matthew 24:4-7
Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.”

The problem that mankind in general has with prophecy, whether of old or current, is that we are in large rebellious, self-absorbed, and speculative. Man desires control and prophecy either takes control away or moves us to choices of consequence. If we can get lost in speculation then we psychologically lessen the urgency and relevance of prophecy. Because we are self-absorbed then we would rather test the veracity of prophecies and focus on the sensational rather than receive the purpose and be obedient to the Lord.

The purpose of the Book of Revelation is not to reveal the antichrist and his evil, but to show Christ in His glory. The reason that this prophecy was to the Church, not the world, was so that the Church would not be ignorant of that which is to come and would give warning to remain faithful to Christ lest we ourselves become partakers of God’s wrath. Thus many look past the intent of the letter to get to the “wow” of the letter. The intent is to warn the Church and in so doing to cause us to stay focused on the One who “was dead but is alive for ever and ever!”

If the Church will heed the warnings of Christ, the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings, and keep our love fresh and alive for the Living One, then we will see this prophecy unfold from heaven rather than experience it on earth. The wrath of God will take place on earth but the glory of God and the Lamb will displayed in heaven and then at last on earth!

Revelation is explanation of what is now and the revelation of what will be. There is judgment and there is reward. We will have before us the giving of two marks; one will save and one will damn. Yet this is not the story of the antichrist, Russia, or even famine and death. This is the story of the King and His family, both the Church and Israel. This is about the judgment of the world, the saving of Jacob and of the glory of the Lamb and His Bride!

And this is blessing!

Revelation 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

Revelation

The Gospel

 
Revelation 1:4-8
To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father-to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7 Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

That Jesus is God and that God came in the flesh, died for us, rose again to life to ever make intercession for those that believe on Him, and that He is coming again is the central focus of the Bible. All other teachings fall under this heading and only work to support that God came in the flesh to save the world! Remember the story of Revelation is the story of Christ and the salvation that He has given to man which includes the glory of believing and the consequences of refusing to believe.

1 John 2:21-23
I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist-he denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.

To deny any aspect of the reality of Christ is to deny the Son completely as well as the Father! The power behind the denial of Christ in all of His glory and reality is satan and the force of satan on this earth is the spirit of antichrist!

1 John 4: (1-6) 2-4
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

There are many that have already left the pure doctrine of Christ and have given into the spirit of antichrist. They have denied the first coming of Christ and therefore they have denied the second coming of Christ and they have no part in Christ!

2 John 7-11
Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. 9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

Christ has come and is coming! He is and He was from the beginning! (John 1:1-14) Salvation is only through faith in His blood! (Romans 3:21-26) He is the Firstborn from the dead that all who believe on Him may live! (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) In Him we are the Children of God, and a royal priesthood that will reign with Christ forever! (2 Timothy 8-13, 1 Peter 2:9-10) (Colossians 1:13-20) We will reign with Him for He is coming again! (Zechariah 14:7-14)

Acts 1:10-11
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

Revelation
To and From

Revelation 1:9-11
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea." 

The “To” and the “From” are everything in this letter. As we have said before, this is not a letter to the world but to the Church. The Church is found within the seven churches. The One that is the Lord of the Church, on whom the Church is built and intertwined in, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Son of Man and Son of God is the One that dictates personally the specific information to each church. As the information comes from Christ then it is beyond dispute for He is the Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18) and His judgment is true. (John 5:30)

From:
Revelation 1:(12-) 17-18
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

There are many that focus on different meanings that have been attached to the appearance of Christ as He stands before John, yet these are supposition and take away form the picture of the glorified Christ. John sees Jesus as the glorified culmination of Man and God. That the One standing before John is man is clearly seen but that He is more than man is also seen. What is of utmost concern to us is that this one is the Son of Man. If not, there is no hope for man.

Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Daniel 7:13-14
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

All that the Church is is in Christ. All that the world was determined to be is in Christ.

Ephesians 4:15-16 

Colossians 1:15-17
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

To:
Revelation 1:19-20
“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20 The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

To the pastor and to the congregations of the seven churches - which by representation make up the Church. The pastor is responsible for the church and yet the church is responsible for itself as to what it will hear and endure. There is no blame for the one on the other. The message is to both and so we have a joint warning and a joint promise. That the message is to the pastors and the churches shows the place, as well as the responsibility of the Church in the world.

Matthew 28:17-20
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jude 3
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

Revelation
Churches and Circumstances

Our Lord’s attention falls on seven churches in Asia, modern day Turkey, their pastors and all that is associated with them. While Jesus died for the world, His attention is on the Church. As we understand that Revelation concerns the wrath of God that is to come upon the unbelieving world, (Revelation 6:15-17), then we understand the focus of Christ upon those that make up and claim to be His Church. The wrath that is coming upon the world is not for the Church. (Romans 5:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11) Yet Christ does judge His Church.

1 Peter 4:17-18 (NKJV)
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (Proverbs 11:31)

That the Church is judged while on earth for a true love of Christ, pure doctrine, and doing good does away with all theories and teachings to the contrary. We will see that Jesus does expect certain attitudes, behavior, and passion from those that claim His name. We have not entered salvation founded in legality but in love and so we must respond in love.

1 John 4:19   
We love because he first loved us.

Our hearts determine our lives. (Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 6:21, 12:34) Even if we disagree but still allow or compromise, we have shown that our hearts value others over Christ. If we seek after that which ministers to the will of the flesh, then we show our hearts to be impure. To Christ there is no compromise with the world for to love one is to hate the other. (Matthew 6:22-24)

There are only two churches that receive no rebuke or warning. The other five struggle with issues of love, fidelity, doctrinal purity, and just self absorption. The doctrinal impurity while named cannot always be defined completely yet enough is known to give us understanding.

The first doctrinal issues arise with the mention of the Nicolaitans. Strangely enough this group’s founder was one of the original seven deacons! (Acts 6:1-6) It is from this man that the proper authority structure in the Church was turned upside down. He desired that pastors take on a role more closely aligned with that of a priesthood that would be removed from a place of true authority and that those not called to an office gift (Ephesians 4:11-13) should rule over the church – even in matters of doctrine. As for their other practices they seemed to have justified partaking in the religious feasts and celebrations of the pagan world even though these involved openly eating food sacrificed to idols and partaking in the sexual rites accompanying the worship of idols. These practices and others that perverted the Paul’s message of freedom carried over into their worship services. They also denied the true Lordship of Christ! Christ hates their ways and sees no room for compromise.

Jude 3-4
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

With the Nicolaitans were those that followed the way of Balaam. (Numbers 22 – 24, 31) These also practiced entering into pagan feasts, so as not to be seen as strange to those around them. As Balaam taught Balak to win over the Israelites through food offered to idols and the sexual practices that accompanied idolatry, (Numbers 25) then these would have tried to win people to Christ through joining into celebrations as a way of showing that you could be a “Christian” and still do as the world. These practices would have also been used to lure weaker Christians into their evil.

Then there is the false prophetess Jezebel. She of course is spiritually named for Jezebel the wife of Ahab, king of Israel, who brought her priests (prophets) of Baal and Asherah with her to Israel and killed the prophets of God. (1 Kings 16, 18, 19) She also took advantage of a weak husband to take authority that was not hers to take. From this we see that this prophetess would have brought in idolatry or some “higher” form of worship and that she usurped authority from the true leaders of the church through their weakness and fear of the people.

2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

Our love of Christ must be pure or we will enter into the wrath that is stored up for the world. (Romans 2:1-11) To love God and His Son is to obey His commands. (1 John 5:1-5) To love Him we must believe Him which is to believe His Word, which is to follow and teach only His Word. (Galatians 1:6-9)

Revelation
Love and Suffering

Revelation 2:1-2 (-7)
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your deeds . . . “

Christ judges His Church. He knows the work and heart of the Church. (Hebrews 4:12) In Ephesus they were so close in so many areas! They were strong in doctrine and keeping false teachers and leaders away! They hated the false teachings of the day but they were a passionless church that had left the height of love!

Revelation 2:4-5
“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

To be so careful in so many things but to be without love is an offense that destroys many great churches. Does Christ want doctrinal purity and the right leadership? Yes He does. Christ does not accept choosing to excel in one area over another. If you excel in love but compromise in doctrine He will not approve. Love dictates obedience and fidelity. (1 John 4:19 - 5:5) Yet if you are careful in doctrine but fail in love what reason do you have for remaining strong in doctrine?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Great worship, amazing preaching, and perfectly kept beliefs are empty if a church is not passionately in love with Jesus! (There will not be perfectly held beliefs because if there is little or no real love towards Christ, there is little or no real love towards others!)

Mark 12:30
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’”

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.”

So many around the world are part of this Church! (Especially in the Mid-East, Asia, and Africa!) Persecution and even death is part of their life but they remain faithful. Most have little compared to the rest of the Church, but they serve God anyway and have so much more than most believers that have all that the world cherishes!

We must always pray for those in areas of persecution. Because of the idolatry and false worship that has held their lands for centuries and governmental brutality they suffer much for there is no real human decency, (which is really God’s decency.) They stand and yet they suffer so much - but great is their reward!

Matthew 5:10-12
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Romans 8:17
Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Revelation
Faithful and Yet Wandering

Revelation 2:12 (- 17)
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.”

Hebrews 4:11-13
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The “rest” of God is complete faith in His Christ as our salvation. If we believe that everything of God is found in Jesus then we can only remain faithful. If we really believe that all is in Christ then we will never return to the Law, we will never accept false teaching or teachers, and we will never be able to find a common place with darkness and certainly not in the name of the Gospel!

2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (- 7:1)
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.”

Pergamum had used the world to reach the world. Using the world and the elements thereof to reach the world gives the gods of the world a place in the church, (the perceived church), not the other way around. To add to this they had left the Apostolic order as given to the Church by Jesus Himself (Ephesians 4) and therefore had separated themselves from the authority of God! Still in this there were those that were faithful to the “rest” of God and the church as a whole had stood firm in the face of persecution. (Undergoing persecution does not make all that you do right before God!) Those that choose to be less than faithful will be fought against by Christ Himself. His Word determines our place with Him. If Christ must fight against those that resist His truth and ways, then what chance do they have? [This could also mean that many would go through the tribulation, clinging to their false beliefs and in the end have Christ consume them with the brightness of His coming! (See Revelation 19:11-16)]

Revelation 2:18 (- 29)
“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.”

There is so much to say about this church and yet there is such sadness with it all. They are a dynamic church and yet they have allowed such a spirit of deception to control them and all in the name of higher understanding! How do you enter into “higher understanding”? You turn away from those that teach the Word of God and turn to higher education and to special revelation and knowledge.* In following higher knowledge and special revelation you leave the right interpretation of the Word (2 Peter 1:20-21) and the true structure of the Body of Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. The church is then controlled by those that make themselves an authority based on their special knowledge, charisma, and private revelation which are nothing more than satan’s deep secrets. (These are presented as the deep truths of God but deceitfully use the Word to teach the ways of rebellion and greed.) Jezebel assumes authority over the called leaders of God and works division in the church. The “Jezebels” make their insight known and use it against the pastor and other God called leaders to gain influence over the people to bring them under their control. They make themselves indispensable to the people and thereby control all that is allowed in the church for no matter what is done according to the Word, all must receive their approval or it is “not God’s will.” 

Their work is particularly contemptible to Jesus. (Revelation 2:21-23) There is such a finality in His words concerning these for there is no repentance in their hearts for they are sure that they are right and they resist all authority, even that of Christ Himself! Yet again there is a remnant left to Jesus! On these He simply says to hold on to His Truth! Oh great is the grace of God!

Revelation 2:24-25
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.

* There are many in the Body that have turned to formal education as the answer for the church. This is not a condemnation against education but the dependence on education rather than the Holy Spirit. While our teaching focuses on the teachings of satan’s rebellion in the Church the other is as much a part of Jezebel’s teaching and spirit as the obvious.

Revelation
Pretenders and Contenders

Revelation 3:1 (-6)
“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.”

Matthew 23:27-28
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

The “alive but dead” church. . . There are no limitations here; both the more orthodox and the more liberal churches can be here. This category includes churches from all persuasions. Obviously it includes those that deny the power of God and have only a outward presentation of morality and religion, but also would include many that have a show of power and liveliness but have no true doctrine and live by the appearance of faith more than true faith. Doctrine taught but not lived is the truth being ignored. We do not decide how all should be; the Word (Hebrews 4:12) judges. Popularity means no more than tradition before God. True faith in Christ brings life. The right life is not always decorated just right but it does overcome and it has a promise that sustains it when all else is failing. Yet if these are to wake up and return to faith in Christ over tradition and show, then they too will overcome!

Revelation 3:4
“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.”

1 Kings 19:18
“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel-all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.”

In most churches there are those that remain faithful. (Not all.) They love the Lord and yet they are either stuck where they are or they think that they must stay to pray and witness the love and power of God. The same is true of a generation. We all stand together as a body and yet we are judged alone. (2 Peter 2:4-10; See also 1 Peter 4:17-18, 1 John 4:15-18)

Revelation 3:7 (-13)
“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.” (Isaiah 22:22)

Here we have a great description of the average faithful and believing church of our day, faithful but with little power. They have an open door to heaven but go in so rarely. (2 Corinthians 2:20, Hebrews 4:16, 10:19-22) They stand faithful and preach of power but have few miracles and deliverances. Yet they stand and are faithful. They are weary fighters and yet they stand and fight. They are looked down on by other churches for they do not have all of the displays of power that they once had, but they have remained true to Christ. They just stand back, afraid of “being in the flesh” and still under the conviction that grace is just a place to start and that God will only do so much. Still they are overcoming and they will be kept from the tribulation that is to come.

Revelation 3:10
“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.”

This church is the one that has been faithful in a few things and so they can be in charge of many things! (Matthew 25:21, 23) And yet they too receive a warning to endure!

Revelation 3:11
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”

Hebrews 3:12-15
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
(See also Matthew 24:45-51, Mark 13:13, 1 Corinthians 1:4-9, and Jude 24)

Revelation
Neither Nor

Revelation 3:14 (-22)
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.”

The Laodicean church is the hardest church to reach of all churches and so many fall into this category. They are not this way or that - neither on fire nor cold, they are satisfied and full of where they are in the world and in their understanding of spiritual things. Their own view of their position is far from the judgment of Jesus.

Revelation 3:15
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

Self satisfaction is a dangerous thing. Finding that comfortable place where you see no need of anything is dangerous to the point of losing everything. (We see this in the U. S. A. in every aspect today.) To see yourself, your church, or any area of life as being without need of anyone or anything greater is to die without realizing that you are dead. The militant atheist is more alive than the “casual” Christian that sees their life as in need of nothing more than a comfortable church and their own self sufficiency. Life in Christ is a life of faith. True faith brings with it the desire to obtain all that we have promised in Christ! (Hebrews 11:6) To do less is to do nothing and to reach for nothing is unacceptable to God.

Revelation 3:16 - 17
“So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”

We see in Paul the desire for all that God has for us in Christ!

Philippians 3:10-16
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

Better yet, we see the attitude of attaining all that there is to receive in Jesus!

Philippians 2:6-11
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

No matter how glorious the experience, how great the revival, how wonderful the blessing – there is a greater glory that we must seek or we will settle for less. If we seek we will find (Matthew 7:7), but if we stop we will come to nothing!

Yet Christ loves His Church! (Ephesians 5:25-27) He is never seeking to push us away but to bring us near!

Revelation 3:19-20
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (Hebrews 12:5-6)

This is the heart of God! He is never willing for any to perish! (2 Peter 3:9) All He asks is that we desire Him to the point that we seek Him. (1 Peter 5:6) To seek Him we must see our need of Him. Yet if we see ourselves as having all that we need why would we seek God?

Desire is the key. A good service or even a great revival cannot bring change if desire is not active. Hearing the Gospel preached comes to nothing if desire is absent. Prayer meetings, special prayer, the laying on of hands, prophecies and the like are all powerless without desire for the fullness of God in Christ. This is such a dangerous place to be and the ones there rarely realize where they truly are.

Matthew 13:11-17

Revelation 3:22
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." 

Revelation
He Who Has an Ear

We do not blindly serve God. Our reward is plain. The only question is; who will receive the prize? The answer over and over again is the one that overcomes. Who is the one that overcomes? The one that remains faithful and runs to win! (Matthew 24:12-14 and 1 Corinthians 9:24)

We know that the prize consists of eternal life, (John 3:16), but will there be more?

1. Revelation 2:7
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

In the first Adam men lost the right to eat of this healing and sustaining tree, (Genesis 2:9, 3:22-24) but in the last Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45-49), we will eat what no man has ever tasted! (See Revelation 21:1-3 and 22:1-2, 14)

2. Revelation 2:11
He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Revelation 20:14-15
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Once we have overcome there is no testing or trial for we have become fully like Jesus! (See 1 John 3:1-3)

3. Revelation 2:17b
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 it.

As for the manna, is it symbolic or literal manna? (See John 6:47-51) Are there mysteries yet to be shown to the faithful?

The white stone would speak at the time as approval in one form or another and as for the name, we have a surprise coming for names mean something to God and the name He has for you will explain all, show all, and prophecy all about you!

4. Revelation 2:26-28
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations- 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.

We will share in all things with Jesus – even His authority and rule! (See Psalms 2:7-9, John 17:24, Romans 8:17, 1 Corinthians 6:3-4, 2 Timothy 2:12, Jude 14-15)

Revelation 22:16
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." 

The great news of the Covenant is that God has given Himself to us, (Genesis 15:1), and the one that overcomes will now be given God’s Son as his reward! [If you have God, you have all that He has and as all has been given to the Son, (Matthew 28:18) if you have Jesus – you have all that He has!]

5. Revelation 3:4-5
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.

Revelation 19:6-8 (See also Isaiah 1:18)

The consummation of our faith is eternal and we will ever be presented to the Father!

Matthew 10:32-33
 
6. Revelation 3:12-13
Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.

If you have been faithful here on earth you are a pillar of the Church and all will be the same in heaven! All will be recognized for their faithfulness and we will receive banners with names of God, the New Jerusalem and we will be given one as Jesus Himself wears proclaiming “The Lord of Lords and the King of Kings!” (See Revelation 19:16) This is being a full Son of God -to share in all things with Jesus!

7. Revelation 3:21
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

How much more could you want? We overcome by Jesus and now we are given the same reward for His work!

Ephesians 2:6-7 (Comp. Ephesians 1:18-21)
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.