The 3 Last Days Churches

The 3 Examples

of the Church

in the Last Days

INTRODUCTION

Click to listen to RealPlayer Audio of this Last Days Teaching

We will be exploring the last 3 churches that Jesus address in Revelation chapter 3 of the 7 churches of Asia Minor. There is a very good belief that these various churches, though literal churches in Turkey at the time of John, represents different ages or stages of the “church” from its beginning to its end when Jesus Christ fulfills His promise to come back and take us unto Himself at an even known as the catching away (harpazio) of the church. Some refer to this event as the rapture, and indeed it shall be a rapture to them who are caught up in the air to be with the Lord forever.

Up to the beginning point of this study, Jesus had addressed:

1. Ephesus, the early church with so many works that had lost its first love.

2. Smyrna, the persecuted church that was so well praised and comforted.

3. Pergamos, the church who had been invaded by gnostics and false religion.

4. Thyatira, the church ruled by the false prophetess Jezebel - corruption.

But this study departs just a bit from common thought about the Last Days church. Most who do put time into studying eschatology generally agree that Philadelphia and Laodicea are the two Last Days churches side by side. I have also taught this over the years. But Sardis was not looked as a Last Days church, but as the one leading up this generation. There is still merit in that thought I believe, but I have come to believe that Sardis is the church that ceases at a point to be a church... and dies... names are blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life and Jesus calls them dead. They become apostates.

Before, as we looked for an apostate church in the “falling away”, we centered in on Laodicea. But Laodicea is the lukewarm church that is compromised. They are not literally fallen away completely to where they have damnation to look for with their names removed from the Book of Life. Sardis is the church with that distinction.

The Basic Outline will be as follows:

Revelation 3:1-6; SARDIS - The Dead Apostate Church (the Falling Away)

Revelation 3:7-13; PHILADELPHIA - The Faithful Church (5 Wise Virgins from Matthew 25)

Revelation 3:14-22; LAODICEA - The Compromised Lukewarm Church (5 Foolish Virgins)

Study Notes:

The main study text will be in the (KJV) King James Version, but other translations will be offered for clarity. Abbreviations for the other translations used is as follows: AMP - Amplified; NASB = New American Standard (1977) ; NJB = New Jerusalem Bible; EMP = Emphasized Bible by Rotherham; IGNT = Greek Interlinear NT; ALT = Analytical-Literal Translation; PSH = Syriac Peshitta by Murdock.

REVELATION CHAPTER 3

THE CHURCH AT SARDIS - Revelation 3:1-6 -The spiritually dying church

Revelation 3:1-6 (KJV)1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis 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. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 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. 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 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. 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

CHRIST’S DESCRIPTION

1. He has the 7 spirits of God or the fullness of the Holy Spirit

2. He has the 7 stars or the 7 pastors.

GOOD POINTS

1. A few names who have not defiled themselves

The only good thing about this dying church is that there were a few only that had not backslidden completely and defiled themselves with sin. Just a few in the whole church that wasn’t dead themselves just like everyone else.

BAD POINTS

1. You have a name of being a lively church, but YOU ARE DEAD - apostasy

2. Those that remain are ready to die

3. Works not perfect unto God

They probably knew how to preach and pump up the music and have all the outward signs of a living church... they were probably doing church work, but they were doing it without the benefit of the life of the Holy Spirit. That is why the Holy Spirit is mentioned here, they were a dead church.

They proclaimed their life, but there was no witness of the Holy Spirit of life. Without God in us and our church we are simply whited sepulchers just as the Pharisees in Jesus days... full of dead men’s bones but outwardly beautiful.

This church is actually in worse shape than Laodicea. It represents what the Bible calls the GREAT FALLING AWAY! It is an apostate church that Jesus declares DEAD.

This is not a lukewarm backslidden church that has just strayed, but this is a church who has the majority of its members’ names removed from the Book of Life. They are spiritually dead. That means that there is no more hope for them.

They are Christian in name only, because there is no life of the Holy Spirit left in them. They have fallen away and have given into something that is not of God. They still have works and activity and have a seem-right way, but there is no life of Christ there at all. They are dead.

Ephesians 2:5 tells us how that when we were dead in our sins, that Christ quickened us or gave us life. These have gone from life back into death. This shows that they have left the life of Christ behind. How can that be? It is apostasy.

There is a warning that we are given in scripture that is not wise to ignore: Hebrews 10:24-31 (KJV) “ 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. “

ROMANS 1:18 (KJV) FOR THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN, WHO HOLD THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS;

ROMANS 1:18 (RECOVERY EDITION) “ FOR THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN UPON ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN WHO HOLD DOWN THE TRUTH IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.”

We are living in an age of apostasy where people who have known God and held the truth, and knew the truth have now turned from the truth following seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. There are so many that are now clinging to “another gospel” that preaches “another Christ”, and have literally become apostates and fallen from the truth. THE BIBLE DECLARES THAT THERE WILL BE A GREAT FALLING AWAY AT THE END.

2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NASB) “ Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, “

The falling away or apostasy is the Greek apostasia, which means to forsake or defect to the other side. It is the Greek feminine form of the word apostasion, which means a bill of divorcement.

To fall away or apostate is to get a spiritual divorce from God and to reject Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 (KJV) “ 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”

Note that you have to have had something to fall away from it. To fall away from your salvation and knowledge of God takes to have had it first before you betrayed it and walked away from it.

2 Peter 2:20-21 (KJV) “ 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. “

A lot of times, this is used for backsliding, but it isn’t really for backsliding but for those who becomes apostates and literally turn to their very destruction. Their end judgment is worse than it would have been if they had never been saved at all.

Hebrews 6:4-6 (KJV) “4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

This is not backsliding or just sinning. 1 John 1 lets us know that if we do sin that we can confess our sins and He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The bible also talks about God being married to the backslider. Backslidden people are miserable… they have the nature of God in them convicting them of their sin letting them know that their lifestyles are wrong.

But an apostate literally falls away and turns to another way rejecting Jesus Christ and either not want Him back into their lives, or they turn to another gospel and another Christ and literally blaspheme the Holy Spirit. The covenant is broken just like a spiritual divorce with God, and there is no way to save that person again. They damn themselves. This is the falling away.

There is a process given to us in Romans 1 of how people who have known and walked in truth can fall away and fall into all kinds of evil behavior thinking that they are right. They literally damn themselves by holding the truth in unrighteousness and turning from the truth knowingly.

Romans 1:15-22 (KJV) “ 15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, “

IN SARDIS, the few that were alive are getting ready to die with the rest of the church. There are churches today that rely on their organization and their name but have lost their love and walk with God and although they are religious, they have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.

2 Timothy 3:5-7 “ 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. “

Their works were not perfect before God which means they weren’t allowing the Holy Spirit to do the works of God through them... they were doing them themselves.

Isaiah 64:6 “ But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. “

Ephesians 2:8-10 “ 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. “

If they were doing the works the God ordained should come from them through faith in the Spirit they would be perfect or right. But they like the Pharisees were doing their own rituals and rites and works that didn’t mean anything to the Kingdom of God.

COMMANDMENTS AND WARNINGS

1. Strengthen the ones who remain who are spiritually dying

2. Remember how you received and heard : they once had it and received it but have lost it

3. Hold fast

4. Repent

5. If you don't watch, Jesus will come upon you as a thief

6. Those few even in Sardis who have not defiled themselves shall walk with Jesus in white because they are worthy

Exhorted to help those who are spiritually dying and keep them alive. Remember how it used to be and what you lost and hold fast to what you have left. Repent and get back what you have lost.

The danger is that if you don’t watch, Jesus will come on you as a thief. This is the warning he gave the world about His coming. You will miss the promise and not see Him come.

God has a remnant even in Sardis that will overcome and walk in White. WE will walk in white clothing... bright white of the righteousness of God forever and we will walk with Jesus.

PROMISE TO OVERCOMERS

1. Dressed in white raiment

2. Promise that Jesus will not blot out their name in the book of Life

3. Confess their name before the Father and His angels

We will wear bright white clothing some day! We will be dressed in White... the purity of God. The blood of Jesus Christ has made us white. Isaiah 1:18 “ Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. “

He will not blot out the ones who overcome. But those who spiritually die (even if they have a name of life) will be blotted out. If you will just repent and let His life flow through you then you won’t have your name blotted out.

People can have their name blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life. I know that this is not a popular doctrine with some, but it is there. You can reject Jesus and His life and even be active in church and disinherit yourself. You would be like a disinherited son who rejected your Father... sad!

The prophecy about the persecutors came to pass later when the Romans later would turn their attention to the Jews and they would hide out in the Christian’s homes who they themselves persecuted at one time. It was said that in some of the spectacles that the Romans had in burning alive martyrs, that some Jews would actually gather and stack the fire to burn them.

Here is another reason that it is believed that this is also a Prophetic Message to the church world... that the remnant in the last days of Philadelphia will be kept from the tribulation or Hour of Temptation that will come upon all the Earth.

Luke 21:36 “ Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. “

This represents the 5 wise virgins of Matthew 25. Jesus split the Kingdom of Heaven or the church into 2 groups. The wise half who were ready who had oil or anointing in their vessels, and the foolish half or 5 who had let the oil run down in their lives and were lukewarm.

Matthew 25:1-7 (KJV)1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

Matthew 25:10 (KJV) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

They will be kept from the time of TRIAL OR TRIBULATION that is coming to the whole Earth. They will be accepted and taken at the Midnight Cry!

They are warned not to allow others and problems to distract them from their walk with the Lord. The open door that is open to them is the same open door to the Marriage Supper that you see in Matthew 25. This is the same door that is closed and shut on the 5 foolish Virgins who were not ready.

God opens the doors that HE will have open and HE shuts them as well. He is in control. That is why He tells us to stay ready.

You have a crown coming, so don’t allow any man to take it. Don’t allow the carnality of others to cause you to fall spiritually before the end of your race. Run it to the end and hold fast to your faith.

A pillar in the Temple of God... in Heaven... this means that we are established forever... never more go out... we cannot backslide when we get there. There is not chance of losing what you have with God.

You will not only get a new name for yourself, but you are bound to Jesus Christ and the promise of New Jerusalem and will be sealed by those things forever. Part of our inheritance is being part of that city forever and ever.

Jesus stands OUTSIDE the church wanting in and wanting someone to let Him in. It is their choice.

Revelation 3:14-22 (KJV)14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

What Jesus says is true. His words are faithful... He is the Word of God. And all things were made by Him and for Him.

Colossians 1:16-17 “ 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. “

Lukewarm people like lukewarm food is disgusting to God. The word spew up means to throw up. Jesus is saying that He will throw you up when you are spiritually lukewarm. If you are cold then you know you have a problem, but when you are lukewarm you have just enough of God to make you feel good about yourself. But you are walking a mediocre powerless life.

Matthew 25:8-12 (KJV)8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

Note that the text says that it is better to be hot or cold. I pondered that a long, long time trying to make some sense of it until I heard what one pastor had said. It all clicked then. See, we all understand what to be hot or fervent in the Spirit means. It means to have the oil in your life and have an actual walk with God so that the Holy Spirit is moving through you daily.

But why would God say that He would rather you be cold than lukewarm? To be lukewarm is worse here for you get rejected or literally thrown up by the Lord at the critical time. What does cold mean? Does God mean he wants us to be backslidden? NO! I have heard the argument that if we are cold then we know that we are messed up and in better shape than someone that is lukewarm and thinks that they are right when they are not.

This does not make sense since if you are rejected if you are lukewarm, then you will certainly be if you are cold. What does cold mean?

IT MEANS THOSE WHOSE BODIES ARE COLD… DEAD… ASLEEP IN CHRIST. It is better to be cold or dead in Christ, for they will be resurrected, or hot or fervent in the Spirit at the catching away of the church for they shall be harpazio or caught up. But if you are lukewarm when He calls His church away and you have grown careless in your walk with God, then you will be left behind to face that which this world must face.

This is where the martyrs of the 5th Seal come from primarily. The millions of Christians that are killed in the beginning of the Tribulation comes from somewhere. They get their oil… they are revived, but it is too late to be taken to the Marriage Supper which will occur in the 3^rd Heaven during the Tribulation.

They were rich and felt like they didn’t need God. They did it themselves. They were wealthy and the area was famous for it’s eyesalve. But Jesus said that spiritually they were blind and naked and wretched and poor and did not even know it.

Smyrna was poor but rich in God’s eyes. Laodicea is rich but poor in God’s eyes. And they have rejected Jesus and He stands outside wanting to get in, and in the end He will reject their lukewarmness.

Apathy and self-reliant arrogance is the sin of Laodicea. It is a good view of the general church world today. It is fallen away and doesn’t even know it because it’s still religious. They have cooled in their passion and power and become a religious nothing.

He promises to spit them out for their lukewarmness. He still loves them and wants them to repent. He tells them to get spiritual wealth instead of earthly wealth. He doesn’t want them winding up naked and ashamed in the day of judgment.

They are blind to their true condition, if they will just listen and open the door for He is knocking, then He will come in and give good things to them. Repent and you will have true riches and true righteousness and see clearly. I will bless you only if you will turn back to me. I will burn you with zeal again and apathy will leave if you will only repent.

Matthew 7:21-24 “ 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: “

Once again, we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Here you see the reality of that shown here... you will sit with me on my throne even as I sit down with my Father on His throne. You are an active, important part of this Kingdom. Isn’t grace wonderful?