“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:8)

For the sixth (and second to last time) he states the fact: I know exactly where you are at, “I know thy works.” And he accepts the works of those at Philadelphia because they have a little strength, they have kept his word, and not denied his name and what it all stands for. Consequently, he opens the doors of heaven to them that they might receive all the spiritual blessings, understanding, and nourishment from God’s Word and his Holy Spirit. This is the way it was in the Old Testament type when the Israelites traveled through the Sinai desert:

“Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full.” (Psalms 78:23-25)

This “angels’ food” is provided today by spiritual angels – true message bearing ministers of the Gospel, sent to preach and open the door of understanding; revealing the truths of Jesus Christ and his plan of salvation:

“Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” (Colossians 4:2-4)

After so many years of the confusion of false Christians and their false teachings and churches, the “doors” to the truth of God’s plan and the truth of his Church must be “opened” so that those who are honest can “clean house” and fully measure up to God’s plan. In type, in the Old Testament, this same thing needed to happen after years of spiritual corruption amongst the people. A true and faithful king would need to stand up, open the doors, clean house, and set the true worship of God in order:

“Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel.” (2 Chronicles 29:1-7)

King Hezekiah not only opened the doors and cleaned house, but he also addressed the need of the lamps of the candlestick that had gone out. He had those who lead the worship sanctify themselves, and fully reestablish the proper worship of almighty God according to God’s plan.

When all things that are owed to God are set in order pertaining to the true worship, God himself opens the spiritual heavens to pour out spiritual blessings upon his people:

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 3:10-12)

Whenever any people throughout history would seek the Lord with all their heart and thoroughly “clean up” the worship and their lives, God always has opened up a blessing for them from heaven. This especially started happening around the year 1880. At that time God began to anoint a ministry with the fullness of his Word and Holy Spirit so that they would preach a full Gospel message of: deliverance from sin and deliverance from false, so-called “Christian” churches, and the true love and unity of the brethren. This ministry would knock on the door, Christ Jesus, and he would “open unto them” and they would have understanding to preach the “come out” message. Come out of: sin, false doctrine, division, and false religious organizations of men, and come to mount Zion, the true spiritual city of God, the heavenly Jerusalem, the true Church of God:

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect” (Hebrews 12:22-23)

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;” (Revelation 3:7)

Jesus opens the letter to Philadelphia emphasizing again certain characteristics of his character and his authority. Jesus is holy and he is true (see Revelation 1:5) – and he has the right to expect his people to also be holy and true. Jesus is the one with the keys to life and death (see Revelation 1:18). He only has the final say about what is let in, or what is kept out; and no man can do anything to change it. Jesus is King supreme! He is of the lineage of David, a throne that has been established forever…

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:30-32)

Isaiah the prophet prophesied of Jesus as the king with all authority:

“And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.” (Isaiah 22:22)

In the Old Testament God had promised David that of his house lineage there would always be a king to rule and govern over Israel. Jesus is that king, and the true spiritual Jews of the house of Israel are his kingdom (see Romans 2:28-29.) As the King of kings, when Jesus shuts, no man can open, and when he opens, no man can shut (see 1 Timothy 6:15 and Revelation 19:16).

As you will recall in the parable of the five wise and five foolish virgins (spoken of back in the comments to verse 3 of this 3rd chapter of Revelations), that at the time of the marriage feast of Jesus and the Church, they whose spiritual lamps were burning were allowed in, and then the door was shut!

“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. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 25:10-13)

When the door was shut to the five foolish virgins, it was shut. No man could change that. But to the five wise virgins the door was open, and no man could change that either. But does not the Lord receive anyone who wants to come to him? Absolutely, but you cannot come to him your way, you must come to him his way, according to his plan. Because for any other way, the door is shut! Jesus himself is the door, and his way of truth: deliverance from sin, in holiness and in unity with his one true Church bride, is his way. He does not accept many ways, only HIS way:

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:1-16)

Jesus plainly states: anyone trying to get in without fully coming Jesus’ way, will cause trouble for the true Church, the true sheep. They will only come to eventually “steal, and to kill and to destroy” and they will not care for the true sheep. If a spiritual wolf should come around, they also will flee away and allow that wolf like attitude to catch the sheep and scatter them. Jesus does NOT open the door to these type, but men some times will, especially if those men have spiritually “fallen asleep.”

Jesus is the good shepherd, and his intention is to gather back to himself all those sheep that have been scattered into different “folds” of man’s false religious sect making. Jesus will bring them back by his the voice of his true message. Then there shall be one fold, one Church, and one shepherd: that true shepherd being Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

The door is shut to every false way, but Jesus is willing to open to anyone that will seek him his way:

“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:5-13)

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

For the fifth time in the book of Revelation Jesus exhorts again (to the fifth Church, Sardis), listen to what the Holy Spirit is saying to your heart! Where is your heart before God? Do you only have a name you are living, but the fact is that the burning love and true devotion to the Lord: is dead? Will your name be blotted out of the book of life? If you will not listen to the Spirit, Jesus Christ will come upon you as a thief and you will not be ready!

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15)

Do you have true spiritual ear of a true name? Do you have a humble and contrite spirit that can receive the warning of the Holy Spirit? If you have allowed so-called “Christian” churches to kill true and faithful devotion to Jesus, your name is not “true and faithful”. Instead of overcoming, you have been overcome, and he will “blot out his name out of the book of life.”

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” (Exodus 32:33)

“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.” (Revelation 3:5)

Jesus said while still on earth:

“Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33)

But to confess him before men means more than professing a name before people. Jesus was specifically speaking of living the true and faithful life before the very closest to you; even when they are very religious, self-righteous, and very offended by your Christian sincerity and faithfulness. This is why Jesus immediately after this statement made it clear that there was a serious need to “overcome” right at home, and right amongst your closest loved ones:

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:34-38)

We must overcome all: sin, false doctrine, false churches, and our own loved ones that are not “faithful and true” to Jesus (although they may be very religious.) Then, and only then, will we be clothed in white and be accepted of Jesus:

“After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;… …And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”. (Revelation 7:9 and 11-14)

Jesus has the names of the truly saved on his roll in heaven. Having your name on a Church membership roll down here on earth will not do you any good. The one in heaven is the only one that matters. Turning your back fully on sin and being saved is how your name gets there, and it is sin, including the sin of unfaithful religion, that will “blot” your “name out of the book of life.” This has always been true, even all the way back in the Old Testament:

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.” (Exodus 32:33)

Having your name written in heaven matters more than anything else:

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:19-20)

Again, in Revelation 3 and verse 5 he emphasis the need to be clothed in garments that are not spotted: “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.” Like the five virgins who kept their lamps burning, so those who keep their garments clean and white, will also be allowed through the door to the wedding feast of the bride of Christ:

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” (Revelation 19:7-9)

Where are you today? Is your heart pure before the Lord? Are you spiritually clothed in white raiment? Is your name in the Lamb’s book of life?

“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.” (Revelation 3:4)

“A few names even in Sardis” the comment is made as if this fact is quite incredible. Although a “Sardis spiritual condition” could happen anytime and still exists today, there has been a spiritual Sardis period of time estimated from 1730 to 1880. This period in history is known for much religious “activity” in the religious movements of people. Jesus spoke of Sardis in Revelation 3 and verse 1 as a period of much spiritual “deadness.”

You see, religious activity does not equate to “life.” To the contrary, religious activity translates into a devil’s “hayday” without pure, unselfish motives under the direction of God’s Word. Without true spiritual life there comes a time of so much religious confusion that it is hard to believe that there are any really true Christians amongst the confused mess. It is a very “dark” time when so called “Christian” churches multiply, and division, hatred, sin, and false doctrines multiply inside of them. But Jesus states that in spite of the great religious confusion and darkness, there are a “few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.”

Jesus refers to them as “a few names.” What is in a name, or what is important about a “name.” What matters is what is associated with that “name.” When the “name” is the name of a person, what is important is what character is associated with that name. What especially matters is what character God ascribes to a “name.”

“A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)

Notice the emphasis the original scripture puts on the all capital letters “GOOD name.” It is emphasizing the actual characteristics associated with the name. Jesus knows the “GOOD” names of the true and faithful, and he gives them “loving favor.” Often the FAKE names will blaspheme the names of the GOOD, just as they blaspheme the GOOD name of Jesus, by claiming his name, and yet they are “dead” in their soul. Remember what Jesus said in Revelation 3:1?

“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.” (Revelation 3:1)

But the scripture in Proverbs 22:1 also teaches us that if you honor a truly “GOOD name” that there is favor and a good reward from God for doing so.

“He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.” (Matt 10:40-41)

Why does he say “in the name of a prophet” or “in the name of a righteous man”? He means that we need to be particular about who’s name, or who you choose to honor. Much can be known about your character and what is in your heart by observing who you choose to fellowship with and honor. It is important who you associate with and whom you choose to feed and minister to your soul! What really is their “name”? Is it “true and faithful” or is it “religious, half-hearted, politically correct, insincere, fake”? Is their “name” honored and favored by God? The honor of men is not enough!

“And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16:15)

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.” (I Thess 5:12-13)

But how might you “know them” whether they are faithful and true, or no? Jesus said that you first need to seek and follow the truth with all your heart, and then you are able to effectively watch for their “fruits.”

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:13-20)

A “faithful and true” name will be faithful and true to Jesus, and will not bring forth sin of any kind. They also will bring forth a “faithful and true” message from the Word of God that you can “try” by the Bible.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

Now, Jesus said concerning these GOOD names in Sardis, that they “have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” In the old Testament, the priests could not minister before the Lord without being clean and wearing “holy garments” (see Exodus 28:2-4) In addition, they needed to be careful that their garments did not touch anything that was considered “unclean” lest the garments also became unclean.

“If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.” (Haggai 2:12)

So in the New Testament covenant, God expects us to keep the spiritual condition of our soul, (which means our spiritual “garments”), clean and white because this represents “the righteousness of the saints.” (see Revelation 19:8) Consequently, a GOOD name must keep their spiritual garment unspotted from the defilements of sin, and of false spiritual food. The false teachings and divisions of so called “Christian churches” will never be honored or favored by Jesus.

“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy” (Jude 23-24)

Might this Revelation message “save you with fear” by pulling you out of the judgment fires that are pronounced against the spotted garments of religion? This is why Jesus said about those with a GOOD name and clean garments that: “they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” They present themselves to Jesus as a pure and faithful bride, therefore Jesus accepts them and describes them as “My dove, my undefiled is but one” (see Song of Solomon 6:9), “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (see Revelation 21:2)

“…they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.” This same example in “type” was the one that God would only accept in the Old Testament:

“And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course: Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:) It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.” (2 Chronicles 5:11-14)

Is your spiritual name good enough that God would choose to fill it with his Spirit of holiness? Is your name one of those few good names in Sardis?

“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.” (Revelation 3:3)

Remember back in Thyatira Jesus told them in Revelation 2:26 that “he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations“. Now in Sardis Jesus reminds them to think back and “remember” what you received and heard in Thyatira and “hold fast” to what you have left, and repent of what you have allowed yourself to lose: your works being found perfect before God.

If you will not watch, he states he will come on them suddenly, and they will not be prepared! Jesus gave this same warning a number of times even while he was still physically on earth, and gave a very specific parable to warn against not keeping the burning love of the Holy Ghost, the work of perfection, alive in your soul. The parable was about the 5 wise and the 5 foolish virgins who had lamps, but only the wise took extra oil (representing the maintenance of their soul “holding fast” with the Word and the Spirit of God – see Matthew 25:1-13.) The cry went out suddenly at midnight that the bridegroom had come for the marriage feast, and all 10 virgins were woken up out of a “sleep”, but the lamps of the 5 foolish had run out of oil and had gone out. They did not “hold fast” and their spiritual oil had run out, consequently they were not ready and lost out. Only those with a burning lamp were allowed into the marriage feast. (Remember the lamp, or the candlestick represents the Church, and the the light of the candlestick represents the pure burning love of the Holy Ghost and the clear light of the Word concerning Jesus and his Church; for only a faithful love for Jesus keeps that light burning – see Revelation 1:12.)

Now Jesus finishes the parable by warning: “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”

In particular he is giving this warning here because in the next Church age, Philadelphia, Jesus would suddenly come for the marriage feast with his standout bride, the Church of God. The 5 wise virgins can be represented as the “true” people of God amongst 5 spiritual Church conditions of: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, and Sardis. These true people would “trim their lamps” (making them even brighter) for the marriage feast. Many others are like the 5 foolish virgins, only having a name, but being spiritually dead, and represent the “fallen” people of God during the 5 Church conditions already mentioned. These fallen, yet still religious people, would not be ready for such a message concerning the marriage feast of the one true bride. Their lamps, (their understanding and love for the truth) had gone out! Yet they were still claiming to be true virgins and knocked on the door wanting in, but Jesus would not open to them and said “Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” (Matthew 25:12)

This does not imply that during the darker ages (Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, and Sardis) when a clear visible Church of God was not standing out separate from all falseness and division on spiritual Mount Zion, that true Christians were not married to Christ. True Christians have always been married to Christ, that is why they are described with the name of “true and faithful.” But what this parable of the ten virgins does imply is that when the call to “come out from amongst them” went out (or the call to the marriage “feast” where they all gather together to the bridegroom to celebrate), that then it became evident that some of those virgins were true and “trimmed” their lamps of love so they would be even brighter.

But others had let their true love for Jesus go out. They were not worthy nor ready to be part of the “feast.” False, so-called Christian churches had effectively killed the true love and desire to follow and obey Christ in pure unity and truth.

In the parable of the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins, Jesus, the bridegroom, came for the marriage feast at midnight. The Jews divided the night into four “watches” each named according to when the “watch” ended. The first began at sunset to three hours later, around 9pm and was named “even”; the second from this time to midnight and is called “midnight”, hence Jesus is referring to 12pm as the time that the bridegroom returns for the marriage feast; the third from midnight to three hours before sunrise and is called “cock crowing”; and the fourth from this time to sunrise called “morning”. Today we refer to a day by the 24 hour clock and “technically” recognize midnight as the end of the day, but in this parable this does not necessarily represent only the end of the Gospel day. No one knows when the end of time, the end of the Gospel day will be (except God the Father), but we know it is getting near. The ten virgins were awakened out of their sleep, and there are still many people mixed up in a mess of so called “Christianity” that also need to awaken out of sleep for the night is far spent!

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Romans 13:11-12)

Now the Sardis Church age, the 5th Church age, approximates the dates of 1730 to 1880. (There will be more said later concerning how these approximate dates are determined from the Book of Revelations.) But even though the message to Sardis was for the Church located at Sardis, and for the Church age of Sardis, spiritually today we need to “watch” that we do not fall asleep and lose out also. Like how all the Epistles are also for us today, the Sardis message is also for us today.

“Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” (Mark 13:35-37)

“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 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. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 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. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:1-10)

When people spiritually are not “watching” the Devil always takes advantage to bring in false people amongst them that will seduce the true into compromise and to divide them and gather them to themselves:

“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:28-31)

Because people “slept” and were not “watching” is why compromise came in after the Apostles, and men created their own religions (Catholicism and Protestantism) and doctrines and called them “Christian”. This is also why Jesus foretold of this happening in a parable, in the which he also explained how, at the appointed time, his true ministry would be sent to preach the full truth to gather the true worshipers apart from the false worshipers:

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matthew 13:24-30)

The beginning of this particular “harvest” where the tares are gathered out from the wheat, especially happened in the Philadelphia Church age, approximately beginning in 1880 (the end of the Sardis Church age. Remember in Sardis, Jesus warned if they would not watch, he would come upon them at an hour they did not expect.) Starting around 1880 the full truth was sounded out by a true ministry: salvation from sin, the sanctifying of the nature and infilling of the true Holy Ghost to live a sin free life, and the true, undivided unity and oneness of the Church of God. (This absolutely is not to be confused with the modern day “ecumenical” movement where various Churches “unionize” but yet are divided on doctrine, and still are not completely delivered from sin.) Jesus wanted us to clearly understand this parable about the tares, so he explained it later in Matthew the 13th chapter:

“Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:36-43)

The “furnace of fire” that the tares would be cast into is the preaching of the judgments of God’s word against: sin, division, false doctrine, false Christians, false Churches, etc. This IS what the preaching of the Revelation message is all about! This is one main reason why Jesus gave his Revelation message! To help honest souls to be gathered apart from falseness so they will only serve and worship Jesus in perfect unity with his one true bride: the Church of God.

Have you been watching? Has this message come upon you like a thief?

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” (Revelation 3:2)

What “works” is he exactly talking about that are not “perfect”? In Revelation 2:5 Jesus spoke of those at Ephesus as needing to “repent, and do the first works” and that they were “fallen” due to this need. The first work Christ does for us is to save us from sin. If we sin, we have “fallen” back into what he saved us from. In Hebrews 6:1 we clearly see that the “works” needed beyond the first works of repentance and salvation is “perfection.”

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God” (Hebrews 6:1)

The perfection he is talking about is the perfection of the heart. The perfect love for Christ – the love of the Holy Ghost shed abroad in the heart that produces a consistent holy sin-free life.

• “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Galatians 5:5)
• “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:22-23)

It is by the true and faithful works from a true and faithful heart “because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” that our faith is made “perfect” and that we maintain true spiritual life:

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:17-26)

The beginning of “the faith” is the saving of the soul from sin, but if the soul does not continue good works by the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost in the heart, their faith will become dead because it lacks the consistent good works. This is why Jesus in verse one states “I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” Before the day of Pentecost the Apostles were saved, but they did not have the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost in their hearts. Jesus told them before his crucifixion that the Holy Spirit “dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14:17) letting them know that God’s Spirit was with them, but later (come Pentecost) He would actually dwell “in” them. Understanding this need and the weakness the Apostles would have until Pentecost, Jesus told them while he was in the garden

“Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)

Their own spirit was willing, but without the Holy Ghost ruling their spirit within their hearts, they have a weakness because of the flesh. Therefore he told them to “watch and pray” or, like in Revelation 3:2 above “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die”

It is clear that Jesus does not intend for us to get saved and then continue in a weak condition where we tend to fall back into sin. Jesus wants the weak flesh to die to the will of the Holy Ghost so the Spirit of God can rule in the heart by love and the individual can stay true to Jesus always. But the Devil works to confuse the newly saved by keeping them in a weak fleshly condition so he can eventually get them to fall into sin, but continue to profess the name of Jesus. Having a “a name that thou livest, and art dead.”

“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.” (Revelation 3:1)

Here he emphasis that he has the: “seven Spirits of God” and the “seven stars.” As already commented on in Rev 1:4, the seven Spirits of God is describing the fact that God’s Holy Spirit will work in each of the seven Church ages. These seven Spirits are described as being “before God’s Throne” in Rev 1:4. (Also in Rev 5:6 the seven Spirits are shown as being in the midst of the throne with Jesus, the lamb of God.) Jesus described the Holy Spirit in one place this way:

“He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” (John 16:14)

Jesus states that the Holy Spirit will receive from Jesus and reveal to us. This is why at the end of each message to the seven Churches Jesus repeats these exact words the same way “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Hence the comment in verse 3:1 above “These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God.”

But notice that in this same verse of Revelation 3:1 he also states he has the “seven stars.” This is because his true angel/message bearers get their message from the Holy Spirit (and consequently are getting their message from Jesus.) This is why a true Church of God ministry does not get their message from some earthly headquarters or from some weekly or monthly publication. They live the Gospel and study God’s word and pray with an earnest burden for God’s Holy Spirit to direct them in preaching a message. Through the Spirit of God, they get their message directly from God’s throne “and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55)

So why does he emphasis the Holy Spirit and the true ministry in his hand (see also Revelation 1:20)? It is because that during this Sardis church age, many ministers of the Gospel would lose out with God because they would not seek the Spirit, and they would not stay in the hand (control) of Jesus. Therefore Jesus states: “I know thy works, that thou has a name that thou livest, and art dead.” You are holding to the name “Jesus” but your earnest desire in seeking of the Spirit to get your message directly from Jesus has died. And so was the case often in this age that especially describes a time approximately from 1730 to 1880. Many preachers would become nothing more than a promoter of some religious sect doctrine, and often educated and approved by some religious movement. Jesus would no longer be honored as King and many false doctrines and denominations would become established in the earth. (And this condition is also rising its ugly head in many ways in our day, today!)

This is the final fulfillment of spiritual decline – a dead, professing, so-called “Christian” – headed for hell and eternal damnation. How does one who was at one time truly saved and on fire for God get into this condition? For the answer that Jesus gives, let us follow down the path of what happened during the prior four church ages:

First, in Ephesus we find they left their first love (Revelation 2:1-5), even though they were religiously doing all the right things – something or someone else had become the primary reason in their heart for doing the “right things.” Jesus was no longer the foremost reason. Loving or fearing man more than God can bring a snare (Prov 29:25-26) What’s more, the clear candlestick light on the pure bride of Christ, the Church, was removed from its place, the house of worship – consequently in the resulting dimness, false things could be brought into the house of worship by men.

Second, in Smyrna (because of people leaving their first love) we start seeing false Christians right amongst the true, “which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” (Revelation 2:9) The true Christians may not be able to tell right away what is in another’s heart, but Jesus says “I know”.

Thirdly, in Pergamos (because of people professing to serve Christ, but in their heart they are not true to him) we see that Satan establishes a “seat” of religious authority right amongst where God’s true people also worship, by which they essentially supplant Jesus as the “King” with all authority. (Revelation 2:13) The result is that true Christians are being persecuted by false Christians, and the false are twisting the Word of God to their advantage and to justify themselves in persecuting those that are true. In addition, the false are introducing false doctrines and by them they are casting stumbling blocks in front of the true.

Fourthly, in Thyatira, Satan has not only established a “seat” of religious authority, but also is effectively deceiving true Christians with false Churches, spiritually named “Jezebel”. These false Churches are convincing a number of Christians that the false Church is married to Jesus. (Revelation 2:20) Jesus states that he will judge this false church condition, and if they will not repent, he will “kill her children with death”.

Finally now in Sardis we see the final result of those who do not repent of the previously mentioned conditions: “thou hast a name that thou livest, and are dead.” You are still claiming to be Jesus’ servant, but the leadership and love of the Holy Spirit are dead in your soul!

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 2:29)

For the fourth time now he states the exact same challenge – do you have an ear of a servant of Jesus Christ? Can the Spirit of God cause you to understand and receive what he is saying?

While Jesus was on earth in the flesh he exhorted the same way:

“Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (Matthew 13:9-11)

Are you able to hear and understand the Revelation message? This is a serious question because it is actually intended to be understood!

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” (Revelation 1:3)

“And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:6-7)

And again he states:

“And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” (Revelation 22:10-11)

Here we began to see who has ears to hear, and who does not. It has to do with what is in their heart. It is not given for those who are “unjust” and “filthy” to understand, because he states let them continue to be unjust and filthy (because to them it is not given to understand – see Matthew 13:11.) But to the righteous and holy he tells them to keep themselves that way. Why? So that they can continue to have ears to hear and understand.

“For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matthew 13:12-15)

Do you have a heart to hear and understand?

“And I will give him the morning star.” (Revelation 2:28)

As interpreted by Jesus in Revelation 1:20 a star represents an angel (a messenger.) What he is saying to the true ministry that will preach the truth is that he will give them the same ministerial boldness and authority as he himself brought in to the world in the morning of the Gospel day. This boldness and authority will cause them to shine forth with the light of the Gospel “in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” (Philipians 2:15)

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (2 Peter 1:19)

Note: the “day star” is the sun, the “morning star.”

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.” (Malachi 4:2)

Jesus is the “Sun of righteousness”, the “morning star”, the “day star”, the light of the righteousness that shines through his true ministry in the midst of a dark, evil, crooked and perverse world. An evening star provides some light, but the sun is extremely bright, exposing the true color and likeness of all things for everyone to see. Jesus is the Word of God that “was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.” A true ministry will have the authority to preach the Word of God with a clarity and brightness that will expose what is really in the hearts of individuals.

This is why in Thyatira Jesus promises those who will overcome that he “will give him the morning star.” He will give him his words to preach with great authority!

“And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” (Revelation 2:27)

Jesus is quoting the scripture in Psalms 2:9 and is promising those that are true that they will rule, even in the same manner as Jesus did: by the authority given of him by the heavenly Father. To fully understand the context let us look at the whole 2nd Psalm:

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

In the beginning of the Church, the morning of the Gospel day, the Apostles began to receive persecution for preaching the Gospel and were threatened by the Jewish religious leaders. They did not run and hide, but rather they gathered together and prayed for more boldness to preach, and as they prayed they quoted the beginning of the 2nd Psalm in their prayer:

“Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ… …And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word…” (Acts 4:25-31)

Like the ministry of the morning of the Gospel day, so the true ministry of Thyatira would boldly speak the Word, and that Word, as a “rod of iron,” would dash the false hypocrites way of worship “in pieces like a potter’s vessel” and expose them for what they were. Through this bold preaching of the Word, those of Jezebel’s church felt “his wrath” and the vexing of their souls “in his sore displeasure.” And in the 2nd Psalm he advises them:

“Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling”

We must take heed with fear to the Word of God for if we treat it with disrespect that same word can come down upon us as a “rod of iron”:

“But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth: with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” (Isaiah 11:4)

Even when God sends the judgment preaching of the Word as a “rod of iron” to shake and trouble religious self-righteous minded people, it is for their good if they will fear and truly repent. But the problem is that often their spiritual condition is not like “soft clay” that can be remolded.

“The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.” (Jeremiah 18:1-6)

But to often they are spiritually hardened in religion and brittle, so instead of being molded by the Word of God they are broken to “shivers”, or pieces by the true preaching of the Word. Their spiritual condition is shattered!

People today often will accuse the one who will preach all the Word of God (the love and the judgment) as being harsh and having no love. But this is the way Jesus preached – all of the Word. This is why at the end of Revelation 2:27 Jesus states: “even as I received of my Father.” Those who over come shall rule over the false, self-righteous, so-called “Christians” by the Word of God as a “…rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”

Are you ruling by a rod of iron, or have you been shattered into shivers by it?

“And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:” (Revelation 2:26)

As quoted above from an earlier post referring to Rev 17:1-5, spiritual Babylon has power over the nations to deceive them and make them drunk on what “they speak.” But if you be true to Jesus, he also will give you power over the nations. Power to overcome the fear of the religions of nations so you can be true to Jesus. Power to testify of the truth of Jesus’ word. Power to bear the cross of Christ when you are persecuted by the religions of nations for doing so.

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)

But Jesus clearly states that the ones to receive “power over the nations” are those who “keepeth my works unto the end”. The “works” of Jesus, accomplished by his blood sacrifice: salvation and the sanctifying of the nature along with the infilling of the Holy Ghost.

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:47-49)

The power of the Holy Ghost was sent down from above, and gave them power to be the sons of God, and to live with the power of holy living in their lives.

“He (Jesus) was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:10-13)

This power from God, through Jesus Christ, enables anyone who will believe and fully obey the truth in the scriptures to have power over the devil and the nations.

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:1-6)

As stated above in Romans the first chapter – we are also called of Jesus Christ to have this power “among all nations”. This power comes from Jesus Christ and the power of his salvation to deliver us from the power of sin and the power of temptation and deception.

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-14)

The devil’s power is to tempt, and for those who take pleasure in sin, to deceive them, even to the point that they can believe lies, including the lies of religion, and the lies of false Christianity. But the power of God can over come all the devil’s power to tempt and deceive, if people will believe and obey with all their heart.

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18)

You must overcome by keeping Jesus’ works unto the end if you are going to have “power over the nations.” Otherwise when the temptation is great enough, and the religions of the nations put pressure on you, you will just give in. You won’t have any power to overcome. Only by the full work of the salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ and the sanctifying and infilling of the Holy Ghost can you have “power over the nations.”

“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.” (Revelation 2:25)

Jesus is going to come eventually and execute judgment on this world’s spiritual condition. To you in spiritual Thyatira, don’t eat those false testimonies that are sacrificed to the selfishness of idolatry, and don’t commit spiritual fornication. And don’t allow that false prophetess Jezebel Church to teach you and seduce you. Be true to Jesus and his word!

“…hold fast till I come” is taught to us many places in the Word of God:

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-24)

“Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

In this last scripture above the Apostle Paul taught them to “hold” to what they had been taught “whether by word, or our epistle.” In the Thyatira Church age, and today, we don’t have the opportunity to have the Apostle Paul teach us directly, so we must depend upon holding fast to the written word we have left to us in the epistles that are contained within the Bible. Yes, Jesus requires and emphasizes our need to “hold fast” to the Word of God, if we are going to be his. Holding fast means being obedient to the Word, not just tucking the Bible closely under our arm and talking about it. We need to obey and live it faithfully, without the disobedience of sin!

“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:9-16)

In Thyatira already there had been many gainsayers “Whose mouths must be stopped!” The only way to stop them would be by holding fast to the faithful word. Holding fast to obeying the Bible is the sound doctrine that stops the mouths of those who would decieve. They can easily deceive when the only ones trying to teach the Bible are nothing more than unfaithful, fake Christians; because there is no “soundness” in claiming to love Christ if we can’t obey what he taught. Soundness comes by obeying and continuing to holding fast.

“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” (Hebrews 3:6-14)

Keeping confidence in God will keep you “holding fast.” The devil loves to have religious hypocrites hang around Church and preach the gospel. Why? So he can destroy every ounce of confidence in anyone taking hold and believing the Word of God. Hypocrites destroy confidence – therefore we are warned in this last scripture that “we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end.” We must keep our eyes on Christ Jesus if we are going to “hold fast” because so many people have failed, and done much to destroy confidence.

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 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. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Hebrews 10:22-27)

We must not waver in holding fast. We must count God as faithful regardless of how unfaithful people around us may be. We must not become ashamed of holding fast because of what others say and do.

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me…” (2 Timothy 1:12-15)

It is by the Spirit of God, and having the Holy Ghost within us that we will be able keep and hold fast to the truth of God’s word. This is why in the next Church age of Sardis Jesus severely warns them that they are almost completely dead – barely alive! What little spiritual life they left, they had better focus on strengthening it or they will lose that also!

“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. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 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.” (Revelation 3:1-3)

“But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.” (Revelation 2:24)

The doctrine is what is taught from the depths of the heart. What is taught is not just by the mouth, but by what people do and the example that they live by. The doctrine that is being referred to here is the one taught by the false prophet spirit of Jezebel where one joins themselves to God’s people by a human relationship, (like Jezebel did in the Old Testament – see 1 Kings chapter 16 through 21) but they have an unfaithful relationship with Jesus Christ. Those who “join themselves” have something different coming up from the depths of their hearts.

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:21-23)

What comes from the depths of your heart is what counts to Jesus. Jesus knows exactly what is in our hearts and he allows the difficulties and temptations of this life to show us exactly what is in our own hearts.

Jesus said that good things can come forth from us, when our hearts are right with him…

“In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” (John 7:37-39)

If we do not have the true Holy Spirit (the one that causes us to live pure and holy) then we may take on a false religious spirit, that claims to be the Holy Spirit. This is part of the false prophet spirit of Jezebel that Jesus refers to in Revelation 2:24.

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)

Because “inwardly they are ravening wolves” they have known the “depths of Satan” which becomes evident by what “they speak” – when they teach false seductive doctrines that they have mixed in with the Word of God. The end result is a different kind of Church with people who become like them: claiming to be Christian, but they still commit sin. Because they still have sin in their hearts, they must come up with new doctrines to teach that will distract from uncovering what is in the depths of their hearts: hatred, division, and strife.

“He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:6-7)

So I must ask you, what comes up from the depths of your heart? It will be known by what comes out of you. Jesus does not just want to clean up the outside, he wants to clean up the very depths of the desires of our heart – and he can, if we will humble ourselves to let him.

“But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.” (Revelation 2:24)

This final statement is addressed to a specific audience – those who have stood true to Jesus. Those who have not taken on the doctrine of “eating things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication” nor have taken part in the depths of Satan’s evil: having intimate relations with a spiritual Jezebel-harlot church condition.

“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.” (Prov 23:26-33)

The spiritual city of Babylon represents this “strange woman” which is this spiritual Jezebel-harlot church condition that represents the “depths of Satan, as they speak.” It is the fellowship of their testimony – what “they speak.” By drinking and feasting on what “they speak” people become numb to the evil behind it due to how “flowery” or “sweet” their false testimony is presented. Like in Proverbs, she (Babylon) is associated with drunkenness later in Revelation chapter 17. The effect that this spiritual drunkenness has on people causes them to let down on their natural inhibitions and senses so that they give in to evil selfish desires.

“And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” (Revelation 17:1-5)

It is a spiritual harlot condition where people claim to be saved and married to Jesus as the Church, yet they flirt with the sinful temptations of the devil and take pleasure in the evil the devil has to offer. Jeremiah the prophet also prophesied of Babylon in a way that agrees with this portrayal and still applies to spiritual Babylon today:

“Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’s hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.” (Jeremiah 51:6-9)

As stated above in Jeremiah and in Revelation 2:21, God has given her space to repent, and would have healed her of her fake Christian Church condition. But she would not repent, and consequently cannot be healed. It is time for any honest soul left there to “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.” Do NOT take part with the “depths of Satan, as they speak.”

The final words of verse 24 to the true and faithful in Christ: “I will put upon you none other burden.” The burden he placed on the saints in Thyatira age was to not allow the false Church (Jezebel) condition and be seduced. If they would hold true to obey Jesus in this way, God was satisfied for that time. But a future time would come in a later Church age where God would expect more. He would expect them to not only avoid being seduced, but also to spiritually destroy and burn the false Jezebel condition by the full and clear preaching of God’s Word. This way people can see their need to come out and to come to the true Church of God, the faithful bride of Christ.

“And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” (Revelation 2:23)

As shown in the scriptures quoted in the earlier post “Are You Fellowshiping a Spiritual Harlot?” (1 Corinthians 6:15-20 and 2 Corinthians 6:14-18) God’s Word is judgment and wrath against a “mixed” spiritual relationship. He does not accept worship that also mixes with the spirit of half-hearted, insincere, so called “Christians.” He states “I will kill her children with death” or the children born of a false, unfaithful, religious relationship: a false fellowship, a false Church.

Sin is the death that spiritually separates us from a true relationship with God. When people become converted over to a Church that mixes falseness with the truth, and does not preach the plain message of complete deliverance from sin and from division in the heart, they then become the spiritual children of that Church. These are the children who die when the truth is preached and what is in the heart is revealed. They are revealed as being spiritually dead, because instead of repenting, they hold to their spiritual harlot mother, Jezebel – the false church. Consider the spiritual message against a false church in the following scripture:

“To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.” (Prov 2:16-19)

Jesus states that all the true church congregations will know and understand that He does not put up with a false Jezebel spirit church condition. Jesus will search the hearts and give each one the reward of the judgment message and eventual eternal damnation they deserve, if they will not individually repent and forsake the false religious condition.

“And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” (Revelation 2:23)

In the next Church age, Sardis, we see this judgment, and the resulting spiritual death coming to pass. Jesus describes the general condition in Sardis the way it really is:

“I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” (Revelation 3:1)

“Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.” (Revelation 2:22)

A bed

Jesus casts the false church organization “into a bed” of spiritual harlotry. How? By a true preacher exposing her (the false fellowship) to be what she is: a selfish, lusting after evil, harlot – not the pure bride of Christ! Everyone who is found fellowshiping her (having relations with her) feels the wrath and tribulation caused by a true angel/messenger preaching the truth and pouring out the judgment of the Word of God against this false condition. This also is God’s mercy, because they can come out from under the tribulation, if they will truly “repent of their deeds” and forsake sin and the false fellowship relationship.

“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (I Cor 6:15-20)

You cannot fellowship a false religious system where people are not living holy and expect to stay holy yourself for long. Eventually you will be seduced by this harlot spirit, and you also will be claiming Christ and yet be having relations with the devil through some sin you will commit. The so-called “Christian” Church that is insincere will teach you that you can’t live any better. Therefore you’ll continue to live with sin in your life, yet she (your Church) will tell you “it’s OK – Christ still accepts you.” If you are married, would you accept that from your companion? If they committed adultery with someone else on a regular basis, and every time just said “forgive me, I just have to do it, but I still love you” would you believe their sincerity? Let us be honest with ourselves and with Christ whom we claim to be married to!

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (II Cor 6:14-18)

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” (Revelation 18:4-5)

It does not matter what Church you claim to be part of (Catholic, Protestant, or otherwise), if they are not faithful, true, and living pure for Jesus, you are in the wrong Church! I would quickly flee from the wrath to come that is referred to in the next verse of Revelation 2:23.

“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.” (Revelation 2:21)

The “her” that Jesus gave “space to repent of fornication” was that false Christian spiritual condition (Jezebel) that claims to be married to Jesus (claims to be his Church) but yet flirts and fornicates with evil and takes pleasure in mixing false doctrine with the pure teachings of Jesus. (See earlier posts of: “Should Jezebel Be Honored as a Queen and Prophetess?” and “Jezebel Kills True Prophets and Then Sets Up a False Communion“.)

Earlier in the Pergamos age, and now in Thyatira, a false church spirit has been noted as committing fornication with the Devil by mixing false teachings with the truth of God’s word, yet still claiming to be married to Jesus. The reason for this: for selfish personal gain, not because the church loved Christ first and was true to him. This is the spirit of a harlot, not the spirit of a pure, true to Jesus bride.

In Ephesians 5:22-33 we read and get clear understanding about how the true Church of God is a pure and true bride of Christ:

“Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”

Because of people “leaving their first love” (as mentioned in an earlier post “Have You Left Your First Love?” on Revelation 2:4) the impure spiritual condition of flirting with sin and evil, false Christian (pagan like) practices eventually moved in amongst those claiming to be the Church. In spite of this, Jesus in his mercy has given people time to repent of playing church, and to return to him with all their heart. The Lord in the Old Testament also gave backslidden Israel and Judah the same opportunity to repent and return, but eventually the “space” of time to repent ran out:

“They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:1)

But in Thyatira, Protestantism in particular (and those in Catholicism) would not repent, but continued to “play around” with false teachings and the purposes and kingdoms of men. Jesus indicates that her space of time for offered mercy has run out.

“And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.” (Revelation 2:21)

“Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.” (Jeremiah 51:8-9)

“And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” (Revelation 18:1-7)

Next in Revelation 2:22 we shall see some of the judgment that is placed by Jesus upon those who continue to flirt and play around with spiritual Jezebel, spiritual Babylon, or Catholicism and Protestantism together – for they all essentially have the same spirit, that of claiming to be married to Christ, but they live unfaithful to the marriage vow of obedience, purity, and faithfulness.

The Kingdom of Israel already had been provided the means of “healing the relationship.” The true prophets of God (Elijah and Micaiah to name a few) had already been sent by God to Israel, and they had preached that Israel needed to repent fully from all false teachings and gods to serve the one true God. This is the only way to heal a spiritual relationship!

In time, Jehoshaphat’s plan of “human-engineered relationship healing” proved a disaster, not only to the family of Jehoshaphat, but also to the whole Kingdom of Judah! By Athaliah’s direct influence, the whole family of Jehoshaphat was nearly completely killed, and the true worship of God was supplanted with Athaliah’s worship which was according to Baalim: “For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.” (2 Chronicles 24:7).

This is exactly what the false spiritual queen, Babylon (false Churches claiming to be married to Christ), has done. So called “Christian” churches and their members have worked to kill the influence of holiness and those who live holy. This false queen Church has not only done this by herself, but also by those of her daughters (many false split-off churches) who also claimed to be married to King Jesus:

“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” (Revelation 17:5)

But in Thyatira, the Protestant age, the false Jezebel queen (and her many daughter churches) began again to promote the notion of many ways and doctrines to serve God by. They all claimed to be the bride, the Church, serving Jesus. But they now were promoting multiple ways of serving God without being completely delivered from sin – which is effectively what the spirit of Paganism is all about! Keeping people as sinners – never healing the relationship between them and God!

Today they are trying to heal the relationship by human relationships amongst churches (using the ecumenical movement). This will never solve the problem. First sin has to be completely repented of and forsaken to correct the relationship with God, by the blood of Jesus Christ. Then, and only then, can everyone be made one in Christ Jesus. Then, and only then, can the one Church be faithful and true to Jesus, and be accepted by Jesus as the true bride of Christ. The spiritual relationship must be corrected first!

“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” (Revelation 2:20)

Notice from the previous post “Should Jezebel Be Honored as a Queen and Prophetess?” it is the spirit of the “false prophet” of Protestantism (the “prophetess”) that carries the greater power of paganism’s deceit to seduce the saved into believing a lie. True Christians will only accept Jesus as their King, which is why the Pope inflicted so much persecution upon true Christians. But the false church, the one that claims to not have a Pope as king, claiming to be the Queen that is only married to King Jesus, has the greater seductive power against Christians. But just as Jezebel sought to kill the true prophets of God and set up her own false prophets, so the Jezebel spirit working in Protestantism seeks to kill the influence of true ministers and pastors and set up their own ministers and pastors that will do what they want.

• “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (II Tim 4:3-4)
• “…Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? (during the days of Jezebel in the Old Testament) how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.” (Romans 11:2-3)

But the scriptures instruct us we need to have pastors after God’s heart:

“Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:14-15)

This is why the full burning light of the candlestick (God’s standout, one, free from sin, in love with him only, Church) must be brought back to the temple (to the worshiping heart of the individual, and the collective body of worshipers.) If you recall, this candlestick was “removed from its place” because of Ephesus not repenting of “leaving their first love.” (Rev 2:4-5) The candlestick provided the light in the temple so the priests could see to perform the worship service, which also included taking part of eating the shew bread. (Exod 25:23-30 & Lev 24:5-9) There were set together twelve loaves of this bread, representing the twelve tribes of Israel. This spiritually represents how we today are able to eat off one another’s experience and testimony.

“For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.” (I Cor 14:31)

This is part of our spiritual diet. Without the full light of the candlestick to see by, an enemy can bring in something else to eat (things sacrificed unto idols – people whose hearts are selfishly living for themselves and not as a true servant for Christ.) If a true worshiper eats of these false people’s experience and testimony, it will eventually kill them spiritually!

“I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?” (1 Cor 10:15-22)

The true communion was instructed by Christ to be done in “memory” of Him and his sacrifice. The intention to have all true Christians take part in this communion was for us to remember that we also are to take part in sacrificial living, just as Jesus did. But the pagan form of this communion is based in idolatry and “selfish” oriented communion. Idolatry communion does not represent a life of service and self sacrifice for Christ’s sake. People take part in so called Christian communion today, but still live selfishly for themselves with sin still a part of their lives. Idolatry communion was so selfish oriented that it was often done along with the act of fornication right during the worship service. Spiritually this is what false Christians do today, they take part in the communion while in their heart they still have sin and find selfish pleasure in what the Devil tempts them with – a spiritual relationship with Satan, impure and unfaithful to Jesus – a spiritual harlot condition!

At the sounding of the Gospel, many came out of the Catholic Church and got saved. But the Devil took advantage of the situation to have men gather many of these people to themselves, and not to Christ as the King. Men established new Churches. Some Churches they named after themselves, and others they named after some movement or principle teaching. When it would become apparent to enough people that these new Churches were also false, others would sound out the Gospel message to serve Jesus only. But eventually men would get lifted up again, and essentially another sect was all it became. Division, false doctrine, and many hypocritical, selfish members has been the norm and trademark of Protestant sects then and ever since. As already stated, there may have been, and still may be, some saved people still attending a Protestant sect due to a lack of knowledge and understanding about anything better. But when true saints get understanding, they leave in search of the one, true Church of God.