Understanding God’s Word Ministry

Revelation 3 - Sardis - Having A Name that You are Alive but in Reality Dead

CHAPTER 3
(A.D. 96)
SARDIS
AND unto the Angel (Pastor) of the Church in Sardis write (the Sardis Church is referred to as the “Reformation Church,” which began about A.D. 1500, and continues more or less unto this hour); These things saith He Who has the Seven Spirits of God (represents the Holy Spirit in all His fullness and capacity), and the Seven stars (refers to the Pastors of these Seven Churches); I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead. (Our Lord begins with words of censure, i.e., “dead spiritually.”)
2 Be watchful (this Church is exhorted to look into its real condition), and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die (they need to come back to the Cross, or they will lose their way completely): for I have not found your works perfect before God. (Their works were based on a dead Faith, which always produces bad works.)
3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent (go back to the Cross). If therefore you shall not watch, I will come on you as a thief, and you shall not know what hour I will come upon you. (Judgment will come, but Sardis will not see or hear due to spiritual deafness and spiritual blindness.)
4 You have a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments (the Lord always has a few); and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy. (We are made worthy only by our Faith in Christ and the Cross.)
5 He who overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment (the Righteousness of Christ, gained only by Faith in Christ and the Cross); and I will not blot out his name out of the Book of Life (proving that names can be blotted out), but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His Angels. (The key to this great “confession” is Faith in Christ and His great Sacrifice.)
6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the Churches. (The Spirit is saying that Righteousness cannot be obtained without Faith in a spotless Sacrifice.)

Church in Thyatira - Facing Fear, False Doctrine (Jezebel)

The Church in Thyatira - The Seat of Jezebel - Spiritual Adultery pt. 2

THYATIRA
18 And unto the Angel of the Church in Thyatira write (called the “Papal Church,” signifying the beginning of Catholicism; it began about A.D. 500 and continues unto this hour); These things saith the Son of God, Who has His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass (presents Christ in the role of Judgment, as He must be concerning the Church going into idol worship);
19 I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience (some in this Church, as wrong as it was, continue to love the Lord; the Lord knew who they were), and your works; and the last to be more than the first. (“Works” are mentioned twice, with the last being in a negative sense, meaning they were depending on this instead of Christ and the Cross.)
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a Prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things Sacrificed unto idols. (The Lord is speaking here of spiritual fornication and adultery, which means they had forsaken Christ and the Cross for other things [Rom. 7:1–4].)
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. (The Church did not heed the Message, and, in fact, continues in their “Salvation by works” unto this day, which, of course, is false.)
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (The “bed” refers to false teachers who taught Salvation by works, which was spiritual adultery. Again, there was a warning to repent.)
23 And I will kill her children with death (speaks of spiritual death); and all the Churches shall know that I am He which searches the reins and hearts (a continuous, ongoing searching): and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (One can look at the works of an individual and ascertain exactly where their Faith is. True works proclaim the Fruit of the Spirit.)
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine (have not succumbed to the teaching of Jezebel), and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak (the teaching of “Jezebel” was “spiritual adultery,” which was a departure from the Cross and is labeled here as “the depths of Satan”); I will put upon you none other burden (meaning their total burden was the opposing of “Jezebel teaching,” which was a tremendous responsibility within itself).
25 But that which you have already hold fast (hold to the Cross, and don’t allow your Faith to be moved to other things) till I come (the Rapture of the Church).
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end (it is “His Works,” and not “our works”; pure and simple, it is what Jesus did at the Cross on our behalf), to him will I give power over the nations (speaks of the coming Kingdom Age):
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers (refers to the fact that the Saints of God in the coming Kingdom Age under Christ will rule the nations, not allowing evil to prevail or even to take root): even as I received of My Father. (In the day of His Coming, we shall share in His Power and Glory of Victory.)
28 And I will give him the Morning Star. (The “Morning Star” is the bright planet [Venus], which is most beautiful and leads on the morning—the harbinger of the day. This says the coming Kingdom Age will be glorious beyond compare.)
29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the Churches. (The Spirit is saying that to leave Christ and the Cross is to commit spiritual adultery, which will result in spiritual death.)

The Church in Thyatira - The Seat of Jezebel - Spiritual Adultery

Revelation 2
18 And unto the Angel of the church in Thyatira write (called the “Papal Church,” signifying the beginning of Catholicism; it began about A.D. 500 and continues unto this hour); These things saith the Son of God, Who has His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass (presents Christ in the role of Judgment, as He must be concerning the Church going into idol worship);
19 I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience (some in this Church, as wrong as it was, continue to love the Lord; the Lord knew who they were), and your works; and the last to be more than the first. (“Works” are mentioned twice, with the last being in a negative sense, meaning they were depending on this instead of Christ and the Cross.)
20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a Prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things Sacrificed unto idols. (The Lord is speaking here of spiritual fornication and adultery, which means they had forsaken Christ and the Cross for other things [Rom. 7:1–4].)
21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. (The Church did not heed the Message, and, in fact, continues in their “Salvation by works” unto this day, which, of course, is false.)
22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (The “bed” refers to false teachers who taught Salvation by works, which was spiritual adultery. Again, there was a warning to repent.)
23 And I will kill her children with death (speaks of spiritual death); and all the Churches shall know that I am He which searches the reins and hearts (a continuous, ongoing searching): and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. (One can look at the works of an individual and ascertain exactly where their Faith is. True works proclaim the Fruit of the Spirit.)
24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine (have not succumbed to the teaching of Jezebel), and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak (the teaching of “Jezebel” was “spiritual adultery,” which was a departure from the Cross and is labeled here as “the depths of Satan”); I will put upon you none other burden (meaning their total burden was the opposing of “Jezebel teaching,” which was a tremendous responsibility within itself).
25 But that which you have already hold fast (hold to the Cross, and don’t allow your Faith to be moved to other things) till I come (the Rapture of the Church).
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works unto the end (it is “His Works,” and not “our works”; pure and simple, it is what Jesus did at the Cross on our behalf), to him will I give power over the nations (speaks of the coming Kingdom Age):
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers (refers to the fact that the Saints of God in the coming Kingdom Age under Christ will rule the nations, not allowing evil to prevail or even to take root): even as I received of My Father. (In the day of His Coming, we shall share in His Power and Glory of Victory.)
28 And I will give him the Morning Star. (The “Morning Star” is the bright planet [Venus], which is most beautiful and leads on the morning—the harbinger of the day. This says the coming Kingdom Age will be glorious beyond compare.)
29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the Churches. (The Spirit is saying that to leave Christ and the Cross is to commit spiritual adultery, which will result in spiritual death.)
 
Swaggart, J. (2005). The Expositor’s Study Bible (p. 2186). Baton Rouge, LA: Jimmy Swaggart Ministries.

Church in Pergamos - Worldliness

He that is Born of God Overcomes the World

The Church in Pergamos - Dwelling in the Midst of Worldliness

PERGAMOS
Revelation 2
12 And to the Angel (Pastor) of the Church in Pergamos write (referred to as the State Church, which laid the groundwork for the Catholic system; its timespan was approximately A.D. 300 to A.D. 500); These things said He which has the sharp sword with two edges (a symbol for the Word of God);
13 I know your works, and where you dwell (dwell spiritually), even where Satan’s seat is (Satan had become part of this Church): and you hold fast My Name, and have not denied My Faith (despite the terrible condition of this Church, some were holding fast to Christ and were continuing to look to the Cross), even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells. (This persecution came from within the Church.)
14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there them who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the Children of Israel, to eat things Sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (This Church was committing spiritual adultery, meaning they had shifted their Faith from the Cross to other things, with money being the underlying cause, which refers to the State Church.)
15 So have you also them who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. (At Ephesus, it was the “deeds of the Nicolaitanes,” and now it’s the “doctrine.” This refers to unscriptural Church Government, which grossly exploited the people.)
16 Repent (come back to the Cross); or else I will come unto you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. (This will bring to bear the Word of God, the part that speaks of Judgment.)
17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the Churches (the Spirit is saying that all Church Government must, without fail, be Scriptural); To him who overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden Manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he who receives it. (This refers to the fact that Believers shall receive a new name, in harmony with the perfect renewal of our being.)

Way of a Fool is Right in His Sight, He Who Listens is Wise