There are seven churches in Rev 2, 3 and Jesus rebukes five out of seven for not serving Him in certain areas of their life:
- Ephesus: Lost their First Love
- Sardis: Are doing Dead Works
- Smyrna: Persecuted believers
- Pergamos: Nicolaiton leadership encourages immorality
- Thyatira: Encourages Baal worship, shedding of innocent blood
- Laodicea. Has a problem stewarding their finances
- Philadelphia. Keeps God’s word and is promised an open door of escape
Why is Jesus warning them of sin and yet still calling them His church?
He says to the Philadelphia believers “because you have kept My word, I will keep you from the HOUR of trial that shall come upon the whole earth” by providing an open door.
Philadelphia and Smyrna believers represent 30% of the born-again churches.
In Mat 25 Jesus explains that fifty percent or one half the virgins waiting for the bridegroom were not ready and they missed the open door to their own marriage supper. Note: they are still virgins and called the bride, but they were not filled with the oil. They were not ready, not serving, not walking in obedience to God’s word.
Luke 21:36 Jesus warns “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man”.
Born again Christians actively participating in adultery, lying, fornication, etc. and not walking under the golden rule (in our understanding) will not be found “without spot or wrinkle.”
Eph 5:27 talks about Christs’ relationship to the bride and holds this up as an example as how we are to treat our wives.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 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
Philadelphia believers are REWARDED Because they are keeping God’s word.
Rev 3:9-11 now “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. 9 … 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
This “keeping or obeying God’s word ” is a condition of the heart that ONLY God can discern… not us.
Believers in the tribulation:
There are six verses in Scripture describing believers being tested and martyred for their faith in the seven-year tribulation period. According to Scripture, if you don’t pass the test on this side of the rapture and are not found “worthy” by God, you will have another chance on the other side in the tribulation. That test will cost you your life through martyrdom. You also must refuse the mark of the beast (Rev 13:16) which will allow you to buy or sell goods. The six verses describing believers in the tribulation are:
- Rev 6:9-11
- Rev 7:19
- Rev 12:11
- Rev 13.:8
- Rev 14:9-13
- Rev 20:4
It should be noted that eternal salvation is a gift of grace from God through the work of the cross, not from out works (Eph 2:9). For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
However, as we understand Scripture, the rapture is a REWARD from God for obeying him with all your heart, soul and body and is based on your efforts to FOLLOW HIS WORD (Rev 3:9-11). This understanding should encourage all believers daily to “pick up your cross” (and walk circumspectly with love, kindness, forgiveness, overcoming lusts of the flesh and humbly being obedient to his still small voice) as Paul aptly prayed “that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body (2 Cor 4:10).
Luke 9:23 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Following Christ is not a drudgery in religious dogma but, on the contrary, Jesus promised “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly (John 10:10) and he wishes ” above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth (3 John 1:2).