 Hey, good morning and welcome everybody to BC 308 our course on Revelation and Daniel Trust all of you doing good. I'm doing fine. Thank you Let's take a moment to pray and We will start could one of us please lead the class in prayer and We will get started Good like to pray Go Russia. Go ahead. That's right Dear guys, thank you so much for this day Thank you for your love and thank you for everything that you're doing our lives God Whereas we're about to study the book of Revelation that you fill us with your wisdom and knowledge God and also Prayer we're best your love that you continue to pour out your spirit as he teaches and also when my Believer brothers and sisters and you know that they will understand the deeper level and thoughts that you have to say today God Thank you all for everything We pray your peace and your blessing and we pray that I fill us with understanding as we learn and Begin to your work. God. Thank you so much for everything. We pray in us Hey, man. Thank you Okay, so we were in Revelation chapter 3 and we had paused at the end of verse 6 where we just were thinking about We're looking at the church in Sardis. So essentially the first three chapters of Revelation the Lord Jesus is speaking to John about the seven churches Which were in Asia at that time and so he's addressing each of those seven churches and we are looking At just just in a sense of you know, what what was what was going on in these churches and We're trying to draw lessons and insights from it for our own selves personally and also for other churches That we would be involved in if we could in some way pray along those lines and also And also, you know, if we are in leadership, then of course, there's more responsibility For us to address these matters so We will pick up from verse 7 of chapter 3 We'll I'll do a quick highlight once we're done with these these seven churches We've got two more churches left. So just finish them and just pointed a couple of highlights In in in what we are seeing in the Lord's address to these seven churches So let's begin place from Revelation chapter 3. Let's read verses 7 to 13. Please somebody could read that or We can take turns. Sorry Each person three verses And he took him by the right hand I Said you're in the book of acts 3 or 7 and to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, right this thing says he who is holy He who it's true. He who has the key of David he opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens I know your works See I have said before you an open door and no one can shut it for you have a little strength I've kept my word and have not denied my name Indeed, I'll make those of synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not Indeed, I'll make them come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved Somebody else please because you have kept my command Because of you Because you kept my command to persevere persevere I also will keep you from the hour of time We shall come upon the whole world to test those who's well on the earth Behold, I'm coming quickly hold fast what you have that no one may take your crown He who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go out no more. I Will write on him the name of my God and the name city of my God The new Jerusalem which comes down out of heaven from my God and I will write on him my new name He was a has a year let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches mmm Thank you Just some quick observation things that want to bring our attention to It is very interesting and in the Lord's address to Each of these seven churches or in what we're seeing here We see something very Some you know patterns that are repeated to each of these seven churches The opening statement opening statements are made by the Lord So that's the Lord speaking so he introduces himself the Lord Jesus introduces himself to the church in a particular way But then the closing statement is Let him who here has years to hear let him hear what the Spirit is saying It's very interesting The Lord Jesus begins to speak The ending is here what the Spirit is saying To each of the seven churches is a pattern that's repeated consistently And that's that's beautiful because It's it's exactly what Jesus said the Holy Spirit will do In John 16 13 Jesus said and the Holy Spirit comes He will take what I am saying and speak it to you So that's exactly what's happening the Lord Jesus is You know introducing himself I am and he describes himself to each of the seven churches in a particular way But when the message is ending here what the Spirit is saying Okay, so the Spirit and the Lord the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus. They're saying the same thing So when we say the Lord Jesus says Or when we say the Holy Spirit says it's always the same thing the Spirit and the word always agree Another quick thought here is this that in each of these seven Messages The beginning the angel is addressed and we said that represents that is the leader of the church But in the closing it says here what the Spirit is saying to the churches So every message Is first presented to the leader the messenger of the church But then in closing it says hey, this is for all the churches So it's not just for that particular church. In other words, you and I sitting here today Okay, it's for us too And also putting it back in that their context while the Lord is addressing the Messenger the leader of the church. Look, you are responsible. I'm speaking to you But it's also for everybody else in the church So it's not just the while the leaders is primarily accountable and responsible Which is true because the Lord has put them there to shepherd God's people Yet the message is for all the churches. It's for everybody in that church as well as everybody in all the other churches It's very interesting that pattern is followed throughout The last thing I want to point out again another pattern that we see in all of these seven churches years Every time the Lord begins to speak To each of these seven churches after he introduces himself in a particular way to that church The first thing he tells each church is I know your works. I know your works For all the seven churches the same way he starts and that's something to think about, you know, because We would have thought he would be looking at our faith or our love or You know, maybe Something else, you know, oh, I know your faith. I know how much I know your love No, all seven churches. He starts by saying I know your works It's what interesting and you know, I wish we had plenty of time to sit down and chew on each of these things But maybe I'll I'll I'll take a take a we'll take a few minutes. Okay, so why do you think what is the significance? Why would Jesus say? To each of these seven churches the first thing he says I Know your works. I mean, why wouldn't he say I know your faith? I know your love. I Some some other quality But he's saying I know your works, especially You know when when we understand grace and yet The first thing he's talking is I know your works. That means he's watching what we're doing Why was why is that but he's significant? We'll just take a few minutes, you know, and I know kind of press for time here But let's see. What are your thoughts? Okay, say go ahead, please I just want to make an attempt I believe Jesus wants to show us that He's a rewarder of men and He wants to show us that There's nothing you do that goes on or wears In other words, there's nothing you do that is Is being neglected if it's good if it's on to him and there's nothing you do that is wrong That he will not he will not uncover or he doesn't know so I think he wants to raise that consciousness in us that Whatever we do, he sees it. He sees everything. He sees all that we do and If it's on to him onto his glory, he has a reward for us If you do something if we do it wrong and if it's wrong for a wrong motive or it's onto the devil or onto ourselves Then there's a repercussion So I think Jesus just wanted to establish that there's a reward system in this kingdom that either rewards good work or Or Gives you the consequences of doing bad works Good, thank you. Thank you for sharing I see I see the comments in the chat Tarun says the works represent faith Avni sorry Charles says I am the works and expression of love and faith Avni says Works we do in faith and works that manifest is glory and grace so works is an expression of faith and also reveal is glory and grace That's Avni Kennedy The churches were not operating under grace An obedience of God Okay Right Christopher you raised your hand. I guess first I think Where God is You know Actually is sort of emphasizing the the responsibility that the church has In administering as well as you know conforming to what he wants what what what is it partly and in some ways There is this distinction between you know the church as a body and and individuals who are who are You know getting getting you know getting their grace through faith and therefore, you know You know achieving salvation But the the distinction is that most these are the individuals, but there's a church itself. That is has a responsibility to you know to do actually minister and Do it in the in the in the right way and And That's that's demonstrated by the by the works that the church is performing. So, yeah Okay. Yeah, thank you. Thank you all for sharing sharing your thoughts. Yeah, just to Just I think you know kind of just in a sense of what everyone has shared Works Are important works are very important because It's works that are really an expression like I think many of you've shared it Yeah, they were really they were really the works are what really show or demonstrate our You know what we have in our hearts, right faith by itself is Useless because faith without works is dead same thing with love or you know, everything God has given to us If it doesn't translate into action Then it's just contained inside of us. It's really you know, we don't know whether it's there or not, right? So works are very important. That's why you know for each of these seven churches The Lord starts his first sentences after he introduces himself his first sentence is I know your works however The next thing the the related thing that we need to also mention is In each of these seven churches, he says I know your works But the works have to be balanced out or it has to be held together with this That's something in us very interesting to go look at in each of the seven churches If you want to quickly summarize that, you know for the church in Ephesians your works has to be balanced out with your first love for the church in Smyrna your works have to be balanced out with your enduring persecution For the church in Pogamos, your works has to be balanced out with holding on to sound doctrine to the church in Thyatira your works and they have to be balanced out with Making sure you Entertain or you platform only the right people to the church inside is Your works has to be really balanced out with doing the works God wants you to do To the church in Philadelphia. He says I know your works. That's a church. We're looking at right now, but I want you to Continue to keep my word and hold strong to my name and Also to persevere so your works must be held together with you holding on to my word Holding on to my name and persevere And to the church in Laudicea, which we will see later on Works must be held on to a proper and estimation of your spiritual life Yeah, so it's very interesting to observe it observe this Works are important is looking at it and you hold it You know in balance with the other things that are going on in our Christian life So the church in Philadelphia is I think you know of the seven churches It's probably you know, you we've put it like okay number one top on the list because There is no rebuke to this church. He doesn't tell them to repent of anything and What we what what can we see? Here is that this church has been far in holding on to his word and holding on to his name and And and so That's an hallmark of this church. They've held on to his word They've held on to his name and because of that the Lord is promising them certain things. He's saying I Said before you know Pando nobody can shut it means you are going to keep growing advancing Nobody can stop you from moving forward Second this church like the church in Smirna Was facing opposition from a similar Jewish group people who call themselves Jews and were persecuting them, but Jesus is called some the synagogue of Satan and To the church of Philadelphia says they're going to come down and Barbered your feet meaning you are going to conquer them You're going to overpower them So in amazing promises to the church in Philadelphia because they have held on to his word in contrast to if you look at the church in Hi, Tira in Purgamos They compromised they were letting false doctrine come in the church in Tira. They compromised They were letting you know this false prophetess come in The church in Saudis they had you know really weakened diluted their grip on things that they have received But this church in Philadelphia is holding on to the word and to the name of Jesus So you see this is a key, you know key thing that we need to do hold on to the word of God hold on To the name of Jesus That's going to put us in a place of great strength Where even those who oppose us will come and bow before us and it's going to enable us to keep advancing Jesus I'm sitting before you know, Pando. Nobody can shut it right, so If you put it in perspective today in today's world, I'm talking about the Christian church There are some subtle ways in which the church is actually deviating from the word of God And I said the word of God I mean the scriptures the teaching of the word that the the depth in the word, you know, sometimes we've you know We've got sermons being preached that you know, you're like you're wondering, okay And I'm sitting here listening to this thing of you know, 20 minutes or 30 minutes sometimes 40 minutes How much of it is the teaching of the word and how much of it is just some other general, you know Nice things that make people feel good and whatever you know And you know, it's the key to being a church like this church in Philadelphia is Hold on. He says keep you have kept my word verse 8 That's the key Holding on to that the truth of the God of the word of God has given to us. Hold on to it. Hold on to his name and then And he says you've kept my command to persevere. So they've been just staying the course they've been Enduring I mean they've been pressing through time. They've stayed consistent through time and so consistency is where Real strength is It's easy to be you know, like a shooting star, you know, you're you're you're there for a brief period But here this church was Stan. You've kept my command to persevere They've through thick and thin they've gone they've held on to God's word no compromise So these are the three things we see here in this church in Philadelphia They held on to the word to the name of the Lord and the person we had And it's just a lesson to take away and then he's giving them the promise I will keep you from the hour of trial which will come upon the whole world The test those who dwell on it now The only thing we can think of The hour of trial that will come on the whole world Is what we see described later for us in the book of Revelation Now of course the things that starting from chapter 4 are things into the future and Starting from chapter 6 which start talking about the tribulation are all out in the future But the promise given to the church in Philadelphia is a promise given to all the churches across time and so Which ever part of the church the body of Christ, I mean there are there on The earth At that time this promise applies to them He will keep us from the hour of trial which comes upon the whole world Which was then described for us in Revelation 6 onwards because those are things that affect the whole world Is I'll keep you from that. I will preserve you from that That's his promise, right and then he also says I'll write upon you the name of my God which is God's own mark of ownership God's own God's own name, you know, that's that's powerful His mark of ownership and his identity Being put upon our lives we belong to him The last church or just want to go through this of building more on the chapter 4 Revelation chapter 3 let's read from verse 14 through 222, please three verses each revelation 3 14 to 22 Revelation 3 14 and to the angel of the church of Laudatians, right These things says the amen the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God I know your works that you are neither cold nor hot I could wish you were cold or hot So then because you are lukewarm lukewarm and neither cold nor hot I will vomit you out of my mouth We're 17 on somebody please because because the OSES term rich and Increased with goods and I have need of nothing and always noted that who are stretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked I Counseled me to buy of me gold tried in the fire that the woman is to be rich and the white ray meant that the woman is to be closet and That the shame of the nakedness do not appear and anointed in eyes with Eyes slave that the woman is to see As many as I love I review and chase ten busy less therefore and repent Behold I stand at the door and knock if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in to him and dying with him and here with me to him who overcomes I will grant to sit with me on my throne as I also overcome and sat down With my father on his throne he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches Amen. Thank you So this is The church in laudicia Again, but this is just our our observation, right? It's not not trying to be Judgmental or anything, but it seems like this was a church that got the strongest rebuke from the Lord And we're gonna look into it, but I want to just point our attention first of all to verse 14 In Jesus introduction of himself he says he is he refers to himself as the amen The faithful and true witness The beginning of the creation of God now the amen we understand that means he's the culmination the fulfillment of Everything he's a faithful and true witness. We understand he was the one who came He lived and died. He pointed us to the father. We understand that But this phrase the beginning of the creation of God is is very to be very careful Because it has been misused Especially by you know cults like the groups like the Jehovah's Witness where they can they use this verse to talk about To refer to Jesus as a created being Because it says here he's referring to himself as The beginning of the creation of God. Oh, look, Jesus was a created being now It's a statement, but you know you can Restate it in different ways, but was what is he really meaning? He's meaning. He is the source of All of creation He's not meaning He's a created. He's the first being to be created So we can take the phrase the beginning of the creation of God and we can Restate it in different ways so the Jehovah's Witnesses would say hey look He is the first person to be created by God. No, no, no, that's not what he's saying And he says he's the beginning of the creation of God It means he is the origin the source of all of the creation of God And this is consistent with the rest of scripture, right? John chapter 1 verses 1 2 and 3 we all know it, you know All things were made by him and the doubt of nothing was made that was made Collisions 1 16 and 17 all things were by him for him and through him So that is what it means. He is the beginning He's the fountain the source the origin of all of the creation of God So that must be very clear. Otherwise some people will misinterpret that that phrase Charles Thank You pastor. I'm looking at Colossians chapter 1 verse 15 It says who is the image of the invisible God the first born of every creature In line with with what you are trying to explain to us on the subject of Christ being created as others are taking it How would you explain? Such a statement Peter tells us that we need to stand be able to explain So how would you explain if the Bible says the first born of every creature? Mm-hmm. So How would you do that? Yeah, so we I'll just refer you back to our notes In our second I will I will explain it now as well, but I will also reference refer you back to our notes in our First year course on interpreting scripture At that time we did in the last section we address this phrase first born, right? So if you look in the notes there, you'll find it, but I'll just repeat it So this phrase first born Is used in many ways in the New Testament and when it's used in respect to Christ It's talking about him being for example In his incarnation he's referred to as the only begotten of the father In his resurrection life, he's referred to as the first born of the father of Those who are from the dead so Both these phrases have to be understood correctly The only begotten in his incarnation the first born With respect to him being with this resurrection Okay, so keep that in mind There are these two phrases in New Testament Only begotten used in the context of his incarnation first born used in the context of his resurrection both these phrases Have to be understood correctly in the light of the rest of scripture. That means Yes, it is open for interpretation, but it has to be interpreted with the rest of the light of the rest of scripture Can I take The phrase only begotten to imply He had a beginning that he was born at some point No, I cannot why because the rest of scripture says he was from eternity to eternity First born Can I take first born which is used in the context of his resurrection to mean that He was created at some point. No What what is it implying? First born means he is the first person to be raised from the dead to live eternally Before the father so everywhere collisions one Revelation one wherever you find the phrase in a revelation one verse five again, it's used first born from the dead So everywhere this phrase first born Doesn't mean he had a beginning what it means is He was a first person human To be raised to live eternally Before the father that's how this phrase first born is used So our response is saying These phrases like only begotten first born They have to be Interpreted in the light of the rest of scripture. What is the rest of the scriptures say about the same person Jesus Christ? Does it help Charles? It does. Thank you so much welcome Okay, so yeah, so That was what we were saying and Revelation 3 14 the beginning of the creation of that we have to be a little careful how we interpret These phrases, okay, so now let's look at the church at Laodicea What was their problem The problem was They were self deceived. I mean if you were to sum up their problem in one word It was self deception. So what why do we say that because? They had one estimation of themselves. They thought like it says you're in verse 17. They were rich They're wealthy. They didn't need anything. You know, so they were having this, you know Superimpressive self estimation of themselves. We are rich. We've got everything. We don't need anything. Of course in spiritual terms But the Lord is saying in that same verse Actually, you are wretched miserable poor blind and naked so this is a Clear example. This is a classic example of self deception Self deception is we think we are something that we are not So this church was thinking Oh, we are rich. We are wealthy. We don't need we don't lack anything spiritually But the Lord is saying hey spiritually You're in a very bad place You're poor you're wretched you're miserable you're blind you're naked meaning you've got nothing and because of this self deception they are in a place where spiritually they are Look warm. They need a hot no cold basically They are beyond cold, you know, so to speak I mean They're they're lukewarm and that's why when he read when the Lord rebukes them He says be zealous and repent meaning you got to rekindle your zeal be zealous or become zealous rekindle your fire again So Self deception led them into this place of complacency Being lukewarm, but yet they thought everything was okay. So what a self deception do it leads us into this place of being lukewarm of Being complacent no zeal But yet we don't know there is no zeal You think everything is okay So what what is the Lord telling them? He tells them in verse 18? I counsel you And he look this is what I'm telling you by from me Now think about that phrase by from me How can you pay God money to buy something from God? So what does he say? I want you to pay the price So when he says by from me He's saying I want you to pay the price So you see this church Had reached a place where everything was so easy. It thought it had everything There's no longer paying the price So he says I'm counseling you I'm telling you Buy from me and then you got to pay the price Pay the price for what? He says I want you to buy from me. Look at the three things. He tells them. I want you buy for me gold. I Want you to refine in fire. I want you to buy from me white garments and I want you to buy for me Annoying to your eyes with anointing three things gold white garments Anointing for revelation Now, obviously these three things are representing something gold What is of true value gold refined with fire gold represents what's divine what comes from God? So he's saying I want you to pay the price for what is What comes from me what is divine what comes from God gold You know in contrast to if you look at first Corinthians three Paul tells us, you know Gold silver precious stones would hey stubble would hey stubble, you know things of this world is burn away But gold silver precious stones. Those are those are what comes from God. Those are what is divine eternal So I want you to buy from me what is really the true riches what comes from God. I want you to pay the price for it Second, I want you to pay the price for true righteousness white garments represents the righteousness of the saints Pay the price for true righteousness and third. I want you to pay the price For true anointing that brings revelation because he says, you know your eyes are blind and You need anointing To see yeah anoint your eyes so you can see so to pay the price For anointing that brings revelation So think about the church in Laudicea And so he says I want you to Be or become zealous Stir up your zeal rekindle you'll rekindle your fire and then it gets even more shocking. That's verse 20 Because in verse 20 Jesus is standing at the door and knocking which means he is actually outside He's been locked out. He's no longer there inside. He's outside the house So can you imagine a church where Jesus has been locked out? So this is of course You speaking to the church speaking and the church, of course It's made up of people individuals I say I want to come in I want to you know, I want to Eat with your fellowship today. I want to I want to be inside But right now He's outside the church is knocking I want to come in so in their self-deception We just led to complacency them being lukewarm. They're not paying the price for what is True riches true righteousness and true anointing that brings revelation They're not paying the price for that What has happened Jesus is outside the church But the church is functioning They think hey everything is really good We've we are rich. We are wealthy. You don't need anything. That's how the church is going on. They think we've got everything going How's the church great, you know, how's how's this house the fellowship great house of service? Oh, it's wonderful. Everything is good But Jesus is locked outside your poor Richard naked-blind you don't know that and You've stopped paying the price For what is really from God True righteousness and true revelation so He's saying but you know look at his look at the compassion of Jesus is saying look I'm standing and knocking meaning I want to come in. I Want to be in my church? I Want to come in and if anybody anyone he would one person in this community He's going to receive me. I'll come in our fellowship with that person That means he is The true riches he is that true revelation. He is that true righteousness. I'll come in also I'll fellowship with him so You know this last church Is a strong warning for us like you know all the other churches there's a lesson to take away from each church we should never ever come into this place of Thinking everything is great Because that was the problem They thought they got everything. Hey, we don't need anything. Everything is perfectly fine No, you cannot do that You have to always Be paying the price for what is coming from God the true riches true righteousness and Anointing that brings revelation always In that posture of paying the price of buying from him and you're paying the price Or it comes from him and always stir up our seal keep our seal on fire for the Lord Okay, any thoughts any questions, please before we jump into chapter four Charles you have something to say Yes, but I'm looking at this buying and I'm referring to Isiah 55 Where he says For everyone that sastres come He to the waters and he that has no money come he buy and eat You come by wine and milk without money and without price and now Here in the book of revelation he is saying by gold It is I wanted you to shed more light on Here in the book of Isaiah I was looking at Even as a 61 vast in where he says It's going to give us the remnant of righteousness and all that but when I look at 55 Verses one and two I It is talking about food. It is talking about water milk and But when he comes here is looking about when you come in verse 18 of chapter three Is talking of gold something that is now Remaining something that Because in chapter 55 of Isaiah is water you drink it is gone Milk you drink it food you eat it, but now is talking of gold the talking of growth is so How How can I translate it? I was looking at it about buying without price But this time is wanting us to pay price. I don't know how to express it But I'm there in the middle. So first I feel you could intervene Okay, it's pretty simple right think about it all in spiritual terms right So think about the act of buying When you buy something in the natural when you buy something you're paying a price Now in the spiritual when you buy something you pay a price, but it's not a natural It's not like you're giving God money But it's paying the price Spiritually what do you mean paying the price spiritually it is our seeking God It is our you know through our prayer through our seeking God Through our diligent following of God that is paying the price in a spiritual sense and All of these elements that are described in Isaiah 55 and here they are only Representative whether it's milk whether it's water whether it's bread whether it's gold whether it's white garments or whether it's You know anointing for your eyes. They are representing something these elements all of these are just representing something right So when you think about water and milk, don't don't think about literal things. These are pictures They are representing spiritual nourishment spiritual Things that God gives to us Similarly anything but gold and white garments don't think about natural things. These are representing spiritual things Right. So what is the other the understanding is pretty simple straightforward? It simply means We pay the spiritual price To receive these spiritual things from God That's all. Thank you Yeah Okay, any other end of the questions from or any comments about the church in Laodicea Okay, so we're going to get started with chapter 4. I Know it's already one moment at 950, but let me just introduce chapter 4 Begins like this The Lord Jesus says to you know, he John has his experience he sees the door opens and The voice says come up here I will show you things which must take place after this So this is the dividing line This is things to come things yet to come that's why we say chapters 2 and 3 but things that were that were at there at that time So Jesus says, you know in chapter 1 he said speak to the seven churches which are in Asia So he's not talking, you know about some church in the future. He's talking about church right there These were seven churches that were there So till chapter end of chapter 3 he's speaking to those seven churches which were there Chapter 4 was one is into the future Okay, so let's pause We'll come back in 10 minutes after the break and pick this up Okay, thank you