THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

The entire Book of Revelation is a revealing of the judgements of God relative to the coming and crowning of Jesus Christ as “Lord of lords” and “King of kings.”

I want to use this book as the foundational base for our study of Bible Prophecy. I believe that the other prophecy references from other prophets can be easily inserted in their respected place.

Revelation 1:1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John . . .

Once again, note this book is a revealing of the installation of Jesus Christ as Lord and King of the earth. This was given to Him by God the Father. The purpose of the book is to show to the servants of God those things that must come to pass. Now this letter or book was written to the servants of the Lord by the Apostle John.

Revelation 1:2-9

2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

3 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.

4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Notice the terminology John uses here. I am your companion in tribulation, the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. John was among the apostles that God used to establish the church. In doing so, he experienced much persecution and trials that developed patience in him. He was waiting for the return of the Saviour. He desired to be with the Lord. It was a joyful expectation.

However, the Lord called him to the isle of Patmos to enlighten him as to the things that would come to pass before the coming of the Lord. This revelation was meant to warn and at the same time comfort the body of Christ. It is a prophecy whose elements would come to past in the order in which they are outlined.

Revelation 1:10-17

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

THE THINGS THOU HAST SEEN

Revelation 1:18-20

18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Here John is instructed to write the things that he has seen. In doing so, the Lord reveals the meaning of the first mystery. The seven golden candlesticks are the seven churches, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.

This word is written to the angel of the church. The angel or messenger, is the pastor or overseer of the church. John is not writing to a spiritual entity, or an angelic being. The term angel is used as messenger.

THE THINGS WHICH ARE

A: THE CONDITION OF THE CHURCH

CHURCH OF EPHESUS: LEFT ITS FIRST LOVE

Revelation 2:1-2

1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars

First of all, we need to establish that seven churches of Asia were real churches that existed during the time of this revelation. They were fully operational with pastors and members. Paul, James and even John preached in some of these churches.

Again, the work in the church is not that of angels. It is the work of men. It is the authority of the overseer to try the ministry of men to see if they be of God. Thus, this book is written to the pastors of the seven churches in Asia.

Revelation 2:3-5

3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

This pastor had labored in the name of the Lord. He bore many things without fainting, however, he left his first love. The admonition of the Lord is that he repent and return to do his first works. The consequences of not doing so, would be the removal of the church out of his responsibility and authority.

B: THE RESTORATION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Isaiah 1:26

And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

OTHNIEL, THE JUDGE

Judges 3:9-11

9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

10 And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushan-rishatha'im king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushan-rishatha'im.

11 And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

EHUD, THE JUDGE

Judges 3:14-15

14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.

DEBORAH, THE JUDGE

Judges 4:1-9

1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.

2 And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.

3 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.

4 And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

5 And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

7 And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.

8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.

9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Those who will be used by the Lord to lead His people into righteousness, must be fearless of man in the face of the commandments of the Lord. There is no way the church will come into the mind of Christ if it continues to compromise with the doctrines, ways and lusts of men. The Lord is bold enough to demand separatism. He is a jealous God who demands to be set apart in the hearts of men.

Below is an example of the mind of leadership that God is raising up in these last days.

GIDEON, THE JUDGE

Judges 6:10-24

10 And I said unto you, I am the LORD your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed my voice.

11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

16 And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.

18 Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.

20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so.

21 Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.

22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.

23 And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die.

24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

This is so characteristic of God. In His calling of a man or woman to serve, He will make sure that the individual knows beyond a shadow of a doubt, it is the Lord God who speaks to them. He will give you that assurance in order to build your confidence to do the task He has set before you. Once this supernatural God has entered the world of the natural just to prove to you that it is He who speaks or beckons your service, then He is justified to instruct you in the method in which you are to serve.

TEAR DOWN THE OLD AND BUILD THE NEW

Judges 6:25-28

25 And it came to pass the same night, that the LORD said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it:

26 And build an altar unto the LORD thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down.

27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the LORD had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night.

28 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built.

In order for Gideon to obey the Word of the Lord, he had to separate unto himself ten men of his servants, those who were of a like spirit. Note that the task could not be done in the day or in the presence of the men of his father’s house or in the presence of the men of the city. For in doing so, they would have to stop the work. The reason being, they did not believe as he did. Furthermore, they were willing to fight for what they believed.

This is all the more reason the Lord has said to those who will serve Him in earnest, “come out from among them.”

1. To mix and mingle with those of a mind contrary to the will of God is to expose those who have been persuaded by the truth to be tempted with error.

2. Those under commandment of the Lord are pioneers of righteousness. They must be prepared to stand alone until the work is done.

3. When flesh has carried the church off course, then those who are called to bring it back into the mind and heart of God, must work diligently to destroy the doctrines of men. In doing so, the called must not participate in things that oppose the heart of God.

4. The Lord wants His leaders to prepare His people for Him, not for themselves.

5. The called of God will be tested in a way that will reveal whether they are ready to truly depart from the way of the fathers and go the way of the Holy Ghost. This means in many cases, having a heart to destroy the beliefs of the fathers that oppose the truth. To do this, one must first accept that anything that is not of the truth, is of the devil and destructive to the body of Christ.

Judges 6:29-30

29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing.

30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it.

Once the called are identified as one who dares to tear down the way of Baal, or the false doctrines and ways of men, there will be much persecution. According to our Saviour, men love darkness rather then light. It is the light of truth that men hate.

Because no weapon formed against the truth will prosper, men will seek to destroy the messenger of truth. This is consistent with man's motive for crucifying the Lord. They hated truth. It is restrictive to the flesh. It opposes their lust and reveals their true heart.

Judges 6:31-32

31 And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar.

32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar.

Now Gideon's father was perceptive enough to know that if Baal, the god to whom Israel had turned, had any power, then he would fight for himself. Likewise, if the doctrines of men have greater power in the hearts of men, than the truth, then there would be no need to fight those who bring the truth. But, leaders of darkness fear the truth. They do not want those they lead to hear a true word, or entertain the method of righteousness. They know that the truth is influence that destroys the power of darkness in the hearts of men.

To love darkness and the doctrines of men is to hate truth and those who speak it. You cannot separate the two. Truth and truthbearers are one. Men who are given over to the enterprising and merchandising of God's people, are haters of those who oppose such. They will speak evil of the way of righteousness. They will also speak evil of those who introduce that way.

Truth provokes the spirit of murder in the hearts of those who are not ready to accept it as a way of life. They may know that the way is right, but it is not convenient for their purpose. They will fight to destroy those who oppose them in any way they can. They hate the influence that truth has in the lives of those they desire to lead into captivity.

But where the enemy comes in as a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him. The Lord is raising up those leaders in the body who will resist the temptations of the flesh. They will give themselves over to the righteousness of God. They have but one purpose, and that is to reveal the righteousness of God.

Judges 6:33-35

33 Then all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east were gathered together, and went over, and pitched in the valley of Jezreel.

34 But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gathered after him.

35 And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh; who also was gathered after him: and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them.

The entire nation had gone off course in serving man and idols, when the Lord raised up a man who dared to defy the present way of things. We find many others found courage to fight for the way of truth. However, with this direct confrontation with the system, or the way man leads the body of Christ, there still will be no change in the spirituality of the Church.

It is the sacrifice of those who love the ways of God and their courage in standing on the principles of God that will cause the rest of the body to pursue the righteousness of God. This is the purpose of leadership.

Once those who are called of God pass the tests that reveal their commitment to the righteousness of God, then will the Lord gather His people unto them. He will send those who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness and cause them to leave their places and join themselves to that which is holy.

Hosea 9:10

10 I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time: but they went to Baalpeor, and separated themselves unto that shame; and their abominations were according as they loved.

Like Israel, leaders in the church have become lovers of the abominations of this world. They have gone after and led the church in pursuit of the things of this world. The abomination arises from the fact that the sons of God are not of this world. Therefore, for them to follow after the pleasures, ways and the lusts of this world is to do that which is against their nature. It is also to put the work of Christ to an open shame.

St. Luke 1:17

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord

John the Baptist of whom the above scripture is referring to was a forerunner to the coming of Jesus Christ. The ministers of the end-time are also forerunners of the same sort. We are charged with preparing a people for the Lord. We are to build Him a house to dwell in. It is our responsibility to reveal the righteousness of God. In order to do so, we must work in the power of the Spirit of God.

The ministers of God: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers are gifted by God for the perfecting of the saints. This work must continue until the body of Christ is brought into the unity of the faith and to the statue or character of the man Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12).

Revelation 3:3

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

This is a warning to the men and women of God who would serve in the Body. The call and revelation of God is not without responsibility. The called are equipped by God to carry out the work at hand. They are given revelation and spiritual strength and guidance. The way of God is made know unto them. They are without excuse concerning the righteousness of God.

An effectual work of faith is done in everyone who is called to serve. This work is a chastening that confirms in the inward parts the purpose of God. This effectual working of grace in the heart will tear down all fleshy opposition to the will of God for the life of His servant.

To walk away or turn one’s back on the purpose of God that is developed in us is to crucify the Lord afresh. The warning is sure.

The candlestick is the church. The church is the body of Christ. Each member of the local church is a part of the body of Christ. It is the master who establishes a local church for the purposes of influence in a given territory. He is the one who determines the place of the body. He is the one who determines who will walk in the position of overseer of His body. He is also the one who will move His body from being under the authority of those who have rejected the truth.

Even today, we see many churches becoming void of anointing, revelation and just plain dying out. It is the Lord who removes His Spirit and His people. Many preachers are finding themselves in this situation and are like drowning men, reaching for straws. They are devising all types of schemes, programs and vain meetings, in an attempt to refill the house. But the truth is, the Lord has rejected them from serving Him or His people. Therefore, the people are moved to leave the work and look for other places to worship.

I have witnessed churches that were once packed to capacity, dwindle to only a faithful few who are simply loyal to the pastor. What happened to the hundreds who worshipped in that place of authority and revelation? Where are they? And if the answer is that they were not chosen for the work, then where are the ones who were? Why won’t the Lord fill the house? Why are the pews empty? Why has the anointing ceased? Why is there no fresh word? Why has the glory of God departed from that church?

It is because the candlestick has been removed out of that place. The people of God who desire truth and righteousness have been removed. They have been taken away from the leadership of an unfaithful leader.

CHURCH OF SMYRNA: THE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN [Jews that are not]

Revelation 2:8-11

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Take note that at the time of the writing of this book, the Church at Smyrna was under strong Roman persecution. The saints were encouraged to be faithful unto death. The crown of life was to be their expectation.

Those of Judaism were consistently resisting the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church at Smyrna. They claimed to be Jews who understood the oracles of God. The form of worship in this church, being void of the ordinances and ceremonies of the law, made the visitation of God insignificant.

These were they who denied the personage of Jesus Christ as the fulfilling of the law therefore, they rejected the work of the cross. They blasphemed the way of righteousness and perverted the doctrine of salvation.

The parallel to this movement in the body of Christ today, is those leaders who once knew the Lord, but refused to accept His method of bringing about His righteousness to His body. It is strange that such is the case. Seeing as how man has never in his own ways or power been able to achieve the righteousness of God.

Nevertheless, because of the wantonness of fame and fortune, the way of holiness is evil spoken of. Selfishness and self-gain have ruled the churches of God. Men fight dogmatically to destroy the method given by God to those who are chosen to bring about the righteousness of God in the church. It is confirmed by a selfishly motivated war by the same men who see evidence of such righteousness in the people of God, yet they fight against the way righteousness was brought about.

Romans 2:17-24

17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and resets in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

Unrighteous leaders in the body today claim to know the will of God. They claim to have a more excellent way to achieve what God wants. However, when that way is examined closely, it is merely the way of their spiritual up-bringing. Man’s way can only implement the mindset that has been developed in him.

Look at the example set before us. They taught not to steal, yet they stole. The taught against adultery, yet the committed the same.

They taught against idolatry, yet they worshiped the gods of money, reputation and authority. Their way could not remove the sin they taught against from their spiritual walk.

Even in the church that strives for the righteousness of God, there will be some failures. However, the mindset will be one that abhors the evil of our ways and will continue to press toward a mark of perfection.

Romans 2:28-29

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

We know that the above scripture is referring to the work of regeneration of the inner man. There must be a circumcision by the Holy Ghost in the inward parts if one is to be a son of God. However, let us look a little closer at the lifestyle and its consequences to those who have experienced this circumcision of the heart.

Romans 6:16

16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

Romans 9:6-8

6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

This is a spiritual law that the church must accept if it is to survive the end-times. Though the above verses reference the mindset of Israel relative to the church, the principal is the same in the church. Many of those who have been born of the seed of God will yield their members over to the lusts of the flesh. They will become the servants of the one to whom they yield their members. The wages of sin is death. There is no escape for rejecting or refusing to yield to the way of holiness. Though they were born of the Spirit of God, they refused to be led by the Spirit. Therefore, their rewards are the same as those who never knew God. The confirmation of this is found in the letter to the church at Sardis.

Revelation 3:4-5

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life...

CHURCH OF PERGAMOS: THE DOCTRINES OF BALAAM AND THE NICOLAITANES

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that 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.

15 So hast thou also them that holdthe doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.

16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

BALAAM

The New Testament mentions Balaam in three passages. Peter speaks of false teachers who "have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam" <2 Pet. 2:15>. Jude speaks of backsliders who "have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit" <Jude 11>. Balaam's error was greed or covetousness; he was well paid to bring a curse upon the people of Israel.

The nature of Balaam's curse is made clear by John in the Book of Revelation. It refers to some members of the church in Pergamos who held "the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality" <Rev. 2:14>.

Before leaving Balak, Balaam apparently told the Moabite leader that Israel could be defeated if its people were seduced to worship Baal, "to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality" <Rev. 2:14>. Indeed, this was exactly what happened: "The people [of Israel] began to commit harlotry with the women of Moab. They invited the people to the sacrifice of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel was joined to Baal of Peor, and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel" <Num. 25:1-3>.

In condemning "the way of Balaam," the New Testament condemns the greed of all who are well paid to tempt God's people to compromise their moral standards.

(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)

(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)

This doctrine of Balaam has survived well in the household of faith. The leaders of the body of Christ have led their people into merchandising and sexual immorality. Thus many congregations have become the enemies of God and godliness. The mind of the leader is programmed in the people, and the purpose is the monetary gain of the pastors.

However, we are beginning to see the power of the Word and the Spirit work in the church to retrieve the congregation of God. People have become weary of the doctrines, ways and methods of worship that only benefit the leaders. The people of God have come to recognize the spirit of control in the pulpits. They are discerning the unrighteous motives of pastors leading them into church games and vain activities.

The Spirit of God is creating a hunger and a thirst for the righteousness of God. The church is searching for a sure word. It wants to experience the righteousness of God. Members of the Body are beginning to believe that they have something to supply to this end-time movement of the Holy Ghost. They want to be used by God.

In addition to the mind of the church being placed on alert, the Lord is also raising up those who will be instrumental in perfecting the body and those who will not compromise or seek after the reward of Balaam. The Lord is faithful to those who love righteousness. He will fill them with the knowledge of His ways.

I need to say that this message to the seven churches is two-fold in nature. It is indeed a biographical account of the condition of these churches at the time of the writing of the book. However, it is also a prophetic utterance of the futuristic state of the body of Christ. That future condition being our present day disposition.

To examine these spiritual conditions caused by mindsets and those things pastors allowed reveals severe hindrances to the body of Christ coming into the mind and heart of God. We will never fulfill the purpose of God for the church (Eph. 3:9-10), until these latter day perfectors take their places in holiness and lead the body out of the mind of man.

CHURCH OF THYATIRA: THE DOCTRINE OF JEZEBEL, THE FALSE PROPHETESS, ADULTERY AND FORNICATION

Revelation 2:18 -29

18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;

19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

20 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.

21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

23 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.

24 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.

25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.

26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

27 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.

28 And I will give him the morning star.

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

CHURCH OF SARDIS: DEAD, GARMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS DEFILED

Revelation 3:1-6

1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

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

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA:

Revelation 3:7-13

7 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;

8 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 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

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.

11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

The church of Philadelphia is the only church the Lord has nothing against. It is the church that pleased Him. In other words, there was nothing operating in that particular church that offended the Lord. This body of believers and its pastor represent the character of the church that will glorify the Lord in these latter days.

Where sin abounds, sin does much more abound. The grace of God will be poured out in this church like never before. The reason being, there must be a standard raised up against the magnitude of sin in the latter days.

Before this church is set an open door.

1 Corinthians 16:9

9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

2 Corinthians 2:12

12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord...

Colossians 4:3

3 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 . . .

In every instance where the Lord opened a door unto those of the church, it was a door of utterance. Because they kept His word and lifted up His name He would open a great door through which they would be allowed to preach the gospel in a demonstration of the power of the Holy Ghost.

Note it is the Lord who opens the door of utterance. The opening of such door is the loosing of the ministry placed in the vessels for whom the door is opened.

This is so true to the character of God. It is like Him to test and prove all His ministers, to see if they can be trusted with the gospel confirmed by the Holy Ghost on a world-wide scale.

This is also the church that will be kept from the hour of temptation. It is the church whom the Lord taught to pray... “lead us not into temptation.” This temptation which the church will be kept from is the outpouring of the wrath of God. [The word temptation here is wrath or provocation]. There will be a time of wrath that the church will not experience. We see the outpouring of His wrath in the following verses.

Revelation 15:1

1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.

Revelation 16:1

1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

I Thessalonians 5:9

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ . . .

The seven last plagues are the wrath of God. These are the final judgements that will come upon the earth before the return of Jesus Christ to set up His kingdom. The church will be removed from the earth before the outpouring of this wrath. This is the answer to the prayer the Lord gave the church to pray . . .“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

The Lord will bring this evil upon the earth as the reward of the wicked. He will break the resistance of the nations and destroy the adversary. The church will be taken out just before this happens.

CHURCH OF LAODICEA: LUKEWARM, MONEYMAKING, BLIND AND NAKED

Revelation 3:14-22

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

This lukewarm state is the disposition of the church today. It is a gainsaying greedy church that is persuaded in the doctrine of prosperity. Christ has been pushed to the outside trying to come back in. Once again the god of money has taken His place.

However, true believers are emerging and consequently coming out of this church. They are finding their way into places that will feed them the truth and teach them how to fulfill their purpose in God. That which remains in it will enter in the hour of the wrath of God and have their portion with the unbelievers.

Saints of God are even growing weary of hearing the faith and prosperity message. They know that over the years these principles have not worked for them. Nevertheless, even in the midst of prosperity, saints are beginning to sense the urgency in knowing and understanding the heart and mind of God.

This urgency, I believe, is the work of the Holy Ghost in the believer. He knows the time for this world is running out. Therefore, there is an unction in the bowels of many to seek out the righteousness of God.

If the ministry you attend is a type of the Laodecean church, then you need to seek the Lord as to the place He would have you to move your membership. There is no loyalty or social status that is worth losing your soul.

Pastors have used the people of God to make money for the church in ways that are offensive to the Holy Ghost. In essence, the moneymaking activities are for lining the pockets of the leader. The people spend all their energy working on programs to raise money to give to the leaders of these type churches.

Soul winning is not an issue and coming into the knowledge of God is not the goal. Soul winning is a distraction. Perfecting the saints in love is not feasible and knowledge is a threat to the spirit of control that so many pastors operate in. The time has come for the body of Christ to come together in the unity of the faith. It is going to happen. The Word says so and God has purposed it, so make the proper decisions. Go with the purpose of God. Anything else is only temporal. Life in the Spirit is eternal.

1. EPHESUS - The Lord knows:

1. They had patience Against thee:

2. Hated evil Left their first love

3. Able to identify false Apostles(liars)

4. Did not faint in their trials

5. Hated the deeds of the Nicolaitanes

Required to: Do their first works

Consequence/Penalty

Remove the candlestick out of its place except they repent.

2. SMYRNA - The Lord knows their:

1. Tribulation

2. Poverty (but thou art rich)

3. Blasphemy of those who say they are Jews (and are not) they are of the synagogue of Satan

They will be:

Cast into prison

Tried and have tribulation for 10 days

Required to: Be faithful unto death in order to receive a crown of life.

He who overcomes:

Will not be hurt of the second death.

3. PERGAMOS - The Lord knows

1. Where they dwell is where Satan's seat is

2. They hold fast the name of the Lord

3. Have not denied His faith

Against thee

Some hold the doctrine of Balaam:

Eat things sacrificied to idols

Commit fornication

Doctrine of Nicolaitanes (which the Lord hates); similar to those who hold the doctrine of Balaam.

Eating things offered to idols

Mixing in and encouraging idolatrous worship;

Deny God to be the creator of the world, and attribute its

existence to other powers.

Doctrine of Balaam - The New Testament condemns the greed of all those who are well paid to tempt God's people to compromise their moral standards.

Consequences/Penalty

The Lord will fight against them with the sword of His mouth.

Those who overcome:

Will receive hidden manna (a revelation of the Word)

Will be given a white stone with a new name written in the stone

4. THYATIRA - The Lord knows their:

1. Charity

2. Service

3. Faith

4. Patience

5. They put the last to be more than the first.

Against Thee

Jezebel - teach and seduce my servants

Commit fornication

To eat things sacrificed unto idols

Required to:

Repent or be cast into great tribulation

He who overcomes:

Will receive power over the nations

Will rule with a rod of iron

Will be given the morning star.

5. SARDIS - The Lord knows:

1. They have a name and they live and art dead (self-denial).

2. Be watchful and strengthen those things which remain that are ready to die.

3. Their works are not perfect before God.

Required to: hold fast and repent.

Penalty: If they do not watch He will come to them as a thief in the night and they will not know what hour He will come upon them.

They have a few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments and they will walk with God in white for they are worthy.

He who overcomes:

Shall be clothed with white raiment

The Lord will not blot their name out of the book of life

Their name will be confessed before God and His angels

6. PHILADELPHIA -

1. They have been given an open door that no man can shut.

2. They have a little strength.

3. They have kept the Word of the Lord and have not denied His name.

4. God's enemies will worship before their (the saints) feet and all will know that the Lord loves His Church.

5. They have kept the Word of His patience.

6. God will keep them from the hour of temptation which will come upon the world to try all those who dwell upon the earth.

Required to:

Hold fast so that no man takes their crown.

He who overcomes:

Will be made a pillar in God's temple

Will go out no more

God's name, the name of God's city (New Jerusalem) and Jesus' new name will be written upon those who overcome.

7. LAODICEA -

1. They are neither cold nor hot.

2. They are lukewarm so they will be spewed out of the Lord's mouth.

3. They are lukewarm because they say they are rich, increased with goods and have need of nothing. But God says they are a wretch, miserable, poor, blind and naked!

4. He tells them that those whom He loves, He chastens and rebukes.

Required to: to be zealous and repent.

To those who overcome:

The Lord will grant to them to sit in His throne even as our Lord has overcome and sits with His Father in His throne.

COUNTDOWN TO ARMAGEDDON

St. Matthew 24:4-12

4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

THE FALLING AWAY

Jesus’ prophecy reveals the condition of the world and the church before the coming of our Lord:

THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS: Verses 6-8

1. Wars and rumors of wars

2. Nation against nation

3. Kingdom against kingdom

4. Famines

5. Pestilences

6. Earthquakes in divers places

These listed are the beginning of sorrows. The world is setting itself up for the revelation of the anti-christ. There is discontentment everywhere and in everything.

We know that these are signs of the times in which we will see these things come to pass. These signs are not futuristic. No, these things are happening right now. Land, religion, race and ethnic origin have prompted wars around the world. Nations are indeed against one another. The world is filled with pestilence and disease that cannot be cured. Earthquakes are occurring more frequently than ever before. These are stressful times. Therefore, man is looking for any form of distraction. The spirit of anti-Christ will provide these distractions in the form of the pleasures of sin.

THE SPIRIT OF INIQUITY: Verses 9-12

1. Then will the persecution of the church begin.

The saints will be hated, afflicted and killed for the name of Christ. It is most fortunate for the Church that the Master has enlightened us as to what to expect during the latter days. In the process of coming to power, the spirit of the man of sin, which is the spirit of anti-christ and the spirit of iniquity, will target those of the Christian faith who oppose the unrighteousness of man. The presence of Christianity is a silent condemnation of sin. Therefore, the spirit of iniquity must come strong against those who keep the faith of Jesus Christ.

Now we see why the Lord called this period, a time of sorrows. The same spirit that came against the early church to destroy the saints will be revived by the forces of evil coming into the world in these days.

This spirit of iniquity is the iron in Daniel’s fourth world kingdom. The characteristics of the iron are to break to pieces and utterly destroy.

2. Many will be offended:

Because of fervent persecution of the saints, much of the church will turn from serving the Lord. Loved ones will turn against loved

ones, saint against saint and fathers against sons. The way of righteousness will be evil spoken of by those who are close to us. The spirit of hatred in the hearts of unbelievers will target family members and anyone else who opposes unrighteousness.

Many saints will be offended by these attacks and will blame God for allowing the enemy to persecute to the degree that he will. These offenses will cause saints to turn from serving the Lord to serving the desire of their own heart. This is why the words the Lord gave us concerning love, wantonness, suffering and offenses are so important. Bible Teachers has been taught how to overcome offenses. We know that it is possible to walk in the spiritual where nothing shall offend. All these teachings were given to prepare us for the days ahead.

However, we must gird up for the onslaught of trials that are about to begin. If we do not constantly rehearse the things the Lord has already revealed, then we too, will gender a spirit of resentment against the righteousness of God.

We cannot take anything for granted. The devil is going to shoot his biggest guns in a few days. A shield of faith is the only thing that will quench the fiery darts of the enemy.

3. Because of the offense to suffering, saints will turn against saints.

4. Saints will be hated because of Christ.

5. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

It will be easy for false prophets to deceive those whose hearts are full of iniquity for it is the pure in heart who will see and know God.

6. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

The love of God and the way of holiness will grow cold. Revived lust, renewed wantonness for things and false prophets guarantee that mankind will reach its lowest place of sin and degradation.

Many who reach this point will be the saints of God, who were offended by the way of holiness. They will find themselves in a sea of lust drowning in the desires of flesh.

A closer examination of the above passages reveals that Jesus is describing the same time period, (and events thereof), as the apostle Paul. The key here as it relates to linking the two prophets is the last statement . . . “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

Now in the writings of Paul to the Church at Thessalonia,

II Thessalonians 2:1-4

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Just as Jesus did, Paul warns:

1. Not to be deceived. This deception will come if you are shaken in mind or troubled in spirit by the way the course of this world affects the circumstances of your life.

2. There will be a falling from the faith, before the rapture of the church.

3. The anti-christ will be revealed before the rapture of the church.

4. The anti-christ will oppose all forms of godliness, especially the church.

St. Matthew 24:13-14

13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

The church is instructed to endure the persecution of the days coming. Those who hold fast will inherit the kingdom. Those who faint will perish with unbelievers.

The gospel will be preached at this time. However, it is the Philadelphia Church who will be charged with carrying this message to the ends of the earth. It is the church before whom is set an open door of utterance.

Remember, Jesus said the Church of Philadelphia had a little strength. It was pure in its purpose and its doings. Therefore, it was the only one qualified to carry the end-time message. It had been groomed by the Holy Ghost in the knowledge of the purpose of God. Note Daniel’s observation of these times:

Daniel 11:33-38

33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.

34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.

35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.

37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.

38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.

In the midst of the exaltation of the man of sin, the true church will carry the gospel to every nation. We have received help from the Holy Ghost in this matter. However, many will be overtaken and killed or imprisoned by the anti-Christian world government.

Many are already deceived into thinking that such a harsh reality could not be possible in the free countries of the world. This is the mind that sees the world void of the reign of the devil. All things will change. Life as we know it now will change drastically.

Daniel saw the worship of a god who the fathers of mankind had not worshipped. He is the god of forces, and he will, according to Daniel, cause his man, the anti-christ to prosper in the subduing of the earth.

Going back to Matthew 24, according to Jesus Christ; after this gospel is preached in all the world, then will the end come. The role of the church will be finished. Its purpose will be fulfilled and its trying, testing and purging . . . complete.

St. Matthew 24:15

15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

St. Luke 21:15-20

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.

18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

This is the sign of the end of the church age. We will see the abomination of desolation placed in the holy place. However, we are told to be patient for the trying of our faith in prolonging His return, worketh patience in us. We are to wait on His return looking always to the Father for help in our time of need.

Nevertheless, Luke wrote more of the specifics as they were rendered by the Master concerning the disposition of the church in days of the trying of our faith.

St. Luke 21:20

20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

The church will see a siege around Jerusalem.

St. Luke 21:21-22

21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.

22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

This will be the time of Jacob’s trouble. He will be rewarded for all disobedience.

St. Luke 21:23-26

23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Here in verses 25 and 26, is where the seven trumpet judgments are brought upon the earth.

St. Luke 21: 27-28

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

The inference here is that the church will witness these heart failing events. These are the signs we are suppose to watch for. Great distress will come upon the earth. God will bring things upon the earth in which man will have no control, nor will he be able to duplicate. This is the reason for the faint heart. Man will not be in control of his world. God will shake the heavens and the earth. When we see these things happening our redemption is close at hand.

Now the focus turns to Israel. Here is the warning for the people of Israel to get out of the city. Destruction by the chastening rod of God is coming. The anti-christ will scatter, overtake and even destroy many of the people.

Israel is instructed to flee to the mountains while the church is told to look up, for our redemption is nigh. Now this verifies the fact that the church will be taken off the earth before the nation of Israel is delivered out of the hand of anti-christ.

St. Matthew 24:16-26

16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:

21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders;

insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25 Behold, I have told you before.

26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

The church will entertain the false christs and prophets of the anti-christ. These will do great signs and wonders in the presence of the saints. Many of the saints will be seduced by these great wonders. Because of the iniquity of the heart, it will be easy to seduce the saints of God.

St. Matthew 24:27-28

27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

Here we have an account of the rapture of the church. However, there has been some controversy as to the use of the word carcass. Therefore, to simplify this mystery, we will go to its parallel verses in the account of the same sermon as written by Luke.

St. Luke 17:34-37

34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

The body here is the resurrected body of Christ. He will appear in the clouds and we will meet Him in the air. When will this meeting in the air take place? The next verses answer that question.

St. Matthew 24:29-31

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

This is the gathering together of the saints. It is the same gathering discussed by Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians. Once again, it takes place after the tribulation.

Another thing to note here is that the trumpet judgements where the sun and the moon are darkened and the stars of heaven begin to fall upon the earth, also seem for the most part to begin after the tribulation initiated by the anti-christ.

St. Matthew 24:32-34

32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

"This generation . . ." What generation? This word speaks of the kindred offspring of Christ Jesus. The Church is the body of Christ. We are His offspring. The time of the Church will not pass until it sees all these things come to pass.

Revelation 10:7

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

The mystery of God is Christ in us the hope of glory (Col. 1:26). However, in the days of the sounding of the 7th trumpet, our hope will be manifested. The things that we have hoped for will be manifested. This will be the age of the church on the earth brought to a close.

The sounding of the 7th trumpet judgement brings about the rapture of the Church off the earth. Truly then, all focus will be on the Jews who are at this time hiding in the mountains of Israel.

St. Matthew 24:35 -39

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Now the Lord attempts to explain even further the mind of the world at the coming of Christ. Let us not forget that He has already informed us as to what to look for in the way of signs that forecast His coming.

A. There will be unrest in the middle east. Armies will surround Jerusalem.

B. There will be a strong persecution of the church.

C. Many saints will be offended and seduced into sin.

D. There will be a great falling away from righteousness.

E. Those servants of the Master who remain faithful will be given understanding and an open door to preach the gospel.

F. The Lord will return as a thief in the night to the world as well as to those unfaithful servants who left their first love.

St. Matthew 24:40-42

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

STEWARDS OVER THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH

St. Matthew 24:43-51

43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Here we have a warning to those of us who are called to serve in the body. The Lord insists that the servant is called to give the body meat in due season. We are to continuously feed the body of Christ. (Peter, feed my sheep).

The feeding of the pure word of God to the flock ensures that they will be brought to a place to stand before Him in righteousness. It is the pure Word of God that will accomplish righteousness in the body. Nothing else can do it.

This is why the ministers of the gospel must be given over to fasting, praying and study of the Word. Those called in the five-fold ministry are the perfectors of the body. They themselves must be given over to their purpose.

However, the Lord notes a possibility of unfaithful servants becoming distracted by the pursuit of the wantonness of the flesh. He notes that this pursuit will include the abuse of the Body of Christ. Such abuse the Lord has proclaimed in detail.

He has already informed us of the things he see as error and sin in the leaders of the flock. It is the responsibility of present leadership to destroy or remove all those things that offend from among the people of God. Failure to do so will result in the penalty of hell.

Because of the great revelation of Himself that the Lord has given to us, we are accountable for what we know. The revelation of righteousness means we are capable of walking in it. It is time to take our calling and purpose before God serious. The day is coming when we will stand before the Lord to give an account as to what we did with the talent or gift He gave to us.

Let us purpose in our hearts to enter into the rest of God. We must cease from running to and fro in an attempt to gather the spoils in the household of faith. These are serious times. The Lord is soon to come. We must work while it is yet day for the darkness of this world is coming, in which no man can see how to work.

I love you. Be strong in the Lord.

Doc