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Revelation 3:4-6  – The Church of Sardis, Part 3

It must be understood that when the scriptures say that “You have a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments,” or “You… have not denied my faith…,” or “You have not this doctrine, and… You have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak;” or “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,…”

Rev 2:13 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.

Rev 2:24 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.

Rev 3:10 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.

… we are manifestly not being told that there are those upon this corruptible earth who have never defiled their garments, have never denied Christ’s faith, have never in their life had the doctrine of Jezebel, have never in the lives of any of God’s elect, known the depths of Satan as they speak, and will never experience the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth.

How then, can we possibly say that we have not denied the faith of Christ, have not known the depths of Satan, and will be kept from the hour of temptation which is to try them that dwell upon the earth? Here are a few examples of how that is done scripturally.

How do we avoid death? Can death be avoided by “they that dwell on the earth?” How does Christ answer this question? Here is what He has to say about how to “never die.”

Joh 6:50  This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

In John 11:26 Christ is talking to Martha concerning her brother Lazarus, who at that very moment was lying dead in his grave, and yet Christ is telling Martha that if you “believe in me you shall never die.” What Christ is doing here is exactly  the same as saying, “We have not denied Christ’s faith… have not known the depths of Satan…, and will be kept from the hour of temptation” even as Lazarus was at that very moment dead, and is at this very moment dead. So how is it that we “never die?” There is only one way to get to where we “never die,” and here is that way; it is the same way Christ came to “never die[ing].” Alas, it is totally counterintuitive to the mind of the natural man, and yet it is the Truth:

Joh 11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.
Joh 11:51 And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;

Joh 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

1Co 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1Co 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

1Co 15:36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; (NASB)

How is death destroyed? How do we avoid death? The same way we avoid God’s wrath being poured out upon the children of disobedience and the children of wrath? We avoid death in the same fashion we avoid being judged, receiving the mark of the beast or the number of his name. We avoid God’s wrath the same way we avoid the hour of temptation. Like Lazarus in type and like Christ and the apostle Paul in spiritual reality, we “die daily” here and now, while still in these “earthen vessels.” “Denying the faith of Christ, knowing the depths of Satan as they speak, and the hour of temptation,” are all in their ultimate and final fulfillment; just as death in its ultimate and final fulfillment, to be experienced in ultimate and final day of judgment.

It all appears to the natural man to be a total contradiction, and yet the truth is that “all things… all things present and all things to come, are ours in Christ.” That certainly includes temptation, and the hour of temptation, it certainly includes “the depths of Satan as we speak,” and it certainly includes “denying the faith of Christ.” It really is true that “all things are yours… things present and things to come.” It really is true that “all things happens to all.”

Ecc 9:1 For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
Ecc 9:2 All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
Ecc 9:3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

What is that “one event unto all?” Here it is:

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Rev 1:3 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.

That “one event” is the “all things” of these verses:

1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And ye are Christ’s; and Christ [is] God’s.

“Live by every word… keep the things written therein… things present or things to come; all are yours.” That is that “one event unto all.” That is why “all things come alike to all.” That is the “one event to the righteous and to the wicked.”

Here is how Christ avoided death, and destroyed death. Here is the only way by which you and I “shall never die:”

Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

If we wish to avoid being judged, what then must we do?

Joh 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

1Co 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

How then do we avoid having the wrath of God poured out upon our “ungodliness and unrighteousness?” (Rom 1:18). In the exact same manner we avoid death and judgment and receiving the mark of the beast:

Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Col 3:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Is this you and me? Is this God’s “very elect?” When do “all things, things present and things to come,” come upon God’s elect? When does “all things come alike to all?” When is this “one event to all?” When is “the ends of the ages?”

Rev 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [ his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

“Keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” is “keeping the things written therein” of “the prophecy of this book.” That is the very meaning of “the ends of the ages.”

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world [ Greek, aion] are come.

Will we deny that it is we who have worshiped the beast and his image? Will we deny that we have received the mark of his name in our foreheads and in our hands? If we subscribe to any form of the rapture theory, then we are denying that those who “are by nature children of wrath… must drink of the wine of the wrath of God.” If, on the other hand we “give an account” of our sinful stewardship, acknowledge that the blood of all the prophets since Abel is “required of this generation” and that we have been “tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of our torment has ascendeth up for ever and ever: and we have had no rest day nor night, while we worshiped that beast,” then, and only then will we understand:

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Pardon and forgiveness relieve us all of the penalty of sin, which is spiritual death:

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness [Greek: pardon] of sins:

Forgiveness and pardon do not nullify the necessity for justice. So we are told:

Isa 33:1 Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

The fact that we see ourselves as sinners and “cease to spoil and make an end to dealing treacherously” does not mean that we no longer need justice. We “will not come out till we have paid the utmost farthing” and we will “reap what we have sown.” The same apostle Paul who was inspired to tell us that “we have… the forgiveness of sins… through His blood,” also tells us this:

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

We have all “sown to the flesh,” and lived for many years in “defiled garments.” That is why flesh is equated with “corruption which cannot inherit the kingdom of God:”

1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

If we consider ourselves to be dead with and raised with Christ, then, and only then, can we say that we “have not defiled our garments.”

Rom 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We are also called “undefiled virgins who have not known women,” even if we are married and have a physical family.

Rev 14:4 These [144,000] are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.

See the paper entitled Who Are The 144,000? That this is a spiritual statement is demonstrated when Paul calls us all “virgins.”

2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

So our flesh and all of its works are “dead with Christ” and must reap what the flesh has been “sown to the flesh” and must be destroyed.

2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

Now let’s go back to what the spirit is saying to us through the symbol of the angel of the church at Sardis. It is our “redemption from among men” which gives us our undefiled garments.”

Rev 3:4 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.

“Garments” in scripture are our righteousness or lack thereof. A white garment “is the righteousness of  saints.”

Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

“Filthy garments” are the lack of the righteousness of saints:

Zec 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
Zec 3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.

The “white linen” and “the righteousness of saints” are also called “newness of life”:

Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

It is in earnest only now, but “they shall walk with me in white” is a present reality “in [the] newness of life” we now enjoy in Christ. “The redemption of the purchased possession” in that “blessed and holy first resurrection” is the fullness of the spirit which comes only through the shedding of this “earthen vessel” and the resurrection of a spiritual, vivified and immortal body.

Our “worthiness” is only in and of Christ and not of ourselves:

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [ places] in Christ:
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

To be in this resurrection is the greatest honor Christ and His Father can bestow. This is the goal to which we are exhorted to strive. This is “the mark of the prize of the high calling in Christ:”

Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

It is this process we have been given to see and to understand, which makes everything else seem like “dung” by comparison. It is an ongoing process which requires “enduring to the end” before completion can possibly be attained.

Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect [Greek: teleioo, complete]: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The “earnest of the spirit” is the “seal” of our calling. It is not “the redemption of the purchased possession” to which Paul refers in Ephesians 1:

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

It is all “unto the praise of His glory” because our worthiness is “the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Rev 3:5 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.

What does “will not blot out his name out of the book of life” mean? Again we must ask, does this mean that our names have never been blotted out? Once again we must be reminded that we are to “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” We simply cannot say “blot his name out of the book of life” has no personal application, and at the same time “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”

How can we say that our name is not blotted out of the book of life??? The answer is always the same. Our name is not blotted out of the book of life in the same way we “never die… have not the doctrine of Jezebel… have not known the depths of Satan as we speak, and received not the mark of the beast in our foreheads.”

Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Rev 2:24 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.

Rev 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Is it not “appointed to man once to die and after this the judgment?” Of course it is:

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Have we not all known the depths of Satan as we spoke? Of course we have. We are all blasphemers who are the chief of sinners:

1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

1Ti 1:15 This [ is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Have not all of us been overcome by  and received the mark of the beast? What say the scriptures?

Rev 13:6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.
Rev 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Even God’s elect are overcome by the beast. The beast is given power of all kindreds, tongues and nations, and all that dwell upon the earth worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb. So whose names are blotted out of the book of life of the Lamb?

Remember, we cannot read Revelation 3:5 and make a doctrine of one verse without considering what is the sum of God’s Word on any subject.

Exo 32:31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.
Exo 32:32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Exo 32:33 And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.
Exo 32:34 Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them.
Exo 32:35 And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made.

This whole scenario is repeated just a few months later at the incident of Korah’s rebellion:

Deu 9:14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven: and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they.

Israel had “sinned against God,” and had their names blotted out of His book. Then who has not been blotted out of His book?

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

We have all sinned, and God says those who sin against Him will be blotted out of His book. Who does Israel typify?

1Co 10:6 Now these things became types of us, for us not to be lusters after evil things, (CLV)

Apparently everyone who sins against God is blotted out of His book:

Psa 69:28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

If our sins cause our names to be blotted out of God’s book, what causes it to “not be blotted out of the book of life?” How does that work? Here is how that works:

Isa 44:22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.

Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

What then is “the sum of thy word” on having our names blotted out of the book of life? The sum of God’s Word tells us that we are all blotted out of His book by our sins, but God has known his elect even as they were “breathing out slaughter against the disciples of the Lord,” and their sins will be blotted out of God’s book so their names will not be blotted out.

Act 9:1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Was Saul God’s elect? Of course Saul, whose name became Paul, was God’s elect:

2Ti 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Since when was Paul God’s elect?

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

There is no contradiction at all to Him who knows the end from the beginning, to say that He will blot out the name of all sinners, and yet will not blot out the names of those whom He has elected to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection, from “before the aion began.”

But I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

If our names are “not blotted out of the book of the life of the Lamb,” then we will never deny Christ, and His doctrine, and Christ will confess our name to His Father and before His messengers.

Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Mat 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Mat 10:30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Mat 10:32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 10:33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

We are called to deny ourselves and our old man in deference to Christ in us, the “new man” in us.

Mat 16:24  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

As with every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, before we confess Christ and “have not denied His name,” we must first completely (“thrice”) deny Him:

Mat 26:31  Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
Mat 26:32  But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
Mat 26:33  Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
Mat 26:34  Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Mat 26:35  Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

Tit 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Only then, after living by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, can we “confess Christ,” because ‘the Revelation of Jesus Christ’ encompasses both the first and the last Adam:

2Ti 2:11  [It is] a faithful saying: For if we be dead with [him], we shall also live with [him]:
2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with [him]: if we deny [him], he also will deny us:
2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Christ remains with His elect through the time when they “believe not,” and are “yet breathing out slaughter against His disciples… He cannot deny Himself.”

  Conclusion

What we have seen is that even though “He that believeth on me shall never die, [yet] whether… life or death… all things are ours,” and we are “crucified with Christ.”

What we have seen is that “the few names in Sardis who have not defiled their garments” were first “clothed in filthy garments, and then it is said, “I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.”

We have seen that to avoid judgment we must judge ourselves and that judgment is now on the house of God.

We have seen that we confess Christ before men only after we have thrice completely denied Him with our works and our words.

We have seen that we “have not known the depths of Satan as we speak,” only after we are “required the blood of all the righteous men from Abel to Zecharias,” and we come to see that as the seed of Adam we are the “seed of the serpent” and are “chief of sinners.”

Finally we have seen that “our names are not blotted out of the book of life,” only after “our sins cause us to be blotted out of His book.”

Once again we see that “all things are ours [and] all things come alike to all… there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked.”

Ecc 9:1  For all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this, that the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God: no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.
Ecc 9:2  All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous, and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
Ecc 9:3  This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

What we can now see is that there is nothing of “the things written therein… things present or things to come,” which is not ours to “read, hear, and keep [here and now], “for the time is at hand.”

1Co 3:21  Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22  Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23  And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.

It is all “in Christ… and Christ is God’s.”

Rev 1:3  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.

Rev 3:6  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Next study, Lord willing, we will hear what the spirit says to the church in Philadelphia, and we will discover what the scriptures tell us about “He that has the key of David, He that opens and no man shuts, and shuts, and no man opens.”

Rev 3:7  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;

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What the Spirit Says to the Angel of the Church in Sardis – Part 1

Rev 3:1  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

Introduction

The angel of the church of Sardis is the fifth of the seven angels whose admonition the spirit gives to “He who has an ear.”

Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Once again we need to “Hear what the Spirit says to the churches” with an earlier admonition in mind:

Rev 1:3  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.

Is this not telling us that “He who has  an ear to hear what the spirit says to the churches [is also] he that reads and hears the words of this prophecy… to the angel of the church in Sardis… and keeps those things which are written therein, [knowing] the time is at hand” in every generation since Christ? Yes, that is exactly what we are being told.

There are two things we must keep in mind and which you will be hearing repeated throughout this series of studies. First, is the fact that in order to “see the voice” which speaks to us, we must look behind us because we will not realize what God has done within us until after it is accomplished within us. Second, is the repetition of the phrase “to the angel” because while these words are addressed to the church as a whole, they are specified as being addressed to the angel of the church…” in this case “the angel of the church in Sardis.”

God gave the first Adam both eyes and ears, but He did not give him eyes that could see or ears that could hear spiritual matters. So we are told over and over again:

Mat 13:15  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Joh 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Rom 11:8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

2Pe 1:9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

The angel of the church in Sardis within us thinks that he sees and thinks that he hears and is totally unaware he is spiritually deaf, spiritually blind and spiritually dead. He has “forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” He forgets that this whole vision is seen “behind me,” and so he is told:

“You have a name that you live, and are dead.”

Rev 3:1  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

This state of the church within us is contrasted with “He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars.” We have covered the seven spirits of God in our study on verse 4 of chapter one, and we covered the seven stars in our study on verses 18-20:

Rev 1:4  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;

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the sevengolden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

We will quote just one verse as commentary on “the seven spirits before the throne” here in verse one of chapter 3:

1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

This verse should serve to remind us that the word ‘seven’ is Bible-speak for the concept of being complete. See the earlier study on the Spiritual Significance of The Number Seven on iswasandwillbe.com. The number seven always signifies completion; the completion of the creation, the complete church, the complete angel within us, and the seven spirits are the complete spirit of God.

God’s creation and the work of the complete spirit are not complete until we have “entered into His rest” on the seventh day (Heb 4:10).

Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

God finished His work in the flesh on the sixth day, but he ended His creation on the seventh day:

Gen 2:2  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

Mankind is actually not complete until he enters into God’s rest and ceases from his own works and rests in Christ’s work in him.

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole [duty] of man [The word ‘duty’ is not in the Hebrew].
Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

When “God judges every work” it will be discovered that mankind’s most righteous efforts are nothing more than “filthy rags.”

Isa 64:6  But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

The very reason for which “flesh and blood cannot enter into the kingdom” is the fact that it is not spiritual, and thereby alone it misses the mark of the spiritual body to which we are even now being conformed:

Rom 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

It is our “being conformed to the image of His Son,” by entering into His rest, and conceding that only His works can complete us, that we become the “whole man.” That is why this angel is told, “I have not found thy works perfect before God” as we will see in the next verse below.

So then, neither the “angel to the church” nor the spirit itself is complete without “the seven angels” and “the seven spirits.” That is why it is seven times repeated.

Rev 2:29  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

“He” and “the” in this verse are both singular. Nevertheless, “the Spirit” is the complete “seven spirits” speaking to the complete “seven angels” of the complete “seven churches” all of which angels and churches are addressed as the singular “He that has an ear.”

So it is within that complete church that the complete spirit has a message to the angel of the church in Sardis, which is but part of the complete message to “He that hath an ear.” The very first part of that message is that the angel of the church in Sardis within us has a name that He lives, and [in reality] he is [spiritually] dead within “he that hath an ear.” Look at the similarities in these two verses. This is to the angel of the church of Sardis:

Rev 3:1  And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that t hou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

… and this is to the angel of the church at Laodicea:

Rev 3:17  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:

“You have a name that you live…” and “You say, I am rich,” are not really all that different.”  In either case, “He that has an ear to hear” will “look behind him” and understand these words:

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

Why should we “be watchful?” Being ‘watchful’ is being vigilant. The Greek for ‘watchful’ is gregoreuo. The same Greek word is translated as ‘vigilant’ in this verse in 1 Peter:

1Pe 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant [gregoreuo]; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Satan devours no one he is not sent to devour, but he is sent to devour all flesh, and he certainly has devoured us all:

Rev 13:5  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty [and] two months.
Rev 13:6  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.
Rev 13:7  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
Rev 13:8  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Rev 13:9  If any man have an ear, let him hear.

“If any man have an ear, let him hear,” tells us that very few indeed will accept the fact that all of these verses have a personal application. That phrase tells us that very few indeed can understand how the beast within us can “open his mouth in blasphemy against God, overcome the saints; be given power over all kindreds, tongues, and nations, and cause all that dwell on the earth to worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” How is it possible for the saints to be overcome by the beast and still have their names written in the book of life of the Lamb?

Here is how that is accomplished, and yet it is still true that all that dwell on the earth worship him:

Rev 15:1  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.
Rev 15:2  And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
Rev 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.
Rev 15:4  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for [thou] only [art] holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Rev 15:5  And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:
Rev 15:6  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles.
Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled.

If, as we have demonstrated, “white linen” typifies Christ and all who are in Him (see the notes on Revelation 1:13 – Part 4), and as Revelation 19:10 and 22:8 tell us, these seven angels with these seven golden vials are  “our fellow servants and those who keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book”, then these seven angels themselves could not have entered “into the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled” in their own lives and they had indeed, as they tell us they have done, “kept the sayings of  this book.” Here are those verses:

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him [the angel who had just shown John the judgment of the great harlot]. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Rev 22:10  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

“The time is at hand… to keep [ all] the sayings of this book.” “After you have suffered a while,” tells us that “keeping the things written therein” are all necessary to bring us to the point of being admonished to “Be watchful and strengthen the things that remain which are ready to die.” It is ‘being watchful’ which causes us to see the need to strengthen the things that remain, because the doctrines of Balaam and Jezebel, and the deeds of the Nicolaitans will cause “what remains to die.” When that happens God’s precious truths will have been used to cover the idols of our hearts and replace “the faith of Jesus” with “oppositions of science falsely so called.” [For more information on using truth to cover the idols of ones heart see the precious metals study on gold which starts here.]

1Ti 6:20  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane [and] vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

“Keeping the sayings” of this 15th chapter concerning the pouring out of God’s wrath on all of our unrighteousness and ungodliness, is what is called in the previous chapter “the faith of Jesus:”

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever [Greek: eons of the eons, meaning every generation of mankind from the beginning to the end]: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Rev 14:12  Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Remember that when Christ said “This generation will not pass till all these things be fulfilled,” He was answering the question of when the eon will end. Each life of every man ‘in Adam’ is an eon which must “keep the sayings of this book.” “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God [the sayings of this book], and the faith of Jesus [who himself kept these sayings].

Mat 26:38  Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
Mat 26:39  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Luk 22:42  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
Luk 22:43  And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Luk 22:44  And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

If we exclude ourselves from these seven plagues, which “fill up the wrath of God” against our unrighteousness and ungodliness” then we are excluding ourselves from entering into the temple of God, “which temple ye are.” If  the blood of all the saints from Abel to Zecharias is not required of us, then we do not know what is the meaning of “this generation… which reads and understands.” Here again, are the verses which demonstrate this is, was and will be principle of God’s Words.

Mat 24:3  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [ shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world [Greek: aion, age]?
Mat 24:4  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Mat 24:14  And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end [of the aion] come.
Mat 24:15  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:

Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

“Whoso reads let him understand… this generation [reading these words] shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.” There are 200,000,000 false doctrines which “darken the air and the sun” (Rev 9:2, 16).

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

Next week, Lord willing, we will discover more of the things written in this book to the angel of the church in Sardis, and in so doing we will discover what is involved in “the patience of the saints and the faith of Jesus.” Here is what is left of the spirit’s admonition to the angel of the church in Sardis, which “he that hath and ear” will both hear and keep.

Rev 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.
Rev 3:4  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.
Rev 3:5  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.
Rev 3:6  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

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Revelation 3:3 – Sardis, Part 2

Updated November 22, 2023]

Introduction

Rev 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.

The admonitions to the angel of the church in Sardis, are really to “he that hath an ear” and “he that reads and hears” (Rev 1:3). He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Rev 1:3 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.
Rev 22:7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
Rev 22:6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.

“The time is always “at hand” for “whoso reads and understands …[that] these sayings must [always] shortly be done” in every generation since Christ. What we need to ask and answer is, “Which sayings made to this church must shortly be done? Must the angel of the church in Sardis ‘shortly… have a name that he lives, but is really dead?’ Must Christ come on the angel of the church in Sardis as a thief? Must this also “shortly be done” in the life of “he that hath an ear?” Must such negative statements all have personal application in the lives of all of God’s elect?”

The answer is, yes, all of God’s elect must “live by EVERY word of God… read, hear, and keep THE things written therein, and keep THE sayings of the prophecy of this book.” God’s Word does not say that ‘man must live by some of the words of God… some of the things written therein… some of the sayings of the prophecy of this book’ but everything written therein.

When the words “You shalt not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil”; “In the day you eat thereof you shall surely die;” “proceeded out of the mouth of God,” all men of all ages had to live by and keep those words – “the things written therein.”

We are all “in Adam,” but we do not die because Adam sinned. We die because “all have sinned.” We sin because we are in Adam, not because Adam sinned. Death comes by sin in each of us, and is “passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Adam sinned because he was Adam. He did not sin because he “freely chose” to do so.

1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Rom 3:23 For [Greek: gar, because] all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Adam’s sin was predestined, and the scriptures tell us this was so:

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Yes, death entered by Adam, but you and I are in Adam by nature, and would, by nature, have done exactly what Adam did under the same circumstances. To foolishly say, “The first thing I am going to do at the resurrection, is to walk right up to Adam and punch him in the nose” is to display that you are still taking pride in your yet carnal Adamic nature, and making a proud carnal display of your own total dearth of spiritual understanding. What you are saying in essence is that you intend to punch yourself in the nose. Adam is not responsible for your sins or mine. You and I do not die because of Adam’s sin, we die “for [gar, because] all have sinned” in Adam.

Adam did not die because he ate of the tree. Adam ate of the tree because he was in “dying” flesh:

Gen 2:17 Yet from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you are not to be eating from it, for in the day you eat from it, to die shall you be dying.

Why are any of us “dying”?

Rom 3:23 For [Greek: gar, because] all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

That mankind must all “live by every word” is exactly what Christ meant when He made this statement:

Mat 24:15 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:)

“Let him understand” that all these things are to be fulfilled inwardly in the lifetime of every reader:

Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

The battle of scripture is being waged between two men; our old man and our new man.. That is the message in “the things which are written therein.” That is “the ends of the ages [which] are come upon us.”

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [Greek: tupos – types of us]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world [Greek: aion, age] are come.

There is the inspired answer to the disciples question:

Mat 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what [shall be] the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world [Greek: aion, age]?

Or as Christ Himself said:

Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

With this is, was and will be, “shall not pass away” character of these words in mind, let us now consider the meaning of the first verse of our study today of what the spirit says to the angel of the church in Sardis, which church is within “he that hath an ear.”

Rev 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.

Immediately the natural man will say, “All right! Now I have been warned, “Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.” Now I will be sure never to make that mistake!” Is that the way we are told to approach this book? Is that what “keep the things written therein” means? That is exactly how the whole world comes to this book of “signified” symbols. They come actually believing that they can simply read these words and these admonitions and then somehow avoid having to “keep the things written therein.” The whole world, approaches this book as if it were not a vision of what we see “behind” us. Nevertheless, “He that has ears to hear” never forgets that this entire vision is seen from the perspective of looking behind himself and seeing what God has already accomplished in his or her life.

Rev 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

He that has “ears to hear what the spirit is saying to the angels of the churches” is also “he that reads and hears and keeps the things written therein.” That man realizes that when God tells us, “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it” that by the time he understands why that command was given, it will always be “behind us” after we have already eaten of that tree whose fruit is death. Yes, that is right. We have all “eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” because we have all been “made of a woman, made under the law…” by which law we “know sin.”

Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come [the appointed time], God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

So also, we have all “had a name that we lived, and we were, [in reality, spiritually] dead.” These words mean nothing to a man who thinks he has never been sick and in need of a physician, never been blind and in need of sight, never left the sheepfold and therefore “needs no repentance.” Nevertheless “all these things” have proceeded out of the mouth of God, and will be lived by every man who has ever lived.

Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine [who think of themselves as] just persons, which need no repentance.

I will come on thee as a thief…

It is only a self-righteous Pharisee, looking down on a repentant tax collector, who thinks of himself as a “just person, which needs no repentance.” So with “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” we see and hear these things only because we have already endured them. We have been that self-righteous Pharisee, looking down on God’s repentant publican elect, and looking down on His repentant lost sheep elect, and “the day of the Lord,” the day of His judgment, has come upon us as a thief in the night, and we are now being judged. It was only yesterday that I myself considered the doctrine of universal salvation to be rank heresy and any and all who propounded that doctrine to be heretics. It was at that very point that this happened:

2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men [Have you ever been an “ungodly man?”].
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [That is a “two edged sword” statement]
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements [Greek: stoicheion – same as ‘elements’ in Galatians 4:3] shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up [Are your works being burned up?].

Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements [stoicheion] of the world [under the law]:

2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, [Since our works are being dissolved, we ought to be holy and godly in our “Christ in us” way of life, our ‘conversation.’]
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements [stoicheion] shall melt with fervent heat [Have your heavens ever been on fire and been dissolved with fervent heat?]?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account [that] the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Peter is telling us that all Paul’s epistles are like “the other scriptures” which spoke of “these [same] things.” Our old heavens and our old earth, are “reserved unto fire against the day of judgment,” which “day of judgment” Peter has already explained as being within our lives.

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you [It is hard for the natural man to believe that his ungodliness deserves the wrath of God’s indignation]:
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy [That is right, Christ endured “fiery trials” while here on this earth].

Luk 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Mar 14:33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
Mar 14:34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.

The flesh has to be left behind, because it has been judged unfit for the kingdom of God, and its judgment is a fiery trial, even for our Lord Himself. “My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death… And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” We, too, must “die daily”, and as His body we endure “the fiery trials” of the day of judgment in our own lives:

1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

This is the very “day of judgment” to which Peter refers in his next epistle which we quoted above:

2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Just as Peter has told us, Paul agrees with Peter. All “ungodly men” must be destroyed:

1Co 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
1Co 3:14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

We have all been guilty of “defiling the temple of God”, and we must all endure the destruction to which Paul refers here in 1 Corinthians 3 and in 2 Thessalonians:

2Th 2:3 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; [“perdition of an ungodly man” (2Pe 3:7)]
2Th 2:4 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.

How does this “day of the Lord,” this day of judgment come to us all?

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Did the risen Lord come to His apostles when they were expecting Him? No, He did not. Did He strike down the apostle Paul when Paul was expecting Him? Of course not. Neither did He come to you or me when we were expecting Him. He came while we were “still in our sins;” still unrepentant, and He dragged us to Himself: He came to each of us when we least expected him, and He destroyed and burned up our old heavens and our old earth with the “fervent heat” of the words of His mouth:

Joh 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw [Greek: drag] him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

Christ’s coming is the theme of Matthew 24, and last week we saw and demonstrated that the “wars and rumours of wars; nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places; the abomination of desolation, the great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be: the sun being turned into darkness and the moon turning into blood, and even the gospel being preached in all the world for a witness to all those nations then shall the end come” must all be within because of these two verses:

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Here are some of the verses leading up to this statement:

Mat 24:6 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.
Mat 24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

Mat 24:14 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.
Mat 24:15 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:)

Mat 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Mat 24:29 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:
Mat 24:30 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.
Mat 24:31 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.

The sign of the Son of Man in heaven is preceded by the “great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” Only then does the “sign of the Son of Man… in heaven… appear”, while the tribes of the earth are mourning and seeing the son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” All of this is solemly pronounced by our Lord, to be fulfilled in “this generation:

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

“Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” What this tells us is that these words are not to be understood as literal, passing words. They can only be understood as spiritual words which “shall not pass away,” but shall be applicable in “this generation… who reads and understands… that the holy spirit teaches… the things of the spirit… comparing spiritual with spiritual.”

1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

Just as surely as there is a “first Adam” and a “last Adam, there is also a first and a last fulfillment of these prophecies. If Christ does not “come a second time without sin unto salvation,” while we are still in these vessels of clay, causing “all the tribes of the earth [to] mourn” while we are still in these vessels of clay, then Christ lied to us and that generation passed away, and the end has not yet come. On the other hand, if all these words are primarily spirit and are being fulfilled within His elect, then “the ends of the ages” really have come upon us, and Christ’s words “shall never pass away.”

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Not “will come,” but “are come.” Christ is coming to His elect and is dethroning the man of sin sitting in the temple of God in every generation that reads, hears and keeps the things written therein.” Here is part of what is “written therein” which tells us exactly how this all happens within each of God’s elect:

2Th 2:3 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;
2Th 2:4 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.

That ‘as God’ beast believes that he has “free will” and it is he who declares that your salvation and mine is dependent, not upon the work of Christ, nor the will of God, but upon your own will. That is part of “the depths of Satan as they speak” doctrines which afflict the angel of the church in Thyatira, and which serve to make the angel of the church in Sardis, spiritually dead. It is this doctrine which serves to keep the beast on the throne in the temple of God “which temple you are.”

1Co 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1Co 3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

The false doctrine of “free will” is one of the single most tenacious (what Ezekiel calls) “idol of the heart.” It is perpetrated by the very leaders of God’s own people, and it takes the coming of Christ as a thief in the night to dethrone that beast with that particular idol of the heart. Notice how Paul speaks of this event within God’s elect:

2Th 2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

Paul taught the Thessalonians the same doctrine he taught in Corinth. “Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwells in you?” Paul knows that we “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” so he tells these Thessalonians that…

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth [Greek: katecho] that he [the beast within; the “man of sin”] might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For [Greek: gar, because]the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth [Greek: katecho, restrains, with holds with lying idols of the heart] will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
2Th 2:9 [Even him], whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Here is Christ speaking of this same event when He was asked about the sign of His coming and the end of this age:

Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe [were], so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 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,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two [women shall be] grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
Mat 24:43 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.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh [to “take away” the wicked].
Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

It is only when we are brought [meaning dragged], by the sovereign work of God’s complete ‘seven spirits’ working in us and “turning us over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit might be saved in the day of the Lord;” that we see ourselves as the prodigal son, the lost sheep, and the woman caught in the very act of adultery. In other words, we must “look behind ourselves to see ourselves as “the chief [first] of sinners,” who must “fill up their sins… for the wrath of God to come upon us to the uttermost”:

1Th 2:16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

Had the apostle Paul ever been guilty of forbidding Christians, Stephen for example, and even intending to forbid Christians in Damascus, to speak to the Gentiles? Of course he had, and God struck Paul down on the road to Damascus and showed him what “he must suffer for Christ’s name’s sake:”

Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

All of this is what we all experience as we “keep the things written therein.”

Conclusion

Rev 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.

We have seen in this study that we have received and heard a calling to come out of the world, but even as we were coming out, we were wanting to go back.

Hos 11:1 When Israel [was] a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
Hos 11:2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images.

It is at this point that the angel of the church of Sardis, within us, has not “held fast or repented”, and it is at this point that Christ comes to us “the second time without sin unto salvation” to the carnal Adam who has been called but whose nature had never yet been changed.

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

We all “received and heard” because we, like Israel in Egypt, became weary of our taskmasters in the flesh, and we cried out for deliverance. God was gracious, and we, like the carnal Corinthians, are “sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, coming behind in no gift.” Just like the Israelites, we have all been ready to stone God’s elect when we come to our first real trial, called the Red Sea. The Red Sea is just a precursor to the giants in the land. We are infants at the Red Sea, and God carries us across on dry land, and destroys all of our enemies. However, as soon as that happens, just like the carnal Corinthians, we go right back to our own carnal ways and follow men instead of God.

That is how we have “received and heard,” and we fail to repent until the Lord does come as a thief. It is only by His coming “the second time without sin,” that we are finally given to see the process that is this battle we are waging with the beast and the man of sin within.

Next study, Lord willing, we will see what is promised to the overcomers in Sardis, and what it means to “not have our name blotted out of the book of life.”

Rev 3:4 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.
Rev 3:5 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.
Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.