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The Bible Says
After Paul was martyred by the Romans, the Apostle John ministered to seven churches, in what is now western Turkey. All the other Apostles had been martyred including James, John's brother, who was the first of our Lord's disciples to die for Jesus. Eventually John, too, was arrested and banished to a prison camp on the isle of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea. Although he was old, he worked hard as a slave. Then one day God told him to write to those seven churches and tell them how each Church rated in the eyes of God. Of the seven only two met with God's full approval. We will now consider what God said to the other five:
"I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those that are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars. And you have persevered and have labored for MY name's sake and have not become weary."
Such a commendation should have made that church happy and encouraged, don't you think? They had reason to be proud of their record, didn't they? --- Wait a minute! God is still speaking:
"I know your works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to MY name, and did not deny my faith even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold 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. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. "Repent or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (Rev. 2:13-16)
"I know your works, love, service, faith, and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds." (Rev. 2:19-22).
"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you." (Rev. 3:1-3).
"I know your works, that you are neither cold, nor hot. I could wish that you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' --- and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor blind, and naked . . . and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see" (Rev. 3:15-18).
God made it clear that He was disappointed in 5 of those 7 churches, but He offered to each of those churches glowing promises if they would meet His conditions. These promises should encourage us today.
"To him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (Rev.2:7).
"To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it." (Rev. 2:17).
"He who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations . . . and I will give him the morning star." (Rev. 2:26-28).
"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments and I will not blot his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (Rev 3:5).
"To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and set down with My Father on His throne. (Rev. 3:22).
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