Daily Jot: End time churches and us - Bill Wilson -
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Yeshua Ha Mashiach, our beloved Jesus Christ, reviews the Churches in Revelation 2 and 3. He speaks of those things he hates and those things he likes. For example, He says of the Church in Pergamos, "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and has not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells...but I have a few things against thee, because thou has there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam...also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate." Of each of the seven churches he speaks, ending with Laodicea. To these, what is our part? And what do they say about today's church?
He says of Ephesus that they should repent because they "left thy first love." Jesus encourages the poor church in Smyrna to overcome and be "faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." To Thyatira, Jesus says he knows their works of charity, service and faith, but that they suffer, or tolerate, the spirit of Jezebel, "which calls herself a prophetess" and teaches seduction, fornication and to eat things sacrificed to idols. To Sardis, he says, "that thou has a name that thou lives, and art dead." To Philadelphia, he writes, "I know thy works: behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name."
To Laodicea he said: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit thee out of my mouth. 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. I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent."
I believe we all "fit" in one or more of these end time churches. In fact, our church leaders are leading in the manner that Christ describes in one or more of these ways. If we wonder why our children, our families, our communities, our states, and our nation are in the condition they are in, they are likely a reflection of one or more of these churches. If we are honest, we can identify in ourselves some of the very things Jesus sees in his churches--both good and bad. In the cases of each church, the Lord says there is reward for "He that overcometh." He also tells most of them to repent. Let us honestly examine ourselves and determine what we have to overcome and how we are to repent. Then let's do it!
