Is Fasting Necessary Today?

Some call fasting a spiritual discipline. It is often connected with prayer, Bible study and meditation. What is fasting and why does the Bible encourage us to fast?


What is fasting?

Unger’s Bible Dictionary explains that the word fast in the Bible is from the Hebrew word sum, meaning “to cover” the mouth, or from the Greek word nesteuo , meaning “to abstain.” For spiritual purposes, it means to go without eating and drinking (Esther 4:16).

The Day of Atonement—also called “the Fast” (Acts 27:9)—is the only fast day commanded by God (Leviticus 23:27), though other national fast days are mentioned in the Bible. Also, personal fasts are clearly expected of Christ’s disciples (Matthew 9:14-15).

We encourage those with health problems to consult a qualified medical practitioner before fasting.

Why do we fast?

The Bible gives examples of God’s people occasionally combining fasting with their prayers so as to stir up their zeal and renew their dedication and commitment to Him. King David wrote that he “humbled [him]self with fasting” (Psalms 35:13). Fasting is a means of getting our minds back on the reality that we are not self-sufficient. Fasting helps us realize just how fragile we are and how much we depend on things beyond ourselves.

The Bible records that great men of faith such as Moses, Elijah, Daniel, Paul and Jesus Himself fasted so that they might draw closer to God (Exodus 34:28; 1 Kings 19:8; Daniel 9:3; Daniel 10:2-3; 2 Corinthians 11:27; Matthew 4:2). Jesus knew that His true disciples, once He was no longer there in the flesh with them, at times would need to fast to regain and renew their zeal to serve Him (Mark 2:18-20).

James tells us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Constant prayer and occasional fasting help us to do this.

We are not to fast to have people feel sorry for us or to think we’re pious (Matthew 6:16-18). Isaiah 58 gives both bad and good examples of fasting, contrasting wrong attitudes and actions (Isaiah 58:3-5) with the right approach of outgoing love (Isaiah 58:6-10). Daniel and Nehemiah set the example of having a repentant frame of mind (Daniel 9:3-4; Nehemiah 9:1-2).

Fasting also helps us learn the lessons of the Day of Atonement : forgiveness, reconciliation to God and the need to resist Satan and pray for the time of his removal (Revelation 20:1-3), which was portrayed in type by the Azazel goat on Atonement (Leviticus 16:20-22).


God bless you all.

The Message To Laodecia (4)

The Antidote

Even though the Laodiceans had become lukewarm and spiritually blinded, Jesus did not reject them or disassociate Himself from them. He warned them to wake up and change. And He gave them advice on how to do this. “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see,” said Jesus (verse 18). In this statement, Jesus used three well-known local products to illustrate spiritual principles.

First, was “gold refined in the fire.” While Laodicea's wealth meant it had a great deal of gold within the city, the concepts Jesus had in mind were related to spiritual character. Almost 500 years earlier, the prophet Malachi wrote of Christ's second coming, “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness” (Malachi 3:2-3).

Similarly, Peter wrote, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). Jesus advised the Laodiceans to buy this kind of gold.

Secondly, while local Laodicean merchants produced fine garments from the black wool of the area, Jesus advised buying “white garments.” In doing so, He wasn't simply referring to a different colored garment—but different behavior. In Revelation 19:8, at the marriage of the Lamb, Jesus said His wife, the Church, “was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” In the context of the great battle that will take place at Armageddon at Christ's return, He also said, “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame” (Revelation 16:15). Jesus told the Laodiceans they needed to be concerned about their spiritual clothing.

Thirdly, Jesus spoke of their need for eye salve so they could see. While the Laodicean's famous Phrygian powder was widely used for eye problems, Jesus was referring to spiritual insight, wisdom and understanding. Upon the successful return of 70 of His disciples who had been sent to various cities to preach the gospel of the Kingdom, “Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, 'I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes'” (Luke 10:21). Jesus told the Laodiceans they needed the spiritual vision to see their real condition and change.

 Encouragement

Lest some think He was uncaring in His correction, Jesus concluded His warning with an explanation of why He had been so critical: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent” (verse 19). Because He has no desire to see anyone suffer (2 Peter 3:9), Jesus' strong words of correction were delivered to the first century Laodiceans and us today. It is His hope that those who are in need of this advice will be zealous (eager) to repent.

Those who respond to Jesus' words are promised a great reward: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (verses 20-21). What a wonderful blessing and opportunity!

Jesus concludes this message saying, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (verse 22). This message and the ones to the other cities were not intended only for the instruction and correction of first century Christians, but for the entire body of Christ in all ages and parts of the world.

Those who are part of this body will undoubtedly resemble these first century congregations in both their actions extolled by Christ and in their sins and weaknesses. God, as a loving parent, will deal justly and fairly with all. The rewards and punishments will remain the same regardless of the age. May God grant us today the spiritual wisdom and understanding to heed our Savior's advice in His messages to His Church.  UN


God bless you all.

The Message to Laodicea (3)

 Self-Deception

The problem in Laodicea was not unusual. The Bible has numerous warnings regarding humanity's deceitful nature. Jeremiah 17:9 says the human heart is “is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 say, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” And sadly, self-deception continues today, especially in religious matters.

Recent reports indicate that with increasing regularity, many people today desire spirituality in their lives but are unwilling to follow specific instructions on how to achieve it. Instead of accepting a single organization's teachings, many now pick and choose from numerous ideas in assembling their own eclectic collections of religious ideas. This phenomenon has been called “Cafeteria Christianity” and “The Religion of the Sovereign Self.”

Like the Laodiceans of the first century, people who engineer their own religions are generally pleased with their choices and believe God approves of their ways — ways that are in direct contradiction with others holding similarly self-designed religious ideas. Even though Scripture tells us God is not the “author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33), some mistakenly believe there are many paths to God and that all are acceptable to Him. Paul shows the fallacy of this view saying there is only “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).

Because of our self-deceptive tendencies, God says, “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:10). In the message to Thyatira, Jesus said, “all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works” (Revelation 2:23).

In order to truly follow God, humans need new hearts (Ezekiel 11:19; 18:31; 36:26)—ones submissive to Him and those He establishes as teachers in His Church (Ephesians 4:11-12; Hebrews 13:17). In sharp contrast to the human proclivity to pick and choose one's own religious ideas, Paul described first century believers as people who had yielded hearts to God, His ministers and the Church. In writing to the Thessalonians, Paul called them “followers of us and of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 1:6) and “imitators of the churches of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:14).

To be contd.

God bless you all.

The Message to Laodicea (2)

The Author

Jesus began this message by describing Himself as “the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14). There are all titles or names of Jesus that represent His trustworthy nature and involvement in creation.

The word “Beginning,” from the Greek,  arche,  has been misunderstood by some to mean that Jesus was a created Being. Several biblical resources note that this interpretation is incorrect.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words  explains that  arche  can be understood as “the origin, the active cause, whether a person or thing, e. g., Colossians 1:18; (1985, article “Begin, Beginning, Beginner”). The  Expositor's Bible Commentary  adds: “The 'ruler' ( arche , 'source,' 'origin') further amplifies the Amen statement. Paul used arche in Colossians 1:18 to describe Christ as the source or origin of all creation (not the first created; cf. Proverbs 8:22; John 1:3), no doubt to correct a heresy.

“Since Colosse was a neighboring city of Laodicea, it is not improbable that the same heresy was also affecting the sister church at Laodicea. But this is not explicit. What is plain is this: When Christ addresses a church that is failing in loyalty and obedience, he is to them the 'Amen' of God in faithfulness and in true witness, the only one who has absolute power over the world because he is the source and origin of all creation (1:17; 2:8; 22:13).”

A “Lukewarm” Condition

Jesus began His message saying, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth” (verses 15-16). As we noted previously, works are important to Jesus. Showing that He was intimately aware of all their actions and circumstances, Jesus likened their indifferent spiritual condition to their city's poor water supply.

Seven miles north of Laodicea, lay the city of Hierapolis with its famous hot springs. Jesus may have had this in mind by His use of the word “hot.” His use of “cold” may have referred to useful cool water at Colosse, only 10 miles east of the city. Though historians are not sure whether Laodicea's water source was cold or hot, by the time it arrived in Laodicea, through the six-mile aqueduct to the south, it was lukewarm and, apparently, distasteful.

After comparing the congregation's works to the temperature of the city's water, Jesus continued the analogy to reveal His reaction to their spiritual condition. Just as drinking distasteful or contaminated water can cause people to vomit, Jesus said He would vomit them out of His mouth. What a detestable picture!

Continuing, Jesus said He would vomit them out of His 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” (verse 17). Sadly, the Laodiceans did not  know  their true condition. They were blinded by their economic prosperity and wealth. They undoubtedly assumed these blessings from God represented His approval. Yet physical wealth and spiritual wealth are not necessarily the same (see Matthew 6:19-20 and Hebrews 11:26). Unfortunately, the Laodiceans were unaware of their real spiritual state.

To be contd.

God bless you all.

The Message to Laodicea/ Be Zealous and Repent

Christ gives an antidote to the deadly Laodicean attitude.

Jesus' seventh and last message to the congregations of Revelation 2 and 3 was in stark contrast to His previous one to Philadelphia. Whereas Philadelphia is unique in that it did not receive any condemnation, Laodicea is unique in that it does not receive any commendation.

There were apparently several cities named Laodicea in Syria and Asia Minor. The one Jesus was referring to lay in the fertile Lycus Valley in Phrygia on the river Lycus. It was about 45 miles southeast of Philadelphia, 100 miles east of Ephesus and 10 miles west of Colossae. “The great Roman road stretching to the inland of Asia from the coast at Ephesus ran straight through its center, making Laodicea an important center of trade and communication” ( Expositor's Bible Commentary ).

“After having been successively called Diosopolis and Rhoas, it was named Laodicea in honor of Laodice, the wife of Antiochus II (261-246 B.C.), who rebuilt it. It was destroyed by an earthquake (A.D. 66 or earlier) and rebuilt by Marcus Aurelius…The town was located on a flat-topped hill. A wall (about a kilometer long on each of its four sides) surrounded the crown of the hill. Gates pierced this wall on the N, E, and NW. At the SW edge of the plateau stood a stadium, built and dedicated to Vespasian in A.D. 79” ( New Unger's Bible Dictionary,  1988, article “Laodicea”).

“Though Laodicea stood on the great highway at the junction of several important routes, it was a place of little consequence until the Roman province of Asia was formed in 190 BC. It then suddenly became a great and wealthy center of industry, famous specially for the fine black wool of its sheep and for the Phrygian powder for the eyes, which was manufactured there (compare Revelation 3:18). In the vicinity was the temple of Men Karou and a renowned school of medicine…” ( International Standard Bible Encylopaedia,  Electronic Database, 1996 by Biblesoft, article “Laodicea”). Although the city also produced ear ointments, it was widely renowned for its Phrygian powder, a medicine famous for curing eye defects.

So situated and blessed with economic prosperity, this city “became extremely wealthy during the Roman period. For example, in 62 B.C. Flaccus seized the annual contribution of the Jews of Laodicea for Jerusalem amounting to 20 pounds of gold. Moreover, when the city was destroyed by an earthquake in A.D. 60 (along with Colossae and Hierapolis), it alone refused aid from Rome for rebuilding” ( Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary,  1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers, article “Laodicea”). History also records Cicero cashing large bank drafts here without problem.

For all of its prosperity, Laodicea had one significant physical flaw—its water supply. “A six-mile-long aqueduct brought Laodicea its supply of water from the south. The water came either from hot springs and was cooled to lukewarm or came from a cooler source and warmed up in the aqueduct on the way” ( Expositor's Bible Commentary ).

“The ruins, now called Eski Hissar, or old castle, lie near the modern Gonjelli on the railroad, and they have long served as a quarry to the builders of the neighboring town of Denizli. Among them nothing from before the Roman period has appeared. One of the two Roman theaters is remarkably well preserved, and there may still be seen the stadium, a colonnade, the aqueduct which brought the water across the valley to the city by an inverted siphon of stone pipes, a large necropolis, and the ruins of three early Christian churches” ( International Standard Bible Encylopaedia,  Electronic Database, 1996 by Biblesoft, article “Laodicea”).

To be contd.


God bless you all.

Message To Philadelphia (4)

Reward for Holding Fast

Jesus concludes His instruction to Philadelphia with the warning that He is coming “quickly” and that the saints should “hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:11). Next comes the reward for doing so: “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name” (verse 12).

In offering this reward, Jesus drew some interesting parallels to the events and customs in first century Philadelphia. This city was prone to earthquakes. Huge stone temple columns were often the only parts of the city left standing after a devastating quake. Instead of fleeing the city whenever there was the slightest indication of a tremor, Jesus explained that the reward of the faithful would be a secure, stable place within His spiritual temple—a place where they would never fall or topple. Similarly, faithful city leaders were sometimes honored by having their names inscribed on a special pillar. Christ's terminology reflected knowledge of these practices ( Expositor's Bible Commentary ).

Finally, Jesus promised His followers a “new name.” While the city of Philadelphia has had many names over the years and apparently several at once during the first century, Jesus offered the saints here a new name that would apparently never change—“the name of My God” and “My new name.”

Though customs have obviously changed over the centuries since Christ delivered this message, the rewards Jesus offers to those who have the patience of the saints (faith and obedience) remain the same. Jesus implores those who have spiritual discernment—“an ear to hear”—to pay attention to this message (verse 13). Don't forget His message to Philadelphia: keep His word, faithfully go through the doors He opens. UN


God bless you all.

Message To Philadelphia (3)

Modern Doors

Today many opportunities or “doors” exist for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. These include printed materials, radio, television and the Internet. These are the modern avenues Christians can use to fulfill the commission to the Church to “make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Jesus expects modern followers to preach the same gospel that He taught, the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15). Unfortunately, many today have mistakenly accepted an incomplete gospel—one that focuses upon the person of Christ but omits His teaching about the Kingdom.

Jesus' praise of the Philadelphians, “you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name” (Revelation 3:8), indicates that they took advantage of the opportunities He made available for preaching the gospel. God's people today must do the same.

 Protection

After explaining that religious pretenders, ones who often persecuted and tried to deceive Jesus' true followers (Acts 15:1; 20:30; Jude 4), would eventually be forced to recognize the believers who obeyed Him, Jesus continued: “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth” (Revelation 3:10).

When we understand that Revelation is a prophetic book with its setting being the second coming of Jesus Christ, we see the important magnitude of this wonderful promise for us today. Within it are two concepts worthy of special note. First, the promised protection comes because Jesus' followers have kept His “command to persevere.” This phrase literally means “the word of my patience” and is so translated by the King James and American Standard versions. Revelation 14:12 explains what this entails: “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” The recipients of Christ's protective grace will be believers who are obeying God's law.

A second concept deserving our attention is the fact that this “hour of trial,” meaning a short period of time, will “come upon the whole world.” No one escapes being tested. While Jesus' followers are tested through trials during their lifetimes (2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 1:7; 4:12), those who have not known Him or obeyed Him will also face judgment at His return.

In encouraging another first century congregation that had experienced many trials, Paul expressed similar principles:

“We ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:4-8).

Questions arise over how Christ will protect His believers during this time. We do know there is a clear reference to the gathering of many saints in one location (“her place,” Revelation 12:14) and there is another possible reference to individuals being protected in their location (Psalms 91:7). Both are within His power to accomplish.

To be contd.

God bless you all.

The Message to Philadelphia (2)

Christ's Message

Jesus' message to Philadelphia begins in Revelation 3:7 and continues through verse 13. In the same style as the previous messages, Jesus began by identifying Himself as the author of the message. This time He refers to Himself as “He who is holy, He who is true, 'He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens'” (verse 7).

Just as we use keys and locks today to control access to secured places, keys were used in ancient times to control gates to cities and represented governmental control. The “key of David” is used in this sense in Isaiah 22:20-23 where Eliakim replaces the unfaithful Shebna as secretary of state in Judah. Speaking of this change to Shebna, God said, “I will commit your responsibility into his hand… The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; so he shall open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall open” (verses 21-22).

When Jesus described Himself as having this “key of David,” He was saying that He was of David's lineage and that He controls access to the Kingdom of God. Other passages explain that God the Father has given Jesus all power in heaven and earth, including the judgment of mankind (Matthew 28:18; John 5:22, 27; 17:2).

Works and an “Open Door”

In Revelation 3:8, Jesus then explained to Philadelphia that He knew this congregation's works and that He had set before them “an open door.” Jesus Christ, at the end of the first century A.D., almost 70 years after His death and inauguration of the New Covenant, still expected His followers to be doing works (Revelation 2:5, 9, 13, 19, 23, 26; 3:1-2).

Many today, in opposition to Jesus' clear statements, mistakenly believe works are no longer important. While our works cannot save us, Jesus expects us to be doing works in conjunction with the grace He extends to us that makes salvation possible. Grace and works are not opposites; they are compatible concepts that God expects His followers to jointly embrace. In other words, it is grace and works, not grace or  works.

The apostle Paul beautifully combined both concepts in Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV): “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God's grace inspires His followers to actively practice His commands.

The “door” Jesus said He had opened for Philadelphia was an opportunity to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Linkage of the term “door” with preaching the gospel occurs in several other New Testament passages. In Colossians 4:3, Paul asked the brethren to pray “for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains.” In 1 Corinthians 16:8-9, he explained that he would remain in Ephesus until Pentecost because “a great and effective door has opened to me.” In Ephesus, Paul was able to spend three years preaching the gospel—one of the longest time periods he spent in any location (Acts 20:17-31). Similar usage of “door” is found in 2 Corinthians 2:12 and Acts 14:27.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary explains that in the first century, Philadelphia was designated “a mission city for disseminating Greco-Asiatic culture and language in the eastern part of Lydia and in Phrygia. Its success is attested by the fact that the Lydian language ceased to be spoken in Lydia by A.D. 19 and Greek took over (Ramsay, Seven Churches, p. 391).” Just as Philadelphia had successfully accomplished this secular mission, Jesus told the congregation that they now had an opportunity to disseminate the gospel.

To be contd.

God  bless you all.

The Message to Philadelphia/ Remain Faithful

Jesus Christ promises great rewards to those who faithfully persevere.

Jesus Christ's words to the congregation at Philadelphia are an inspiring message of hope and encouragement. It is distinct from the other messages of Revelation 2 and 3 in that to them, Jesus offered no correction, only an admonition to continue what they were already doing. He was intimately aware of their circumstances and promised them great rewards for their faithful perseverance.

Jesus offers the same promises to us today if we also remain faithful until our deaths or His return. To more deeply appreciate this timeless instruction, let's once again begin with some historical background about this city.

Historical Background

Philadelphia sat in an important location. Expositor's Bible Commentary says, “About twenty-five miles southeast of Sardis, along the Hermus River valley, lay the important high plateau city of Philadelphia, modern Alasehir. A main highway that ran through the city connected Smyrna (about a hundred miles due west) to northwest Asia, Phrygia, and the east. Furthermore, the imperial post road of the first century A.D., which came from Rome via Troas, Adramyttium, Pergamum, and Sardis, passed through this valley and Philadelphia on the way to the east. So situated, Philadelphia became a strong fortress city. To the northeast was a great vine-growing district, which, along with textile and leather industries, contributed greatly to the city's prosperity.”

The name Philadelphia came from the founder of the city, “Attalus II (159-138 B.C.), who had been given the epithet 'Philadelphus' (brother lover)” because of his love for his brother ( Expositor's Bible Commentary). But this was not the city's only name.

“Still another name of the city was Decapolis, because it was considered as one of the ten cities of the plain. A third name which it bore during the 1st cent. AD was Neo-kaisaria; it appears upon the coins struck during that period. During the reign of Vespasian, it was called Flavia. Its modern name, Ala-shehir, is considered by some to be a corruption of the Turkish words Allah-shehir, 'the city of God,' but more likely it is a name given it from the reddish color of the soil.

“In addition to all of these names it sometimes bore the title of 'Little Athens' because of the magnificence of the temples and other public buildings which adorned it. Philadelphia quickly became an important and wealthy trade center, for as the coast cities declined, it grew in power, and retained its importance even until late Byzantine times” ( International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, Electronic Database, 1996, article “Philadelphia”).

“According to Strabo, the whole region was earthquake prone (Geography 12.579; 13.628). In A.D. 17 an earthquake that destroyed Sardis and ten other cities also destroyed Philadelphia. Consequently, many people preferred to live in the rural area surrounding the city. The fear of earthquakes caused those who continued to live in the city to leave it at the slightest sign of a tremor.

“After the devastating earthquake, Tiberius came to the peoples' aid and had the city rebuilt. In gratitude the citizens renamed it Neocaesarea ('New Caesar'). Later the name was changed to Flavia (A.D. 70-79), and this, along with Philadelphia, continued to be its name through the second and third centuries A.D…” ( Expositor's Bible Commentary ).

To be contd.

God bless you all.

The Message to Sardis (3)

The Reward for Watching

After giving the instruction to be spiritually alert, Jesus said, “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels” (Revelation 3:4-5).

This passage also appears to reflect Christ's intimate knowledge of this first century congregation. Expositor's explains, “While the majority had departed from faithful obedience to Christ, a few at Sardis remained true. Here an allusion to the wool industry at Sardis intensifies the image of soiled and defiled garments. Those with soiled garments were removed from the public lists of citizens in Sardis. In the pagan religions it was forbidden to approach the gods in garments that were soiled or stained (Barclay, Seven Churches , p. 77). Soiling seems to be a symbol for mingling with pagan life and thus defiling the purity of one's relation to Christ.”

Just as clean garments were required for those in Sardis to be included in their local census, clean garments (representing righteous actions, Revelation 19:8) are required of all who will be included in “the Book of Life.”

Paul also likened Christianity to clothing that must be put on when we commit ourselves to God's way of life. We must set our minds “on things above” and “put on the new man” with its accompanying actions (Colossians 3:2, 10). Continuing, he wrote, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering” (verse 12).

Jesus Christ's instructions to Sardis are universal instructions for God's people throughout the ages. As the message concludes, “'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches'” (Revelation 3:6).

On the eve of Armageddon, “the battle of that great day of God Almighty,” Jesus again cautions all, “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments…” (Revelation 16:14-16). UN


God bless you all.

The Message to Sardis (2)

Christ's Warning

The history of Sardis was a perfect illustration of the timeless message Jesus delivered to His people: “Don't go to sleep. Remain spiritually alert!” Even though the Sardians had enjoyed great success, their failure to remain alert had twice led to military defeat—they were overtaken by surprise attacks. Noting the similarities between this city's history and the congregation's spiritual condition, Jesus said, “You are alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1).

Jesus then warned them and us today to “hold fast and repent” (verse 3) of spiritual drowsiness. And how did Jesus say this should be done? He twice referred to watching—“be watchful” (verse 2) and “if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief” (verse 3).

The Meaning of “Watch”

The Greek word gregoreo, translated “watchful” and “watch” in these two verses, “is used (a) of 'keeping awake,'… (b) of 'spiritual alertness'” ( Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, 1985, article “Watch (noun and verb), Watchers, Watchful, Watchings”). This word thus combines the sense of being physically awake with spiritual discernment. It is a spiritual condition of readiness and being alert. Those who do not maintain this approach will be surprised by Christ's return. Just as a thief is able to steal from unsuspecting victims, Christ's second coming will surprise those who are not spiritually alert (verse 3).

Earlier in His earthly ministry, Jesus addressed this concept via several parables. After listing some of the signs of His return (Matthew 24:3-31), He likened these to the signs of a fig tree identifying the season of the year. When leaves began to appear, everyone knew summer was near. His point in relation to His return was: “So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!” (verse 33).

Jesus then explained that His return would surprise many people just as the Flood had done in Noah's day (verses 36-41). His advice? “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (verses 42-44).

The parable about 10 virgins also illustrates this important principle (Matthew 25:1-13). Five were wise and five were foolish. All went out to meet Christ, the bridegroom, but only five had the foresight to take sufficient oil for their lamps. Because Jesus was delayed, “they all slumbered and slept” (verse 5). When the announcement came of His coming, the foolish had to go buy oil for their lamps and only the wise who had made ample preparations were admitted to the wedding supper.

Jesus' moral to the story? “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (verse 13).

Like the parable of the 10 virgins, the message to Sardis shows the importance of spiritual preparedness. If we go to sleep spiritually, become lackadaisical or lose our zeal for God's way of life, we must repent and become spiritually alert once again.

Christ's instructions to Sardis emphasize this lesson. Some of the members in Sardis had become lethargic—lacking a spiritual focus—and Jesus warned them to “be watchful” so they would be prepared for His return (verse 2).

To be contd.


God bless you all.

The Message to Sardis : Remain Spiritually Alert

Christ warns all of us of spiritual drowsiness and emphasizes the need to be vigilant and watchful.

Jesus Christ's fifth message to the churches of Revelation 2 and 3 was poignantly illustrated by first-century Sardis. This city had been one of the foremost cities of Asia Minor a few centuries earlier, but now it was in obvious decline. While the previously mentioned cities of the area were bustling with growth and activity (Pergamum as the capital city of Asia Minor, Ephesus as the largest city, Thyatira with its famous manufacturing center and Smyrna with its magnificent natural harbor and trade), Sardis was a relatively quiet city only able to reminisce upon past glory.

“Sardis was situated on the east bank of the Pactolus River about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of Smyrna; it occupied a rocky spur of Mount Tmolus and a valley at the foot of this mountain. In ancient times Sardis was well fortified and easily defended. It became the capital of the ancient Lydian empire, then passed successively to the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans during their respective dominance of the ancient world…

“The most impressive building of ancient Sardis must have been its magnificent Temple of Artemis, built in the fourth century B.C. The temple was 100 meters (327 feet) long and 50 meters (163 feet) wide and had 78 Ionic columns, each 17.7 meters (58 feet) high. Some of these columns remain standing until this day” ( Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1986, article “Sardis”).

Another source adds, “This important city was…located on important commercial routes running E and W through the rich kingdom of Lydia, of which it was the capital. It was also made wealthy by textile manufacturing and jewelry making. Here are said to have been minted the first coins under the opulent Croesus” ( New Unger's Bible Dictionary, 1988, article “Sardis”).

“It was moreover one of the oldest and most important cities of Asia Minor, and until 549 B.C., the capital of the kingdom of Lydia. It stood on the northern slope of Mt. Tmolus; its acropolis occupied one of the spurs of the mountain. At the base flowed the river Pactolus which served as a moat, rendering the city practically impregnable. Through the failure to watch, however, the acropolis had been successfully scaled in 549 B.C. by a Median soldier, and in 218 by a Cretan (compare Revelation 3:2-3)…

“The ancient city was noted for its fruits and wool, and for its temple of the goddess Cybele, whose worship resembled that of Diana of Ephesus. Its wealth was also partly due to the gold which was found in the sand of the river Pactolus, and it was here that gold and silver coins were first struck. During the Roman period its coins formed a beautiful series, and are found in abundance by the peasants who till the surrounding fields.

“The ruins of the buildings which stood at the base of the hill have now been nearly buried by the dirt washed down from above. The hill upon which the acropolis stood measures 950 ft. high: the triple walls still surround it. The more imposing of the ruins are on the lower slope of the hill, and among them the temple of Cybele is the most interesting, yet only two of its many stone columns are still standing” ( International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, Electronic Database, 1996, article “Sardis”).

“Only twice in the history of Sardis was its fortress ever captured, though attacks on it were frequent. When Cyrus attacked it in the sixth century B.C., a shrewd Persian soldier observed a Sardian descending the southern winding path to retrieve his fallen helmet. Unknown to the soldier, the Persians followed his path back up to the summit and captured the whole city, taking them quite by surprise. There was a similar occurrence when Antiochus attacked Sardis about two hundred years later…Sardis retained its wealth into the first two centuries of the Christian Era. But its political brilliance as the capital city of Asia for Persia lay in the past” ( Expositor's Bible Commentary of the New Testament ).

There is an ominous lesson to the history of Sardis: Even though it once had great prosperity, it now lies desolate. It did not endure. Its citizens lacked the foresight to look ahead and preserve their future. At the end of the first century, this city was a sad contrast between past splendor and present decay.

To be contd.

God Bless you all.

Message to Pergamos and Thyatira (5)

Fear

Occasionally the people of God find themselves compromising because of fear. A couple of examples from the lives of Abraham and his son, Isaac, vividly illustrate this problem.

Before Abram's and Sarai's names were changed to Abraham and Sarah, they went to Egypt because of a severe famine (Genesis 12:10). While there, Abraham asked his wife to say that she was his sister because he was afraid someone might kill him in order to have his wife (verses 11-13). In time, Pharaoh took Sarai into his house with the likely intent of making her his wife (verses 14-16). When this occurred, “the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife” (verse 17). Eventually, Pharoah learned Sarai was Abram's wife and returned her to him (verses 18-20).

Years later, Abraham told the same story to Abimelech, king of Gerar (Genesis 20:1-2). Again, God delivered Abraham and Sarah, but this time, Abimelech asked Abraham why he had said Sarah was his sister (verses 3-10). Abraham then explained: “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife. But indeed she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said to her, 'This is your kindness that you should do for me: in every place, wherever we go, say of me, “He is my brother”'” (verses 11-13).

Even though God had previously shown Abraham and Sarah that He would protect them, fear caused Abraham to once again employ his half-truth that Sarah was his sister. Sadly, Abraham's example also influenced Isaac. When Isaac faced a similar situation with his wife, Rebekah, he used the same explanation as his father (Genesis 26:6-11). In Isaac's case, however, it wasn't even a half-truth. It was a lie—a completely untrue statement motivated by fear.

In Revelation 21:8, Jesus Christ warns us that “the cowardly [“fearful,” KJV], unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Whether motivated by fear or not, liars will not be in the Kingdom, nor will the sexually immoral. Compromising God's instructions is not the path to eternal life.

 Antidotes

One of the great antidotes to fear is the love of God. As the apostle John explains, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). When we deeply commit ourselves to God and love Him more than anything else, God will help us have the courage we need to serve Him without compromise.

And finally, there is the other great remedy to compromise that Jesus spoke of in His message to Pergamos and Thyatira. To those who had entered the dangerous waters of compromise, He simply said, “repent” (verses 16, 21). If we discover that we have compromised God's instructions, we must also change.

When King David acknowledged his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah, he deeply repented before God (Psalms 51:1-12). We can do the same. Remember God's eternal message to His people: don't compromise His instructions. UN

God bless yu all.

Message to Pergamos and Thyatira (4)

Jezebel

This notorious woman of the Old Testament was the Canaanite wife of Israel's King Ahab. She had not only led Ahab to worship Baal, but through her husband had promulgated her teachings of idolatry and witchcraft throughout all Israel (1 Kings 16:31-34; 2 Kings 9:22).

In addressing the church at Thyatira, Jesus used this same name to refer to a contemporary woman apparently following the example of this Old Testament queen. As the International Standard Bible Encylopaedia explains, “In Revelation 2:20, we read of Iezabel [sic], 'the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess'… as Moffat ( Expositor's Greek Testament ) aptly renders, 'that Jezebel of a woman alleging herself a prophetess.'

“Some members of the church at Thyatira 'under the sway of an influential woman refused to separate from the local guilds where moral interests, though not ostensibly defied, were often seriously compromised… Her lax principles or tendencies made for a connection with foreign and compromising associations which evidently exerted a dangerous influence upon some weaker Christians in the city.' Her followers 'prided themselves upon their enlightened liberalism (verse 24)'” (Electronic Database, 1996, Biblesoft, “Jezebel”).

Just how did this woman beguile or seduce (Revelation 2:20) some Christians at Thyatira to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols? A number of biblical resources suggest that this first-century Jezebel's teaching was similar to that of the Balaamites and Nicolaitans. Yet hers may have centered upon knowing “the depths of Satan” (verse 24).

The Expositor's Bible Commentary says, “But could she lure Christians by using such a term? The reasoning of some in the early church (the Nicolaitans) might have gone something like this: The only effective way to confront Satan was to enter into his strongholds; the real nature of sin could only be learned by experience, and therefore only those who had really experienced sin could truly appreciate grace. So by experiencing the depths of paganism ('the deep secrets of Satan'), one would better be equipped to serve Christ, or be an example of freedom to his brothers (cf. 1 Corinthians 8:9-11). Thus the sin of Jezebel was deadly serious because of the depths of its deception. Only a few perceived where the teaching was leading.”

Nicolaitans

Though little is known about this group, it seems to have embraced the same compromising approach as the Balaamites and followers of Jezebel. While the Ephesians recognized the Nicolaitan error (Revelation 2:6), apparently some in Pergamos and Thyatira were deceived by it.

Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary says the Nicolaitans were “an early Christian heretical sect made up of followers of Nicolas, who was possibly the deacon of Acts 6:5. The group is mentioned explicitly only in Revelation 2:6, 14-15, where it is equated with a group holding 'the doctrine of Balaam,' who taught Israel 'to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.'

“Balaam probably was responsible for the cohabitation of the men of Israel with the women of Moab (Numbers 25:1-2; 31:16). Therefore, the error of this group was moral rather than doctrinal. If the 'Jezebel' of Revelation 2:20-23 was a teacher of this sect, as many believe, their sexual laxity was indeed strong. Most likely, they were a group of anti-law practitioners who supported a freedom that became self-indulgence. It may have been the same heresy condemned in 2 Peter 2:15 and Jude 11. Some early church leaders believed the Nicolaitans later became a gnostic sect” (Electronic database, 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers, “Nicolaitans”).

To be contd.

God bless you all.

Message to Pergamos and Thyatira (3)

 Balaam

This Old Testament figure was “the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia” (Deuteronomy 23:4). His name, Balaam, “can mean to 'conquer the people' (Heb. Ba'al'am), which means the same as 'Nicolaitans,' and since they are mentioned together in this letter [Revelation], both groups may be closely related” ( Expositor's Bible Commentary of the New Testament ).

During the time of Moses, Balak, king of Moab, observed the Israelites' wanderings in the wilderness. After noting the destruction of several armies that attacked them, Balak became concerned about this threat to his nation. He then tried to hire Balaam to curse the Israelites (Numbers 22:1-6). Because the king had observed that those Balaam blessed were blessed and those he cursed were cursed, he sent elders of Moab and Midian to Balaam with a “diviner's fee” to pay for the curse (verses 6-7).

Upon learning of Balak's offer, Balaam seemed willing to make the deal. But there was one problem—God told Balaam that he couldn't go with the elders or curse Israel (verses 7-14). After explaining that God wouldn't let him go with them, the emissaries returned to Balak. The king then sent another party of even higher officials to Balaam and offered to let Balaam set his own price for cursing Israel (verses 15-17). Balaam invited this group to spend the night while he again conferred with God.

“And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, 'If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you—that you shall do.' So Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab” (verses 20-21). Sadly, Balaam didn't wait to be invited. He was so greedy for “the wages of unrighteousness” (2 Peter 2:15), he was willing to compromise God's explicit instructions.

In his own mind, Balaam probably reasoned that God had given him permission to go. But God was not pleased with Balaam's presumptuous action. “Then God's anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him” (verse 22).

Ironically, God allowed Balaam's donkey to see the danger, but not Balaam himself. Even though the donkey saved Balaam's life three times, Balaam became so upset with his animal that he was ready to kill her. God then allowed the donkey to speak and soon she and Balaam were in a conversation about what had transpired (verses 22-30).

“Then the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the Lord standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face. And the Angel of the Lord said to him, 'Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to stand against you, because your way is perverse before Me. The donkey saw Me and turned aside from Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely I would also have killed you by now, and let her live.' And Balaam said to the Angel of the Lord, 'I have sinned, for I did not know You stood in the way against me. Now therefore, if it displeases You, I will turn back'” (verses 31-34).

Apparently humbled, God allowed Balaam to continue with the entourage. Though Balak then took Balaam to several vantage points from which he hoped Balaam would curse Israel, Balaam refused to do so (Numbers 22:41 to Numbers 24). Instead, as God instructed, Balaam blessed Israel.

Unfortunately, Balaam's willingness to follow God's instructions soon waned. As this account eventually concludes, Balaam once again presumptuously compromised God's instructions. Since God wouldn't allow Balaam to directly curse Israel, Balaam gave Balak advice that would lead to the same result: encourage the women of Moab to invite the Israelite men to their sacrifices to Baal-peor and the sexual immorality associated with this pagan religion. When the men of Israel sinned in this way, God punished them Himself (Numbers 25:1-3; 31:16).

The sin of Balaam was compromising God's instructions. Compromise also led some at Pergamos and Thyatira to commit the same sins as the ancient Israelites. As for their mention in Revelation 2, the Expositor's Bible Commentary of the New Testament says, “The combination of 'food sacrificed to idols' with 'sexual immorality' may refer to the common practice of participating in the sacrificial meal of the pagan gods (cf. 1 Corinthians 10:19-22) and indulging in sexual intercourse with temple priestesses in cult prostitution.

“This is the more normal way to understand the term 'sexual immorality' in the context of the pagan gods. Some feel, however, that the term refers to spiritual unfaithfulness and apostasy from Christ (cf. Isaiah 1:21; Ezekiel 23:37). But the prevalence of sexual immorality in first-century pagan society makes it entirely possible that some Christians at Pergamum were still participating in the holiday festivities and saw no wrong in indulging in the 'harmless' table in the temples and the sexual excitement everyone else was enjoying (cf. 1 John 5:21).”

To be contd.


God bless you all.

Message to Pergamos and Thyatira (2)

 Thyatira

This city was in “the province of Lydia in western Asia Minor (modern Turkey) situated on the road from Pergamos to Sardis. The city was on the southern bank of the Lycus River, a branch of the Hermus River.

“Although never a large city, Thyatira was a thriving manufacturing and commercial center during New Testament times. Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of many trade guilds and unions here. Membership in these trade guilds, necessary for financial and social success, often involved pagan customs and practices such as superstitious worship, union feasts using food sacrificed to pagan gods, and loose sexual morality.

“The Book of Revelation refers to a certain woman known as 'Jezebel' who taught and beguiled the Christians at Thyatira to conform to the paganism and sexual immorality of their surroundings (Revelation 1:11; 2:18-29). In the church in Thyatira, one of the 'seven churches which are in Asia' (Revelation 1:4), Jezebel's followers seem to have been a minority because the majority of Christians in this church are commended.

“The apostle Paul's first convert in Europe was 'a certain woman named Lydia…a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira' (Acts 16:14). The modern name of Thyatira is Akhisar, which means 'white castle'” ( Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers, “Thyatira”).


Their Common Problem

Though Pergamos and Thyatira differed in many respects (large city versus small city, educational center versus business center, high society versus trade unions), the Christians in both congregations faced insidious influences to compromise their beliefs in order to fit in with the societies around them. When members gave in to these pressures, they committed the same sins: eating “things sacrificed to idols” and committing “sexual immorality” (Revelation 2:14, 20).

In order to emphasize the point that Christians must be careful not to sin through compromise, Jesus used two Old Testament examples of people who compromised God's instructions and a New Testament group that did the same. The individuals were Balaam and Jezebel; the group, the Nicolaitans.

To be contd.


God bless you all.

Message to Pergamos and Thyatira: Don't Compromise

Christ's warning about compromise remains an important lesson for God's people today.

In continuing our study of Jesus Christ's messages to His people recorded in Revelation 2 and 3, we now consider the two first-century cities of Pergamos and Thyatira. We will examine these two together because they were given the same basic message. Both had members who gave in to the same sin. The influence, or negative peer pressure, just came from different segments of society.

Pergamos, or Pergamum as it is also called, was “the chief city of Mysia, near the Caicus River in northwest Asia Minor (modern Turkey)… The city, situated opposite the island of Lesbos, was about 24 kilometers (15 miles) from the Aegean Sea.

“In its early history Pergamos became a city-state, then a powerful nation after Attalus I (241-197 B.C.) defeated the Gauls (Galatians). It stood as a symbol of Greek superiority over the barbarians. Great buildings were erected and a library containing over 200,000 items was established. The Egyptians, concerned with this library which rivaled their own at Alexandria, refused to ship papyrus to Pergamos. As a result, a new form of writing material, Pergamena charta, or parchment, was developed.

“In the days of Roman dominance throughout Asia Minor, Pergamos became the capital of the Roman province of Asia. In a gesture of friendship, Mark Antony gave Pergamos' library to Cleopatra; its volumes were moved to Alexandria.

“Not only was Pergamos a government center with three imperial temples, but it was also the site of the temple of Asklepios (the Greco-Roman god of medicine and healing), and the medical center where the physician Galen worked (about A.D. 160). Here also was a temple to Athena and a temple to Zeus with an altar showing Zeus defeating snake-like giants. In the Book of Revelation, John spoke of Pergamos as the place 'where Satan's throne is' (Revelation 2:13). This could be a reference to the cult of emperor worship, because Pergamos was a center where this form of loyalty was pledged to the emperor of the Roman Empire” ( Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers, “Pergamos”).

Another source adds, “The city was greatly addicted to idolatry, and its grove, which was one of the wonders of the place, was filled with statues and altars… The wealth of the Attalic princes had raised Pergamum to the rank of the first city in Asia as regards splendor. It was a sort of union of a pagan cathedral city, a university town, and a royal residence, embellished during a succession of years by kings who all had a passion for expenditure and ample means of gratifying it… Systematic study of Pergamum began in 1878 after the German engineer Carl Human (now buried on the Pergamum acropolis) discovered the great altar of Zeus (believed by some to be Satan's seat, Revelation 2:13), now in East Berlin” ( New Unger's Bible Dictionary, 1988, “Pergamum”).

As for religions: “There were beautiful temples to the four great gods Zeus, Dionysus, Athena and Asklepios. To the temple of the latter, invalids from all parts of Asia flocked, and there, while they were sleeping in the court, the god revealed to the priests and physicians by means of dreams the remedies which were necessary to heal their maladies. Thus opportunities of deception were numerous. There was a school of medicine in connection with the temple. Pergamos was chiefly a religious center of the province. A title which it bore was 'Thrice Neokoros,' meaning that in the city 3 temples had been built to the Roman emperors, in which the emperors were worshipped as gods. Smyrna, a rival city, was a commercial center, and as it increased in wealth, it gradually became the political center. Later, when it became the capital, Pergamos remained the religious center” ( International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, 1996, Biblesoft, “Pergamos; Pergamum”).

To briefly describe Pergamos, we could call it a large governmental, religious and medical center. It represented education and government. Thyatira, by contrast, was much smaller. Made up of businesses, it was a working person's town.

To be contd.

God bless you all.

Message To Smyrna (4)

The World

Still another potential temptation for Christians is the world around us. Because the world has a different set of values contrary to God's, James wrote, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4). While the world can appear to be attractive, the end result of focusing on it instead of God is tragic. Paul wrote, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?… What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty'” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18, NIV).

At the end of this present evil age, when Jesus Christ returns to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, John, in vision, heard a similar warning for God's people. “And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues'” (Revelation 18:4). God's people have no other choice we must resist the world and its ungodly influences.

Christ's Encouragement to Us

Before Jesus' crucifixion, He shared some observations about the tests His followers would face. In John 15:18-20, He said, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” He concluded His remarks, saying, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

In His message to the church at Smyrna, Jesus was giving the same encouragement. He admonished them and us today to make sure we endure persecution and trials. If we persevere, Jesus promises us “the crown of life” and that we will “not be hurt by the second death” (Revelation 2:10, 11).


God bless you all.

Message To Smyrna (3)

Family Influence

When we share the same spiritual values, our physical families can lend powerful support to our efforts to live as Christians. When there are competing and differing values, however, there can be pressure to compromise God's truth. Jesus addressed this unpleasant concept saying, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:34-38, see also Micah 7:5-7).

When we turn to God, He expects us to give Him our highest priority and conduct our lives accordingly. Instead of lashing back at those who persecute us, Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).

If our physical families do not share our spiritual convictions, we can take comfort that God provides another spiritual family to offer support and encouragement (Matthew 12:47-50).

Monetary Gain

In the parable of the sower, Jesus said “the deceitfulness of riches” caused some to be unfruitful (Matthew 13:22). The lure of wealth or a big salary can be a temptation to forego pleasing God. Paul warns us: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:9-11).

This instruction about money often comes into effect with our employment. Most of society is unaware of God's seventh-day Sabbath. Many employers expect their employees to work on this day even though God says otherwise (Exodus 20:9-11). Sometimes God's people can be enticed with higher salaries and more income if they will only work on the Sabbath. In the face of such temptation, we need to remember Christ's instruction: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).

To be contd.


God bless ou all.

Message To Smyrna (2)

Stephen's Example

Shortly after the founding of the New Testament Church in Acts 2, the apostles ordained seven deacons, one of whom was Stephen (Acts 6:1-6). This man, “full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people” (verse 8). Apparently, Satan was greatly upset because “the word of God spread” (verse 7). At this point, it seems Satan influenced another synagogue (congregation) to begin a deadly persecution against Stephen. The devil undoubtedly hoped to destroy Stephen's faith and stifle the growth of the Church of God.

Another congregation called “the Synagogue of the Freedmen” raised false accusations against Stephen (verses 9-14). Almost seven decades later, Jesus told the Christians at Smyrna, “I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Revelation 2:9). Ironically and sadly, people who claim to be godly or Christian can also be instruments of persecution in the devil's hands. The congregation at Smyrna at the end of the first century was facing the same kind of persecution Stephen had faced. Their persecution was coming from people who falsely claimed to be Jews (what the first Christians were called, Romans 2:28-29). Now back to the story of Stephen.

In the face of severe accusations that could take his life, Stephen did not capitulate. Instead of giving in or looking for a compromise to save his life, Stephen appeared to grow stronger in his resolve to obey God and be a faithful witness. In the midst of this trial, the biblical account says, “And all who sat in the council, looking steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel” (verse 15). Stephen was receiving help from God.

Stephen then preceded to go through some of Israel's history culminating in a powerful statement condemning their resistance to God's laws (Acts 7:51-53).

Though the council became very angry, Stephen, “being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and…said, 'Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!'” (verses 55-56). Just as Stephen had said, this group of people then treated him as their forefathers had treated God's prophets in the Old Testament. God gave him the strength to endure this most severe trial as He gave Smyrna the strength to endure tribulation “ten days,” representing a time of great trouble the congregation would soon experience.

The same comfort and help God gave believers then is available today to all who are faithful to God's instructions. As the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” God promises to help. He will either remove our trials or give us the strength to bear them.

Trials Accompany Conversion

Just as Jesus had predicted in the parable of the sower, persecution often arises when people begin to turn to God. The same thing occurred in the apostle Paul's life. Paul had an active role in the persecution of Stephen and the early Church (Acts 7:58; 8:1, 3).

While Paul was traveling to Damascus to continue his persecution against the Christians, God miraculously appeared to him. Paul was blinded and didn't eat or drink for three days. After Ananias laid his hands on Paul, he regained his sight and was baptized to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:1-18). With baptism, conditions quickly changed.

When Paul ceased being the persecutor, he soon became the persecuted. Paul immediately began to preach “that this Jesus is the Christ. Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him” (verses 22-23).

The reality is that the people of God have always faced trials and persecutions. It comes with being a Christian. As Paul explained, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). Interestingly, in the long run everyone, whether Christian or not, will be tested. Revelation 3:10 says there will be an “hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Though temporarily unpleasant, trials help us establish and solidify our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). gGod is with us, every step of the way, through all trials (Romans 8:35-39; 2 Corinthians 1:4). Next let's consider some common difficulties God's people face today.

To be contd.

God bless you all.