09-14-14 Those angels can play a mean trumpet

Scripture:  Revelation 8:2 - 11:18

ACT 3

John was in exile on a prison island for giving his testimony about Jesus Christ!

Rome’s emperor Domitian saw himself as the new Augustus, who sought to control public and private morals. He was the first Roman Emperor who had demanded to be addressed as dominus et deus (master and god).

          Remember that Revelation is the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ. It is about Jesus and shows the history of man’s relationship to God from John’s day to the beginning of eternity.  Throughout Revelation – the theme of sin-wrath-redemption are repeated with ever increasing severity.  Each of Seven Acts reveals this theme.  People ask ‘why is God so harsh?’  He is not!  God wants the vilest sinner to repent and turn to him for life.  God does not want us living in the results of our own sin and depravity so a day is coming when his wrath will wipe away all that is evil and redeem his followers to eternal peace and glory.  Ask a better question-‘why would a loving God let evil remain forever?’

STAGE SETTING for ACT 3

8:2-6 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.  The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.  (These prayers lifted up with the sensor sounds sweet so far...) Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them. (They weren’t encouraged to gently lift their trumpets into place – they were fiercely commanded to blast them as if charging into battle)

The Sounding of the Seven Trumpets

Scene 1       Hail and Fire fall on earth

8:7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down upon the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.

Scene 2       A Mountain cast into the sea

8:8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

Scene 3       A Great Star falls on rivers and springs

8:10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— the name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.

Scene 4       Heavenly Bodies Darkened

An Eagle announces 3 Woes

12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.  (4 trumpets and a third of the earth, the seas, the rivers and the sky are destroyed. John is watching these things happen and continues with what he sees)

13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe (3 times Woe!) to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"

Scene 5       (Woe 1) The pit of the abyss opened: Locusts

9:1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, (which is what locusts naturally do) but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them. (John’s description of Locust creatively describes the ultimate power of God) The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon.  The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come. (God seems so mean – God is giving people who have denied his existence the only proof they may understand – maybe in torment they will turn to Him and find eternal life.  Nothing else has worked to this point – God loves them so much he is willing to inflict temporary torture to get them to repent.)

   Scene 6       (Woe 2) Release of the 4 Angels on the Euphrates

          13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is before God. It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.

The two-hundred million horsemen

16 The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. (Earth’s population at the time was between 200-330 million people) I heard their number. The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury. The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood — idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

The strong Angel with the little book

10:1-11 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."

Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."

Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."

The ‘times of the gentiles’ The two prophets   The evil city (Sodom, Egypt)

11:1-14 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, and count the worshipers there. But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, (or 42 months) clothed in sackcloth." These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. (Jewish and Gentile Christians who make up the church – many possibilities – Simply accept them as 2 witnesses to what Christ has done and who the anti-Christ is) If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. These men have power to shut up the sky so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.

Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified. (The great city of crucifixion is Israel but the people remain as in Sodom and Egypt, unwilling to repent) For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.

But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.  (How could they now not repent and turn to God?)

                         Scene 7       (Woe 3) Worship in Heaven

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry; and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your saints and those who reverence your name, both small and great — and for destroying those who destroy the earth."

Sin – what you do that is in opposition to how God wants you to live.
Wrath – The love of God unleashed to remove evil from our lives.
Redemption – The love of God unleashed by pouring out all His wrath on the only person ever to live without living in opposition to God – Jesus.  And the result of that wrath crucified God’s only son to take the punishment that we deserve for our sin – DEATH-so that whoever believes in Him will not die – but have eternal life.

Think about that – you can escape the wrath of God described in Revelation by believing the truth that Jesus Christ took the punishment of death for you and he wants nothing more than for you and your oikos to receive FULL-ABUNDANT-ETERNAL – LIFE!!!

08-31-14 The scroll and the seven seals

Scripture  Revelation 6:1 - 8:1

The stage is set with God on the throne - four living creatures, 24 elders and 100,000 angels, giving praise to the lamb that was slain who is the only one worthy to open the 7 seals on the scroll.

The 7 scenes of Act two take place before this audience.  Act 1 was on earth - Act 2 begins in heaven but moves back and forth between the two.  This was done easily in Greek drama because the actors (all male) used masks for different characters.  They change the mask form heavenly beings to earthly beings.  But the first 4 scenes/seals present us with a problem - they involve the riding of horses. I have seen outdoor dramas that use horses - did they do that 2000 years ago?

Rev 6:1-2

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures (lion) say in a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

Rev 6:3-4

When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature (Ox) say, "Come!" Then another horse came out, a fiery red one. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make men slay each other. To him was given a large sword.

Rev 6:5-6

When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature (man) say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!" Man does live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God!

Rev 6:7-8

When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature (eagle) say, "Come!" I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.                 (Conquest, war, famine, death)

Rev 6:9-11

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. (These are the martyrs = witnesses.  People like Stephen, all the disciples but John, Paul. Polycarp was a disciple of John and he ordained him bishop of Smyrna.  As Polycarp was being taken into the arena, a voice came to him from heaven: “Be strong, Polycarp and play the man!”  The Proconsul tried to persuade him to apostatize, saying, “Have respect for your old age, swear by the fortune of Caesar. Repent, reproach Christ, and I will set you free.” “86 years have I have served him,” Polycarp declared, “and he has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

 “I have wild animals here,” the Proconsul said. “I will throw you to them if you do not repent.” “Call them,” Polycarp replied. “If you despise the animals, I will have you burned.” “You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour, and is then extinguished, but you know nothing of the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. Why are you waiting? Bring on whatever you want.”

When they went to fix him with nails, he said, “Leave me as I am, for he that gives me strength to endure the fire, will enable me not to struggle, without the help of your nails.”  So they simply bound him with his hands behind him like a distinguished ram chosen from a great flock for sacrifice. Ready to be an acceptable burnt-offering to God, he looked up to heaven, and said, “O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of you, the God of angels, powers and every creature, and of all the righteous who live before you, I give you thanks that you count me worthy to be numbered among your martyrs, sharing the cup of Christ and the resurrection to eternal life, both of soul and body, through the immortality of the Holy Spirit. May I be received this day as an acceptable sacrifice, as you, the true God, have predestined, revealed to me, and now fulfilled. I praise you for all these things, I bless you and glorify you, along with the everlasting Jesus Christ, your beloved Son. To you, with him, through the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and forever. Amen.”

The fire was lit, and the flame blazed furiously. We who were privileged to witness it saw a great miracle. The fire shaped itself into the form of an arch, and formed a circle around the body of the martyr. Inside it, he looked not like flesh that is burnt, but like bread that is baked.

Eventually, when those wicked men saw that his body could not be consumed by the fire, they commanded an executioner to pierce him with a dagger. When he did this [a dove flew out of his chest] and such a great quantity of blood flowed that the fire was extinguished. The crowd was amazed at the difference between the unbelievers and the elect.) They called out in a loud voice, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?" Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.

Rev 6:12-7:17

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

7 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea:  "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Manasseh, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph 12,000 from each tribe.

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes — who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (not their own blood) Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (They will receive everything opposite of the wrath to come because they stood strong.)

Rev 8:1

When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.

08-24-14 There was a door standing open in heaven

Scripture    Revelation 4 & 5

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."  At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.  Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.  From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.  Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.  And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"  But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

            Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.  He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.  And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

08-17-14 Jesus’ letters to the churches part 2

Scripture   Revelation 2 & 3

Actual announcements taken from church letters (bulletins).

1.    Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

2.    The Associate Minister unveiled the church’s new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: “I Upped My Pledge-Up Yours.”

3.    A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

4.    At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?”  Come early and listen to our choir practice.

5.    Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and the deterioration of some older ones.

6.    The Senior Choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir.

7.    Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please enter on the East side through the large double doors.

 

Last week we learned that Jesus has a special relationship with each church individually and saw in these letters to 7 churches how he described himself differently to each, related to his unique relationship with them.

          Today, we are going to dig a little further and see that 1) “I know this about you”  Jesus knows our church.  He knows our deeds. This can be a frightening thing, however, all but church 7, Jesus starts with something positive.  2) I have this against you: - Jesus will let us know where we are failing.  3) To him who overcomes - Jesus ends with a positive for those who are victorious over the things they need to change.  And once again - the reward - like the relationship itself is unique to each church.

          Notice that Jesus has given us a model for correction in love - This is what is good, this is what needs corrected, once corrected, you will be amazing.

I know this about you:

Ephesus I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.  God calls us to be faithful as He is faithful. And he aides us: 1 Cor 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Smyrna I know your afflictions and your poverty — yet you are rich!

Turn that around - Robin Williams was financially wealthy and had a family, yet his depression obviously made him feel poor in some area of life. There are people who live in poverty that are the richest people in the world.  The world’s wealth is external - the Lord’s wealth is internal and eternal.

Pergamum I know where you live — where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city — where Satan lives.

More than Ephesus - you live in the house of Satan where my follower Antipas was murdered for his faith - yet you remain faithful.  Oh, how many leave the church when times get tough???

Thyatira I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.  This is a church that works for the Lord and grows in their service - it doesn’t cut back as so many do today.  Neh 4:16-18

The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.

Sardis I know your deeds; you have a few people who have not soiled their clothes.

Only a few…God does amazing things with the remnant. Elijah and the 450 prophets of Baal

Philadelphia I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

          David had NO STRENGTH against Goliath but he has the Lord’s strength.

Laodicea I know your deeds, (and has NOTHING GOOD to say)

          There are churches that nothing good can be said about them.

***

If Jesus were telling us the virtues of his church that gathers at 9^th and Shoshone what good things would he say?  (maybe have people write it down and say it.)

---------

Jesus knows our church.  He knows our deeds. This can be a frightening thing.  It can be frightening because no church gets it all right.

I have this against you:

Ephesus Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

Spend time, want to be with, etc.

Smyrna I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Have you heard someone say, yes I am a Christian - but no fruit shows?

Pergamum I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Balaam taught wrong things and Nicolaitans teach wrong things.

Thyatira I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.  Similar issues to Pergamum.

Sardis Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.  My pet peeve - people who start something but don’t finish.

Philadelphia I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars — I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.  Because you have remained faithful to my word in this wicked place.

Laodicea I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  The biggest spiritual danger that exists is comfort. We get lazy and feel secure in our apathy.

 

What are the things Jesus might say about us that needs work?  We have lost our commitment to the church as a whole and consideration for the church future. 

-------------

Jesus knows our church.  He knows our deeds. This can be an exciting and frightening thing.  BUT, because it is His church, he ends with a promise to a possible better day ahead.

To him who overcomes:

Ephesus To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. His original intent for us.

Smyrna He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. Rev 20:14-15

The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Pergamum To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it. The depths and hidden mysteries of God.

Thyatira To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'-just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star.  Co-ruler with the Creator and King.

Sardis He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.   Guaranteed salvation

Philadelphia Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. Anna who worshipped day and night and never left the temple.

Laodicea To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. Stop being luke warm - get hot for Jesus and you will sit WITH Him on His throne!

Scene 1: Letter to the Passionless Church: Ephesus (2:1-7)

Scene 2: Letter to the Persecuted Church: Smyrna (2:8-11)

Scene 3: Letter to the Tolerant Church: Pergamum (2:12-17)

Scene 4: Letter to the Compromising Church: Thyatira (2:18-29)

Scene 5: Letter to the Dead Church: Sardis (3:1-6)

Scene 6: Letter to the Missionary Church: Philadelphia (3:7-13)

Scene 7: Letter to the Arrogant Church: Laodicea (3:14-22)

How does Jesus see you FirstB?  What is good?  What needs work?  Will you be part of overcoming, or will you be stuck, living in Laodicea?

08-10-14 Jesus’ letters to the church

Scripture     Revelation 2 & 3

A church bulletin is not a letter to the church but it kind of is. It is written on paper to inform everyone what is happening at the church this week.  It is like a letter and each church has one unique to their church.

          Here are some: Actual announcements Taken from Church Bulletins

1.    Don’t let worry kill you. Let the Church help.

2.    Thursday night – Potluck supper. Prayer and medication to follow.

3.    Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.

4.    For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

5.    The rosebud on the altar this morning is to announce the birth of David Alan Belzer, the sin of Reverend and Mrs. Julius Belzer.

6.    This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mr. Vassilas to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.

7.    This afternoon there will be a meeting in the south and north ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.

8.    Musically, the service will close with “Little Drops of Water”. One of the ladies will start (quietly) and the rest of the congregation will join in.

How does it feel to get a personal letter in the mail?

REVIEW: (John and a presense) Prologue, stage setting, seven candles and son of man.

Rev 1:19-20

Jesus to John: “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

ACT 1 - 7 scenes - each takes place in a different church as the letter is read to that church.  Each letter begins the same:

Each letter begins “To the angel of the church in _______ write”

SEVEN LETTERS ON VIDEO

The author describes how He is related to each church individually and personally:

Ephesus was a city on the western coast of Asia Minor, near the mouth of the Cayster River. The city was famous for its temple of Diana, and pilgrims came to Ephesus from all over the Mediterranean world to worship the goddess.

Ephesus These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.

Smyrna was a large, important city on the western coast of Asia Minor, famed for its schools of medicine and science.

Smyrna These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

 

Pergamum, was a beautiful art-filled city in the province of Asia built along two tributaries of the Caicus River. A center for the worship of Dionysus, Zeus, and other pagan gods.
Pergamum These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.

 

Thyatira was a wealthy town on the Lycus River in the Roman province of Asia.

Thyatira These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

 

Sardis was one of the oldest and best defended cities in the region and the wealthy capital of the ancient kingdom of Lydia.

Sardis These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

 

Philadelphia was a city on the Imperial Post Road, an important trade route.

Philadelphia These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

 

Laodicea was a wealthy, industrious city in the province of Phrygia in the Lycos Valley.
Laodicea These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.

Jesus love letter to the church:

I come to you for this reason today. I have loved you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3

I am not looking for perfect people. Just as a doctor comes for the sick, I come for the broken, the imperfect, the searching heart. Matthew 9:9-13

I long for you. As a shepherd searches for his lost sheep, I will not be content until you are safe in my arms. Luke 15:1-7

When life lets you down, come to Me. I will give you a new hope, a new start, a new promise. Luke 5:1-11

If you open your heart to Me, you become a child of God. John 1:12

If you are thirsty for a better life, come to Me and drink, and rivers of new life will spring up inside of you. John 7:37-39

I will give you abundant life, and I will care for you as a loving shepherd. John 10:10-11

I will give you rest, peace, and joy. Matthew 11:28-30, John 14:27, John 16:16-24

I will always be with you. Matthew 28:20

I am the way, the truth, and the life; you can come to the Father through Me. John 14:6

I am the only door between Heaven and earth. John 10:9

I did not come to condemn you, but to rescue you. John 3:17

I came to set you free. John 8:31-32

I died for you, the innocent for the guilty, that you might be declared innocent. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:21

I am the sacrificial Lamb who takes away your sin. John 1:29

Come to Me, and I will wash you. I will make you clean. John 13:8

If you trust in Me, eternal life is yours today. John 3:16

I will be the vine, and you will be My branches, full of life, bearing rich fruit. John 15:1-8

I love you – I choose you – come and live every day in My love. John 15:9,16

I am knocking at the door of your heart; if you open your heart to Me, I will come in. Revelation 3:20-21

Follow Me, and I will give you a new life, a new purpose, a new destiny. Matthew 4:19

Even now, I am preparing a place for you in Heaven. John 14:1-3

Love, Jesus

 

Scene 1: Letter to the Passionless Church: Ephesus (2:1-7)

Scene 2: Letter to the Persecuted Church: Smyrna (2:8-11)

Scene 3: Letter to the Tolerant Church: Pergamum (2:12-17)

Scene 4: Letter to the Compromising Church: Thyatira (2:18-29)

Scene 5: Letter to the Dead Church: Sardis (3:1-6)

Scene 6: Letter to the Missionary Church: Philadelphia (3:7-13)

Scene 7: Letter to the Arrogant Church: Laodicea (3:14-22)