"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;" - Rev 2:7,11,17,29, Rev 3:6, 13, 22

This statement has been repeated 7 times, and we assure you, it's not just because it is convenient punctuation. Over the last 7 weeks, we have been looking at the report cards of the 7 churches individually- it's time now to step back and ask - " So what ? " Not in a disrespectful way, but rather - "What are You saying to us Lord? What should we discern from all this ?Please help us understand !!!!"

Here are a few things to consider :

1. This is the Spirit speaking through Jesus, the incarnate Word, given at the behest of the Father. We would do well to pay diligent attention.

2. This prophecy had a local application at the time it was given. It was addressed to 7 coexisting congregations in Asia Minor, representing seven kinds of churches, to be a message to Christianity at large at that time. Christ was/is letting all know His heart for the church - "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." - Eph 5:27 We often consider ourselves unworthy, "Look not upon me, because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me: " - Song 1:6, but He considers us "fairest among all women" ! The errors those churches were committing are the same ones we are prey to, and the good works likewise. He was letting them know what was good and bad, as He was constantly in their midst. Knowing full well that the birds of Satan would perch amongst the branches of the tree of the kingdom (Mat 13:31,32), He was letting them in on the strategies and deceptions of the enemy in this critical early phase of the church. (Birds in the bible are never symbols of good, check out the parable of the Sower, Josephs dream about the baker)

3. It applies to the Church across the ages. Works flowing out of Love, doctrinal purity, sanctified living, faithful perseverance, steadfastness in the face of opposition, and a witness through obedience to the Word - that's what He wants.

The spiritual battle raging around us has not diminished in intensity as man has "evolved", rather it has gotten worse. "He that overcometh" - is another phrase repeated 7 Times!

It means that we are going to be actively opposed and will need to overcome difficulties - mental, physical, and spiritual. It also means that if you are not fighting - YOU ARE LOSING! Wake up and recognize the potions being used to dull your senses, making you forget the mission, distracting you from your objectives, and making you unfruitful! The Flesh, the World, and the Devil - this is what we have to overcome.

There are commentators who have likened these seven churches to seven ages of the church - The Church in Ephesus: Apostolic Church (A.D. 33-100),The Church in Smyrna: Era of Persecution Under the Ten Caesars (A.D. 100-312), The Church in Pergamum: Era of Church-State Union (A.D. 312-590), The Church in Thyatira: Era Spanning the Middle Ages (A.D. 590-1517), The Church in Sardis: Catholic Church-Protestant Reformation (A.D. 1517-1750), The Church in Philadelphia: Era of Revival and Great Awakening (A.D. 1750-1925), The Church in Laodicea: Era of "Higher Criticism/Post Modernism" (A.D. 1900-Tribulation) as one example.

We would respectfully submit that while this is interesting, no such sequencing is at all suggested in the Revelation text. First, and most important, Christ identifies the candlesticks as seven specific churches , and the stars as the pastors/angels of those churches. (Rev 1:20) Any other interpretation of this text will be going against the clear and simple direction given by Christ Himself. Second, these churches/congregations all existed at the same time. Lastly, we do not see a difference in the condition of the church from age to age (e.g. martyrdom exists only in one age) , but rather see all conditions existing simultaneously in every age (churches are still being martyred).

Therefore, the lesson we draw from these passages is to recognize that churches of all hues are going to be the norm rather than the exception in every age. It should give us spiritual discernment to understand the types of error - HyperLaw, HyperGrace, HyperSelf - that may exist and strive to overcome them.

4. It has end-time significance. The Lord is coming for all of us as individuals - in that we are all going to die and meet Him, unless He returns before then. We are to be doing His work till He comes in the clouds, or just for us. "But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." - Luke 12:45-46 The church at Sardis was told to watch, else Christ would come on them as a thief. Our life can be cut short at any time, so we should be careful to maintain good works. Tomorrow is not a guarantee!!

Even His return to the earth in glory, though plainly imminent to those who are watching, will take the ignorant by complete surprise. We are given the picture of Noah - who for a 100 years prepared for, and preached about the flood. Nobody listened to his warnings! "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. .... Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." - Luke 17:26-30

This can only happen if there is -such- a famine of the Word that only a few faithful are keeping the words of this prophecy, and the greater masses are either ignorant or uncaring. There are even those who will scoff - "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." -2 Peter 3:4. "It's been 2000 years dude.... where is He at? I don't think He's ever gonna show up..." Do you see that happening now?

Such are ignorant that the door to the ark is standing open, and people are pouring in. The Lord is gathering every single clean and unclean animal and is patiently waiting for every last sheep. But there is coming a day, when that door will close forever. And that will be that!

An interesting fact - 70 people went down into Egypt to start the nation Israel, and they left as several million 400 years later. Christ personally commissioned 70 disciples other than the twelve/thirteen we know ( Luke 10:1) to announce the Kingdom of God in Israel (they went in pairs before Him to cities He planned to visit) and its been about 2000 years since then. Do you think we are close to His coming again?

6. It has ever been the design of God for His church to expect the arrival of His son at any time. We long for the time when His Will be done on Earth as in Heaven. Creation itself is experiencing birth pains and groaning to be delivered - but - let us be patient and wait for our fellow servants and brethren, for every person to be brought in even if it takes another 2000 years - for we know that we will definitely meet our Lord by the time we are a 100 - (or longer for some saints :)). Let us therefore patiently run the race that is set forth before us, so that we may please Him who Has called us into His service - for that is the message of the 7 churches.

To them that overcome He promises - to give to eat of the tree of life, not be hurt of the second death, eat of hidden manna, have power over and rule the nations with the morning star, be clothed in white raiment - known and confessed of Christ, be pillars in His temple, and sit in Christs throne!

We wish you all a wonderful, victorious, and overcoming 2018!! Hallelujah!