In this post we will look at the last three churches and corresponding church ages.

Re 3:1 ¶ And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
 3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
 4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
 6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
 7 ¶ And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;
 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
 14 ¶ And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.(KJV)

The church at Sardis corresponds to the Reformation church age from 1500 to 1700AD. The Reformation church held strong doctrinal beliefs while the great reformers were living, unfortunately as time went on they became state-controlled churches which became cold, formal and lifeless. As is true, though, in each of the ages of church history, there were exceptions to those cold, state-churches.  During this time you will find the Anabaptist, Separatists, Puritans and Pilgrims. Our country owes much to these who came to America looking for the freedom to worship God the way they believed was right.

Next we see John is told to write to the church at Philadelphia. Philadelphia means "love of a brother". It is a very appropriate name for this church age that stretches from 1700-1900AD. It was time of great revivals and missionary outreach.  It was love that compelled them to try to reach the world for Christ! One of my favorite evangelists from this time period was D.L. Moody. If you will click here - GOOD NEWS FOR EVERYONE - you can read one of his messages that was reprinted not too long back that well illustrates the desire these Christians had to see people come to the Lord. It is well worth your time to go read the message. It is better than anything I could write. Then we see there were many missionaries, men like, William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Robert Moffat, David Livingstone, Henry Nott, George  Grenfell. There were missionaries who went although they paid with their life. John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. That love is what marked this period of time.

But it wasn't all joy and light. Satan can't stand to see God move and people be delivered. It was also a time when many false teaching began and gained ground. Teachings such as evolution and cults such as Mormonism, Jehovah Witnesses, Christian Science, and Spiritualism to name a few.

The struggles begun then continued into the 1900's and the church age we are now in - the Laodicean church age.  As time has gone by modernism and the world have seeped so into the churches of today that it renders many of them nothing more than disgustingly  lukewarm. Being "spiritual" today is a fine accepted thing, just as long as you don't really stand for anything and you accept every belief no matter how false or ungodly. 2 Timothy 3:5  truly describes way too many of today's churches - Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof!

There have been many men and woman who have loved and served the Lord in these centuries, but the farther we get into this age the more it becomes true as in the day of the judges - every man does that which is right in his own eyes.

The good news is we are truly in the last of the last days. Soon (very soon I believe) the Lord Jesus will be returning. We will look at that more in the next post.

Hopefully this has given you a small idea of how the letters to churches correspond to the church ages. One other thing to note - all 7 type churches have existed concurrently in each period of church history, but only one characteristic is dominant in each period. So although we are in the Laodicean church age where lukewarmness is a very dominate characteristic - you do not have to be part of a laodocian church. Make sure the church you are in is a good Bible believing church that preaches the truth of God's Word - that it is standing for what God says and preaching against sin. You can have a Philadelphian church even in this Laodicean church age.

Before we go on to chapter three let me first finish talking about the church of Thyatira. This was as we said the time of the Dark Ages. When the truth is kept from men it allows evil to grow. The Scriptures were not in the language of the common man and so they could not check what they were told. That is why it is so important today for us to read and know our Bibles. Check what your preacher/priest/teacher tells you and see if it agrees with the Word of God - if it doesn't  - it is wrong!

Those who were in power during the Thyatira church age brought in superstition and idolatry. People knelt and prayed before images of the apostles, the virgin Mary, and other saints. The reverence for and worship of religious relics became commonplace. This church age saw the rise in the papacy and the doctrines of man. It saw the certain practices that the Lord and the true apostles NEVER taught become dogma in the Roman Catholic church such as :

Prayers for the dead -AD 330; Worship of Mary and use of the title "Mother of God" - AD431; Kissing of the pope's feet - AD709 (btw if you want to read about it from the Catholic site - click here and go down to kissing of the feet heading but keep in mind that Peter certainly didn't believe in - see Acts 10:25-26); Adoration of saints -AD788; articular confession of sins to a priest -AD 1215. I could go on but you get the idea. If you want to know more I can give you a web page that lists many of them.

It was also a time that many of the popes, men who were supposed to be religious leaders, were wicked. Almost 200 popes spanned the  centuries from 500AD to 1500AD; some of whom were notoriously corrupt, greedy, and violent.  Among some of the worse were: Sergius the 3rd (904-911) who was supposed to have had a mistress and lived in a palace that was a den of robbers; John XII who used his palace as a place of prostitution and was killed in the act of adultery by a jealous husband.

Even knowing such men were in the history of the papacy Boniface III (1294-1303) proclaimed "Therefore we declare, state, define, and pronounce that for every creature to be subject to the Roman pope is altogether necessary for salvation" When you consider these among other things it makes you wonder how in the world the infallibility of the pope was made official in 1870AD. You certainly will not find any of this authorized by the Word of God! Salvation is through the Lord Jesus Christ and none other - whether it be church, preacher, priest, pope, mary, mohammhed, who or whatever. Salvation is through faith in Christ and His finished work on our behalf.

I am not saying all the popes were wicked men. Some may honestly have wanted to serve God, but you don't serve God by putting out false doctrine.

Thankfully there were then, as there is in all of history, some who remained faithful to the truth of God's word. These Bible believing groups were severely persecuted by the worldly, pagan, Roman church, but they left a trail of blood which can be followed throughout church History. Some of the ones who stood for the Lord during this time were the Waldensians, John Wycliffe who began the first translation of the Scriptures into English. and therefore England became the first nation in which an entire people could know what the Bible taught. There was John Huss who in contrast to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, taught not every priest is a saint, but every saint is a priest. This goes along with the New Testament doctrine of the priesthood of the believer (1 Peter2). Needless to say this didn't go over well and he was eventually burned at the stake. And of course at the end of this age we have Martin Luther who stood up against many of the false teachings of the Roman Catholic church.

That brings us to the Sardis Church age. Europe would be set on fire with the light of the gospel, dispelling the Dark Ages and ushering in a new era for Christianity and the world.

I didn't intend for the writing on the thyatira church age to be so long but I guess it makes sense since it is the longest of the ages. Tomorrow we will look at the last three church ages.

Re 2:1 ¶ Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
 8 ¶ And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
 12 ¶ And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
 13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
 14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
 17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
 18 ¶ And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
 24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
 25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
 26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
 27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
 28 And I will give him the morning star.
 29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (KJV)

Some of what I am going to say is my comments and some is gleaned from Book of the Revelation, Church History. Rev 1:20 speaks of the mystery of the seven lampstands. The lampstands as we know represent  the seven churches, but what is the mystery? The key to that is to put the events of church history alongside the seven church letters and observe how they parallel a prophetic history of the church. For each church there is a dominant description that fits that church of that time, but also fits a time period in church history. The church's name reveals the character or conduct which provides identification for the coresponding period of church history.

We will look at the first four churches in this post and the next three in the next post on chapter 3.

First we see Ephesus -  which means "desirable" The church at Ephesus corresponds with the Apostolic church period from about 30AD to 100AD. It was a time when the church was closest to the Lord. The apostles were alive and ministering in the church and we see the works they did. The gospel was being spread. The young church loved the Lord and each other and it showed. Unfortunately though as time passed the church moved away from their first love. They were still trying to do what was right, but not with the love and fervour they had at the beginning.

We must be careful of that in our Christian life. When we are first saved, we are so thankful to the Lord and so much in love with Him. As time goes by though it is too easy to get in a rut, so to speak, and rather than serving Him out of love and devotion, we begin to to serve Him out of habit in our own power. We must have the power of God in our life if anything is going to be accomplished. He saves us, He keeps us and any good done by us - will be done through Him and His power. We must be careful to stay true to our first LOVE!

The next church period is from about 100AD to 300AD. It is represented by the church at Smyrna. The name Smyrna relates to myrrh, which had to be crushed in order to give off its sweet fragrance. The church at Smyrna faced persecuation as did the early church in this time period. Persecuation existed during the Ephesus church age, but it worsened in this time period.  To this church it was told in verse 10, "Ye shall have tribulation ten days" The early church in these years experienced 10 periods of intense persecution. Although it was a hard time for the church - It weeded out many of those who were only playing at church, or half hearted and was a time of growth and spreading of the faith as those persecuted sought places of refuge.

The next time period from 300AD to 500AD is represented by the church at Pergamos. The root of the word Pergamos means married and unfortunatley during this time the "church" and world were married. Now understand there were ones who stayed faithful and did not fall in to the false doctrines we are about to discuss - they were the true church of the Lord - they were saved, born again, blood washed. But in this time period was the actual beginning of the power of the Roman Catholic church.  The RCC claims to be the church that Christ founded and to go back to Peter. But Peter NEVER taught what it teaches. They claim that there were popes such as Clement who was in AD70's  and there were indeed false teachers even back in the Ephesus church such as those who adhered to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Nicolaitan is a combination of two Greek words - niko, which means to conquer or overthrow and laos which means the people or the laity. They advocated an unwarranted exaltation of the clergy over the laity. (It seems to me to be a pretty good description of the way the Roman Catholic church runs itself) We know Clement was not "Roman Catholic" because it didn't exist. Whether he was part of those who adhered to false teaching I don't know, perhaps like Peter they just falsely claim him to give themselves credibility or perhaps he was indeed among those who adhered to the false doctrine rebuked at that time. We do know from the word of God that the teaching of the Nicolaitans was wrong and we know also from Scripture that putting the traditions of men over what God says is wrong. The Roman Catholic church today is as guilty of that as it was in its beginning.

The way one web page puts it -

We will look at more about the Thyatira church age and how the Roman Catholic church relates to it, as well as at the last three churches in the next post.

Re 1:1 ¶ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
 3 ¶ Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
 4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
 5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
 8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
 9 ¶ I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
 11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.
 14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
 18  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
 20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. (KJV)

Many people find Revelation a difficult book to understand, but I think it is easier than you might think. There is a lot of symbols and pictures in Revelation, but I think much of it can be taken as it is written. It also helps to let the Word of God show you what things mean. For example in verse 16 it says a two edged sword went out of His mouth - what does that mean? When studied out we find that Hebrews 4:12 tells us "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." So we see the twoedged sword is the word of God which makes sense that it went out of His mouth.

Now lets look at something else in this chapter. The Jehovah Witnesses and the Mormons say that Jesus is not God. The Mormons believe He is "a" God but we do not have but ONE God. The Godhead is made up of three persons but is only ONE GOD!  Jesus is not just "a" God, - regardless of what any denomination says Jesus is fully GOD! 

 What does the Bible say?

Look at Isaiah 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. A JW will tell you that is talking about Jehovah God and indeed it is. Again in 48:12  it says "Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last." and again they will tell you it is referring to Jehovah. Now we come to Revelation and we find reference again to "the first and the last" "Alpha and Omega" "the beginning and the ending" in verses 8 &11a 8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." 11 "Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last:"  Then we come to verse 17b-18 and it says, "Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." Once again we see the phrase that has been used in reference to the Lord God Jehovah and it says He lived, died and is alive. When did God die? - a Christian knows it is when the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. Make no mistake Jesus Christ is God!  And note He is ALIVE - not just spiritually but bodily/physically and that FOREVER MORE!

It maybe hard for our human minds to comprehend the Trinity but it is a truth of the Bible. 1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Jude 1:1 ¶ Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
 2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
 3 ¶ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
 5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
 6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
 8 ¶ Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
 9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
 10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
 13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
 14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
 15 ¶ To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.(KJV)

Is there going to be a second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? The answer is YES. We see in verse 14 that even before the flood God had ones prophesying of it.

Is it soon? Again, YES! - read vs 18b, "there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts." and  then read, 2Timothy 3:1  "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away."

Those verse are a very accurate picture of today.  Some will try and say that there have been times before that were the same and Jesus didn't come back but we have another "sign" if you will that they didn't have. In Matthew 24, the Lord was talking about the end times. In this chapter He says,  Mt 24:32  "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
 33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
 36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
 40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."

The fig tree is used as a type of Israel. Unlike any other time in history, Israel has become a nation - the fig tree bloomed. We know that generation will not pass away before He comes He said.

We also know that this day is like the days of Noah - it is described in Gen. 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Now we have been talking of the 2nd coming when Jesus comes with His saints (all the saved) back to the earth to set up His kingdom. Who are those saints coming with Him? They are the ones who were saved and raptured and have at that time been in Heaven with Him for the 7 years of the tribulation. You see before the 2nd coming, Jesus is coming for His children, all those who have been had their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus and trusted Him as their Saviour. Before the tribulation period comes, they will be taken out of this world and go to the judgement seat of Christ and marriage supper of the Lamb. (see 1 Thes 4:13-18 & 1 Cor. 15:51-57)

You have the choice, you can believe Jesus is coming - first in the Rapture and then the Revelation or you can reject the truth of it. It will be very sad though for those who are left behind when Jesus comes. We are fixing to study what the tribulation will be like in Revelation. The majority of people left will die - only a small remenant will survive till Jesus comes back the 2nd time. How much better to believe God, trust Jesus and be ready when He comes in the Rapture and go to Heaven with Him.

Are you ready?

3Jo 1:1 ¶ The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.
 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
 3 ¶ For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
 5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
 6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
 7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
 9 ¶ I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
 10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
 12 ¶ Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.
 13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:
 14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.(KJV)

One thing is this short chapter that really stands out to me is the importance of our testimony. We see Gaius and Demetrius who have excellent testimonies of being faithful Christians, but also see Diotrephes, whose testimony was as one who was a trouble maker, lifted up with pride and causing problems in the church. Almost 2000 years later their testimonies are still speaking as to who they were and what they did.

What will your testimony say about you? What does it say right now? There is a verse in proverbs that says, "Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right" Proverbs 20:11   What are you known for?  Does your church know you to be a faithful attender, a faithful tither or are you know as only coming and giving haphazardly. Do you have a testimony as a true witness or as a gossip?  Does your family know you to be kind and thoughtful or selfish and hard?

If your life and testimony isn't what you want it to be and sure isn't what the Lord wants it to be  - there is still good news. God can help you change. If you repent and ask His forgiveness - He will forgive and cast your sin away. He will pick you up and help you start again and will help you live so that you can have a testimony that will please Him. Or if you haven't ever been saved, if you will turn from your way and come to Jesus - He will save you and give you a new life worth living.

Live for the Lord and have a faithful testimony!

2Jo 1:1 ¶ The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
 2 For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.
 3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
 4 I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.
 5 ¶ And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
 6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
 7 ¶ For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
 10 ¶ If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
 12 ¶ Having many things to write unto you, I would not write with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to face, that our joy may be full.
 13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.(KJV)

Verse 5 talks about that we should love one another. What does it mean? How do we show love? Can you love someone and not tell them the truth? If a person is on their way to Hell - is it love to not tell them there is a way of escape? If a person is caught in the devil's web of false doctrine and teachings - is it love to act like everything is ok with their church?  That isn't love. Love speaks the truth in love. That is we can be compassionate and still be truthful. It is better a person gets hurt by the truth than destroyed by lies. Too often when we witness we are accused of "hating" this group or that group, but actually it takes love and concern to warn others and tell them the truth.

That we are to warn of false teaching is proven by verses 7-11 where John tells them they are to watch out for it, not to allow those who are that wrong doctrine in their house and not to bid them Godspeed. Many today think all religions need to gather together but truth can not yoke up and walk with lies. It is sin. The Bible tells us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Those who believe true doctrines can not have equal sweet fellowship with those who teach lies. They are going opposite directions.

Now who teaches that Jesus hasn't come in the flesh? I know that both Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons teach that Jesus did not rise with a physical body. They believe in only a spiritual resurrection. That is a lie - it is false doctrine. Jesus arose bodily from the grave 3 days after He was buried. Jesus, himself, said after His resurrection , "Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Luke 24:39

Becareful who you listen to and who you wish God's blessings to.

1Jo 5:1 ¶ Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
 4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
 6 ¶ This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.
 10 ¶ He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
 14 ¶ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
 16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
 17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
 18 ¶ We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
 19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
 20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (KJV)

I love verses 11-13 - it is a promise from God that we can be saved and KNOW it. There are many religions who do not believe that. It is a blessing that if we will believe what God says - we can believe it and KNOW.

The verse I want to publish about more is verse 1. What does it mean to believe that Jesus is the Christ? We had best know since it affects us being born of God. It is more than just believing Jesus lived, died for the world and arose. There are plenty of people who believe the facts, but are not born again. They have never put their full trust in Jesus as their only way of Salvation. It is Jesus ONLY not Jesus plus baptism or Jesus plus church or Jesus plus works  - Jesus alone bought our salvation and offers it to us as a free gift. You will accept it as such or be lost.

I found what Easton's Bible Dictionary said about the Christ to be a blessing. I will share it now with you -

Christ
 
anointed, the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered "Messiah" (q.v.), the official title of our Lord, occurring five hundred and fourteen times in the New Testament. It denotes that he was anointed or consecrated to his great redemptive work as Prophet, Priest, and King of his people. He is Jesus the Christ (Ac 17:3; 18:5; Mt 22:42), the Anointed One. He is thus spoken of by Isaiah (Isa 61:1), and by Daniel (Da 9:24-26), who styles him "Messiah the Prince."
 
The Messiah is the same person as "the seed of the woman" (Ge 3:15), "the seed of Abraham" (Ge 22:18 ) , the "Prophet like unto Moses" (De 18:15), "the priest after the order of Melchizedek" (Ps 110:4), "the rod out of the stem of Jesse" (Isa 11:1,10), the "Immanuel," the virgin's son (Isa 7:14), "the branch of Jehovah" (Isa 4:2), and "the messenger of the covenant" (Mal 3:1). This is he "of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write." The Old Testament Scripture is full of prophetic declarations regarding the Great Deliverer and the work he was to accomplish. Jesus the Christ is Jesus the Great Deliverer, the Anointed One, the Saviour of men. This name denotes that Jesus was divinely appointed, commissioned, and accredited as the Saviour of men (Heb 5:4; Isa 11:2-4; 49:6; Joh 5:37; Ac 2:22).
 
To believe that "Jesus is the Christ" is to believe that he is the Anointed, the Messiah of the prophets, the Saviour sent of God, that he was, in a word, what he claimed to be. This is to believe the gospel, by the faith of which alone men can be brought unto God. That Jesus is the Christ is the testimony of God, and the faith of this constitutes a Christian (1Co 12:3; 1Jo 5:1).

1Jo 4:1 ¶ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
 4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
 6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
 7 ¶ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
 13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
 14 ¶ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
 17 ¶ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
 19 We love him, because he first loved us.
 20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
 21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. (KJV)

Looking at verses 1-3 we find one way we can identify false prophets. Two religions come to mind immediately when I read those verses. The Jehovah Witnesses and The Mormons both believe Jesus came, but they do not believe He arose bodily, physically from the grave after He died. They believe He only arose with a spirit body. The Bible records Jesus saying in Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. He makes it very clear He is not just a spirit or spirit body - it is actually Him in His own glorified body. The resurrection of the Lord is an important part of our salvation. Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Next we read about love. We read about God's love to us and that we are to love others. Love is an action word. God saw we were in trouble - we were each one a sinner on our way to eternal separation from Him in torments. God took action to make a way for us to escape - Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, took a body and came to die for us to pay our penalty for our sin. He is our sacrafice that satisfies the sin debt that separates us from God. On the 3rd day He arose in victory and the work necessary to save us was FINISHED.

The best way we can love others is by telling them this good news. It is not love to stand by and let someone go to Hell when you know the way to escape.

1Jo 3:1 ¶ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
 4 ¶ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
 10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
 11 ¶ For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
 12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
 14 ¶ We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
 17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
 20 ¶ For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
 22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
 23 ¶ And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
 24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. (KJV)

Verse 9 says, " Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."   So does that mean if a person sins after they are saved that they were never saved or that they lose their salvation? NO! It has been said before and I will say it again - the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible. To help understand these verses lets look at some verses from Romans 7 & 8. 

I think we can agree that Paul was saved and definately living for God, but even Paul knew what it was for the flesh and the spirit to war. He said in Romans 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

You see the moment that we repent of our sin and trust the Lord Jesus Christ alone and His finished work for our salvation, we are born again. Our spirit that was dead in trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1) is quickened - that is - made alive. We are HIS seed and He makes us alive. His seed in us does not sin - that is what it is talking about in 1 John and what Paul is talking about in Roman 7. Our new nature hates sin and will not enjoy living in sin. As God's child if we do not get that sin right, God will chastise us and that is a scary thing and can result in much pain in our lives. It is not okay to live in sin. But when we fall and are sorry for it, we can rest assured that He will forgive us. Paul goes on to say in Romans 8:1, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." 

If you don't know Jesus as your Saviour, come to Him today. Believe Him and trust Him as your Saviour. If you do know Him - rest in Him.