REVELATION
On any given weekend, you can see church doors open nationwide with parking lots full of cars, trucks, and SUVs. Some worship houses are small, while others are larger and cater to the masses. Unfortunately, many houses of worship have evolved into mega businesses, social clubs, and places to find the latest entertainment or book deals. What was once considered holy has become so spiritually weakened that one may wonder if they are actually in a church setting. Many churches have become like theatric concert venues with flashing lights, cameras, rock bands, coffee shops, bookstores, and cinema-style seating for enjoyment. While some of these things may not be bad within themselves, there has been an increase in many churches wanting to be seeker-friendly instead of God-ordained, which has caused what should be holy to become secular, defiled, and defamed.
What has happened to the altars, communion tables, or crosses to remind those coming in that they are standing on holy ground? While we do not worship such objects, these things often remind believers and non-believers to have reverence in the Lord’s house. Altars have been replaced with the expansion of decorative stages. Crosses have been replaced with the pastor and his wife’s photos. Bibles have been replaced with theater-type screens and cell phones where some people cannot even find Genesis or Revelation. Reverence for God’s house has often been ignored as people casually walk around to find the ATM on display in the church’s lobby on the way to get a cappuccino latte to enjoy the show.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of pastors, bishops, evangelists, and others within the five-fold ministry offer religious programming on various Christian television stations, cable networks, airwaves, and online platforms. Even though some of these have been beneficial to people who may never step foot inside a house of worship or find themselves unable to attend due to illness, lack of transportation, or some other obstacle, there has been scandal after scandal to discourage many from wanting to have any affiliation with the church. Sadly, many leaders’ desire for popularity, money, titles, and notoriety has outweighed their spiritual responsibility and obligation to the body of Christ, thus resulting in the leader being guilty of spiritual malpractice and neglect. Countless leaders are failing to be a voice crying out into the wilderness to bring the church and the nations to repentance.
There was a time when the church was the force that planted the moral ground for the nation and its leaders to adhere to. People once looked to the church for direction, and the church was very influential in society. Unfortunately, in today’s time, many churches have become like Genetically Modified Crops (GMO) where they look and may even taste like the original but are nothing more than a poisonous imitation of what true Christianity is all about.
What does this really mean? This destructive behavior indicates that the church has become COMPROMISED. That’s right! They are bowing down to the world's demands when, in actuality, the saints of God are to be set apart. There’s an abundance of sin taking place even in the pulpits. Greed, drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, liars, thieves, and more are all part of the roster within the body of Christ. How can we be an example to the world when debauchery is within our ranks? We have church congregants leave out the same way that they went in, adding to the world’s high numbers in the divorce rate, porn addiction, domestic violence, and pedophilia – just to name a few. More sermons are on self-motivation, money, and prosperity than calls to repentance and the importance of salvation and holy living. What is happening in the church? What was taking place during John’s time? What does God have to say to the church of today, and what is the church's role leading up to the return of Christ?
Quick Review from Lesson 1
1. God gave the message to Jesus, and Jesus gave the message to the angel. The angel gave the message to John, and John gave the message to the seven churches.
2. Revelation is the only book of the Bible that has a blessing pronounced over the reader.
3. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End.
4. The seven churches were: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
5. Seven lampstands represent the seven churches.
6. Seven stars represent the seven angels (leaders) of the churches.
7. The Son of man is Jesus.
8. White hair represents the purity of God.
9. Eyes of fire represent the judgment of God.
10. The skin of bronze represents the Offering Jesus became, which was good for the healing of the nation by faith for the forgiveness of sin.
11. Golden sash represents the Holiness of God and Truth.
12. Voice of water represents the constant flow of grace and salvation for all people to receive.
13. The Double-edged sword represents the Word of God.
14. The seven spirits around the throne represent the Holy Spirit with the gifts of rest, wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, and fear (reverence).
The Seven Churches of Asia Minor
God had an important message for the churches during John’s day. Some of it was good, but other points were a warning for corrections to be made. Today's church needs to heed the same warnings God had given for John to write down during his day. The message to the seven churches comprises many faucets found in the modern-day Body of Christ. We must be careful that we are not found wanting and miss out on the Kingdom, for which our Heavenly Father has prepared.
The apostles went throughout the world to spread the message of Jesus Christ and baptized many converts. Those converts told others, and the early church spread rapidly as the Great Commission of the gospel went forth. The church had a long road ahead due to the massive persecution that was taking place. It took the lives of most of the apostles who had dedicated themselves to the service of God. Even though the church faced trying times, God expected His body to be without spots or wrinkles.
The church was to be a beacon of light for those who were surrounded by darkness. However, the devil crept into some of them to have them in a compromised state. God gave a stern warning in the prophetic word that He had handed down to John to have them correct their ways and become the pure body of Christ. Let’s read what God had to say to the churches of the day regarding their positive and negative points to ensure that we follow God’s guidelines in our lives today, for the church is you and me – not the structure.
Key roles of the end time’s church:
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:42-47).
1. The early church devoted themselves to the teaching of the Word. The Bible says: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11). CONT...Next week.
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