Jesus thru the Ages

Mark Finley: What is the closest thing to entrance before one enters your house? It's the door, right? It's the door. Do you hear Jesus appealing to you today? Do you hear Jesus knocking on the door of your heart?
Guest (Male): This is HopeLives365 with Pastor Mark Finley. Today's message: Jesus thru the Ages. Enjoy and remember you can always catch up with past messages and stay up to date with HopeLives365 and Pastor Mark by going to hopelives365.com. And now, Pastor Mark Finley.
Mark Finley: We're studying the book of Revelation together and in the book of Revelation we are reminded that this is a revelation of Jesus Christ. You'll remember Revelation 1:1 says, "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servant things which must shortly come to pass. He sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John." Wherever you go with the book of Revelation, whatever your interpretation of Revelation is, Jesus Christ must be center because this is the revelation of Jesus. We are studying the seven churches of Revelation as recorded in Revelation chapter 2 and Revelation chapter 3. The first of those churches is Ephesus. We've looked at that already in our past programs. The word Ephesus means desirable. The New Testament Christian church started out desirable. It was committed to Christ. It had a pure, true faith. It labored indefatigably but it lost its first love. And as a result of that Jesus said, "Repent, come back to your first love of intimacy with me." Then the second great church period is called Smyrna. That was a period of persecution from about 100 AD to 313 AD. The church at Smyrna faced terrible persecution during that whole era. Roman government required burning incense to the Caesars and the Roman emperors. Christians refused to do that and as a result of that many were martyred and burned at the stake. But Jesus said, "Be faithful unto death and I'll give you the crown of life." Smyrnan Christians were committed to Christ, obedient to Christ, loyal to Christ, and they did not surrender their faith. The next period is Pergamos from about 313 AD to about 538. The word Pergamos means exalted. And we studied the fact that the church at Pergamos united with the state. You see Satan did not accomplish his goal in the Smyrna period by trying to persecute the church. But he did attempt to bring in compromise. Idols entered into the church as pagans became Christians in that 313 to 538 AD period. You remember it was Constantine in 321 AD that passed a decree. He said on the venerable day of the sun let all workshops be closed. So there was an amalgamation of sun worship and idolatry as pagans came into the church as Constantine was baptized with his armies, and the church and state united. Many true Christians again were persecuted. We come now to Revelation chapter 2, looking there at Revelation 2:18, the church of Thyatira. Thyatira, the scripture says, to the angel of the church of Thyatira write. "These things says the son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like brass." This is the Dark Ages period. A period from about 538 AD to 1300 AD. God says, "I've got eyes like the flames of fire. I'm still looking for my people. I'm looking in the Dark Ages for my people. I know your works, your love, your patience, your service. As for your works, I'm looking. But I have something against you. Why? You've allowed that woman Jezebel," the scripture says, "who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and beguile my servants to commit sexual immorality." Now what's sexual immorality in Bible prophecy? When the harlot woman leaves her true husband. And who's her true husband? Jesus Christ. Who's the harlot woman? The false church. Who is Jezebel in this passage? The embodiment of the false church. Jezebel herself calls herself the true prophet, but she's left her true lover. It's the Dark Ages. All kinds of myths and falsehoods are flooding into the church. And he calls her to repent of her sin. He talks about her in verse 22 as being spiritually sick. We go down to verse 24 in Revelation chapter 2. "But to you I say and to the rest of Thyatira as many as do not have this doctrine who have not known the depths of Satan. I call them, hold fast till I come." So here the Bible is appealing in the Dark Ages for a period, a group of people to hold fast till Jesus comes. You know we live in a sex-centered, thrill-jaded, morally-twisted, spiritually-bankrupt world. And Jesus is saying to you and me again today as he said to the church at Thyatira, "Hold fast till I come." To this third church of Thyatira during the Dark Ages, my eyes look through and Jesus says, "I see some who've not fallen. I've seen some who've not compromised truth. I've seen some who stand first and firm for God." And he speaks to them. So we have four periods of church history. Ephesus means desirable. It's the period of the apostles. They're preaching God's word but they leave their first love. If we leave our first love, Jesus calls us back. Then the second period is from about 100 AD to 300 AD, the Smyrna period. In that period the word Smyrna means sweet smelling savor. We see a lot of persecution coming upon the church. God calls his faithful church back to him to know that he is holding them fast during their persecution, to know that he'll never let them go during their persecution. And he calls them to be faithful in that persecution. Then from 300 to 500 AD the church is exalted. Anytime you're exalted and things are going wonderful in your life, watch out. Anytime you're exalted and you get enough money and everything is going great, there's a tendency to drift away from God. There's something about human nature that when we go through trials and difficulties and heartaches in our lives we turn to God more. During the Pergamos period the church was exalted. Compromise came in and there is a call to you and to me to be free from compromise in our lives. Then there's Thyatira. A period of spiritual darkness. But even in this spiritual darkness God looks for those who remain faithful. And God says to those who remain faithful, "Don't give up your faith." And when your life is spiritually dark God looks for those areas where you are still faithful to God and begins working in your life. Now we turn from Revelation chapter 2 to the fifth church in Revelation chapter 3. There are three more churches that come. To the angel of the church of Sardis, these things says he who has seven spirits of God and the seven stars. "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive but you're dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things that are remaining and are ready to die." Remember now, verse 3, how you've received and hold fast and repent. "If you don't watch, I'll come upon you." He says to Sardis, "Be watchful, strengthen the things that remain." The church in the Dark Ages, God says, "I'm going to bring you out and shine the light of truth on you. Be watchful and strengthen the things that are remaining." When your faith is slipping away in your life God says, "Be watchful. Be watchful." What does he mean strengthen the things that remain? There was some truth that remained even in the Dark Ages. And here you have faithful men and women of God during this period of the Dark Ages that are strengthening the things that remain. The Waldenses made obedience to God their motto. John Huss made the word of God the foundation of his life. Martin Luther sensed salvation by grace and grace alone. So you look at these period of the Dark Ages and they're trying to strengthen the faith of believers, that faith that remain, that faith that was being snuffed out. You know I think about that a great deal. Strengthen the things that remain. Let's suppose today that your faith is slipping. What do you do? You strengthen what remains. If you have been reading the Bible occasionally you strengthen what remains, you increase your Bible reading. If you've been praying spasmodically you strengthen what remains. Let's suppose though that you have very difficult time in your marriage and you feel your marriage is falling apart. What do you do? You strengthen the love that remains by revealing that love and acting upon that love and expressing that love. What if for example you have a health challenge? What do you do? You strengthen what remains. You try to get on a better diet, a better exercise program, a better health program. You strengthen what remains. Let's suppose financially you're deeply in debt. What do you do? You strengthen what remains. You determine you're not going to spend a lot more on your credit card. You determine you're going to begin to pay off those debts, particularly the ones that have the largest interest to them. So this strengthen what remains principle is a vital principle in life. Let's suppose you have a conflict with your children and there's little or no communication. What do you do? You strengthen what remains. You try to text them, try to write a letter to them. You try to express your love and concern for them. You remember them on their birthdays and Christmas, on holidays. Wherever you are in your life, strengthen that which remains. That was the message to Sardis. That in the Dark Ages you have a little light, a little truth but strengthen what remains. Then there's Philadelphia. To the church at Philadelphia... Now the word Philadelphia comes from two Greek words: philos and adelphos. Adelphos means brother, philos means love. So Philadelphia means brotherly love. To the church at Philadelphia he says, "To you I've set before an open door." A door of opportunity. When the church was in darkness in the Reformation period and after God opened a door of opportunity. Just think with me for a while. You go through the Dark Ages. About 1200 you get the Waldenses who are copying God's word by hand. About 1300 you get John Huss, that great man of God who said obedience to God is my motto. Johann Gutenberg invents the printing press in 1456. Bibles are being printed. Martin Luther comes along and John Wesley comes along, the great reformers. By 1800s there's a great mission movement that's going around the world. Then God raises up the advent movement, a group of men and women who begin proclaiming the second coming of Christ.
Guest (Male): You're listening to HopeLives365 with Pastor Mark Finley. We'll be right back. And if you like what you're hearing we invite you to check out our website, hopelives365.com. There you can find many ministry resources, encouraging messages, and even a link to our HopeLives365 YouTube ministry. And of course an opportunity to sow into this valuable ministry. Find out more by going to hopelives365.com. That's hopelives365.com. And now back to Pastor Mark Finley.
Mark Finley: God is saying to us this truth can be proclaimed and nobody will be able to stop it. He's saying that there's a door that's opened in heaven. Let me read to you about this church in Philadelphia from scripture, Revelation 3:7. "And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write. These things says he who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens." There is an open door today in heaven's sanctuary. Jesus Christ is our divine mediator and our intercessor. And from that sanctuary the light of God's truth is shining upon the world. God has opened a door and nobody can shut it. Verse 8, "I know your works. See I've set before you an open door, no one can shut it. For you have a little strength and you've kept my word, you've not denied my name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but lie. Indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet and to know that I've loved you. Because you've kept my commandments and to persevere, I will keep you from the hour which will come upon the world to test you and dwell you. Behold I come quickly, hold fast which you have that nobody can take your crown." Here he says, "I've set before you an open door." Throughout scripture in the last days of earth's history God is revealing that there will be an open door for the proclamation of the gospel. Matthew chapter 24 verse 14: "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, then the end will come." There'll be an open door. The gospel's going to go to the ends of the earth. Look for example at Revelation chapter 14. This is exciting, my friend. The gospel will not be blown out like a candle in the wind. Not at all. Revelation 14:6: "I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven." The angel flies in the midst of heaven. There's an urgent message. "I saw another angel flying in the middle of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach to those that dwell on the earth to every nation, kindred, tongue and people." Here is a message that's urgent. Here's a message that is eternal. And here is a message that is universal. It goes to the ends of the earth. Nobody can stop God's message when it goes forth. Revelation chapter 18 says, verse 1, "After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven having great authority or great power. The earth was illuminated with his glory." If you go back to Habakkuk chapter 2 and verse 14 you'll notice that here in Revelation God is quoting, John is quoting in Habakkuk though gives us a little clearer explanation of what indeed is happening here. Habakkuk says, "The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord." I've quoted it, let me read it to you. Habakkuk 2 verse 14: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as waters cover the sea." So what's going to happen in the last days of earth's history? The doors of heaven's sanctuary are open. God is going to pour out his spirit on a praying people. They will take the light of God's truth to the ends of the earth. And the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God and every human being will have an intelligent opportunity to stand for or against Christ. The church of Philadelphia represents the open door of heaven's sanctuary. But then we come to the last of these churches. It's called Laodicea. Now some people say Laodicea means lukewarm. No that's the condition of the church. The word Laodicea does not mean lukewarm, it means a people judged. It's the last church. It is kind of a complacent, secular, materialistic group of people living down at end time. But God's going to do something to shake them up. He's got to do something to shake them up. Could it be that the challenges that we see facing our society are shaking us up now? Let's go to Revelation chapter 3 and look at it verse by verse and try to get the significance of Revelation 3. It says and to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write. Now remember Laodicea means a people judged. This is God's last church, the church of the judgment hour. "These things say the Amen, the faithful and true witness." So there is no church after this Laodicea. Laodicea represents this church at the end time that has been somewhat lukewarm, not a church on fire for Christ. But Jesus says, "This is the end time." He says, "The Amen, the faithful and true witness." What is Jesus the faithful and true witness of? He is the faithful witness of the Father's love. When we look at Jesus we see the grace and goodness of the Father. When Jesus touches the eyes of the blind they're opened. When he touches the ears of the deaf and they're unstopped. When he touches a withered man's arm and it's healed. When he touches a lame leg and that man runs again. What is Jesus saying? That's what God is like. God wants you to be healthy and well. Jesus is the faithful and true witness. When Jesus cast the demons out of the demoniacs what does he say? That's what God is like. That's what God is like, he wants to deliver you from Satan's clutches. When Jesus raises the dead, raises Lazarus, what is he saying? That he is the resurrection and the life and even death cannot hold its victims in Christ. So Jesus is the faithful and true witness of the Father's love and goodness. He's the beginning of the creation of God. Now that confuses some people because they think that Jesus had a beginning because doesn't the Bible say he's the beginning of the creation of God? The Greek word for beginning there is archē and it would be he's the beginner of the creation of God. In other words he is the creator. So it's the all-powerful creator that's talking to the church at Laodicea. So let's go back and look at Colossians chapter 1. Colossians chapter 1 and we will see how scripture describes Jesus as not having a beginning but the beginner. He's the beginner of the creation of God. Now notice Colossians chapter 1, it says verse 16, "For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him." So Jesus is the beginner of the creation of God. Ephesians chapter 3 verse 9 puts it this way: "To make all men see the fellowship of the mystery that from the beginning in God who created all things by Jesus Christ." So Jesus is truly the creator. He is the all-powerful creator. Now if Jesus is the all-powerful creator and he's speaking to complacent Laodicea isn't that good news? Because he can recreate a new heart for Laodicea. He says, "I know your works, Laodicea, that you're neither cold nor hot. I wish you were cold or hot." Could that be Jesus speaking to you? That you're neither cold nor hot but you're kind of lukewarm in your Christian faith. Christ, the faithful and true witness of God's love and grace. Christ, the beginner of the creation of God wants to recreate in you and me a new heart. "So then because you are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot, I'll spew you out of my mouth." In other words he's saying unless there's a dramatic change. The Laodiceans are indifferent. They are apathetic. They're unmoved by spiritual things. But Jesus says, "Because you say I'm rich and become wealthy and have need of nothing," see his pride and arrogance, "you do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked." It's one thing to be poor, blind and naked, but it's another thing not to know it. To be poor: spiritual poverty. To be blind: spiritual ignorance. To be naked: spiritually unclothed with the righteousness of Christ. "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire." Jesus is counseling you and he's counseling me to buy. How do we buy? In Isaiah chapter 55 we're told exactly how we buy and what it means to buy. Isaiah 55 verse 1: "Ho everyone who thirsts come to the waters. You that have no money come buy and eat. Yes come buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread?" How do we buy? The coinage of time. The coinage of time. We buy not with money but we buy by giving our time to Jesus, spending time in Bible study, spending time in prayer. What is this gold tried in the fire? According to Peter it's faith that works by love. Jesus has come. "Spend time with me in my word and your faith will grow, your love for me will grow. That you may be rich and white garments that you may be clothed." What are the white garments? The white garments are the white robe of Christ's righteousness. So Jesus says, "Come to me. Your faith will grow. Your love for me will grow." And he says, "I will clothe you with my righteousness so you don't have to stand naked before me. And that you may be clothed that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed. And anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see." What is this eye salve? It's the divine anointing of the Holy Spirit so we can see Jesus clearly. Now what are the three things? Gold tried in the fire, white raiment, and eye salve. Laodicea, the ancient city of Laodicea was very, very wealthy. It was on a trade route from the East. And as a result of that it was wealthy. In fact when an earthquake destroyed Laodicea the Romans wanted to rebuild it. And the Laodiceans said, "Nothing doing. We don't need your money. We've got our own money." They were rich, need of nothing. And they also had a medical school at Laodicea where they produced eye salve. So to Laodicea Jesus says, "You need the true gold. The true wealth. The wealth of faith. The wealth of love. You need the true covering of Jesus' righteousness. Come to Jesus and let him clothe you with his righteousness. Not by works that we have done but by the righteousness of Christ. And come let your eyes be opened."
Guest (Male): You've been listening to HopeLives365 with Pastor Mark Finley. We hope you've enjoyed today's message and remind you that you can find more in our many ministry resources at hopelives365.com. And you can support this ministry by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now a final thought from Pastor Mark Finley.
Mark Finley: Jesus says, "I want fellowship with you. I want fellowship with you. And one day I want you to sit on my throne with me." Friend of mine, you have royal blood running through your veins. You've been created by Christ, you've been redeemed by Christ, you are being sustained by Christ. Christ will come again to take you home. That one day you can sit on his throne with him. And one day you can reign with him through eternity. Never throw away your heritage. He's reaching out to you today, knocking on the door of your heart. Let's pray. Father in heaven, we thank you so much for the messages of the book of Revelation that are so Christ-centered. And we pray that as Jesus knocks on the door of our heart, we would respond. Help nothing stand between us and Jesus. In Christ's name, amen.