THE ALPHA AND AMEGA END TIMES MESSAGE

 TNDL: "THE ALPHA & OMEGA. THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA IS SENDING A STERN MESSAGE TO THE END TIMES CHURCH OF EPHESUS, BECAUSE HIS MODERN CHURCHES ARE DEPARTING FROM THEIR FIRST LOVE OF CHRIST AND COMPROMISING WITH THE WORLD. THEREFORE, THE LORD YESHUA THE CHRIST, IS SAYING REPENT, AND COME UNTO ME AND GET BACK YOUR FIRST LOVE, OR ELSE I WILL SPIT YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH ONLESS YOU REPENT! READ REVELATION 2."

, according to revelation 2.

WHAT CHRIST SAYS TO THE CHURCHES

Revelation 2-3

Key Verses: 2:4-5a, “Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me.”

Thus far we have studied chapters 1-3 of Revelation, which portrayed the glorified Christ and includes his messages to seven churches. Christ spoke clearly and directly to real churches in real places in real time. These messages also apply to all churches of all time. They are also the basis for understanding and properly interpreting the rest of the book of Revelation.

Until now, we have studied each individual church. Today we want to step back and see Christ and all seven churches as a whole. We will review who Christ is, how Christ sees the church, and what Christ says to his church. How Christians see the church is important. How those outside the church see it is also important. But far more important is how Christ sees his church and what he says to it, because Christ is the founder, head and judge of the church. So, let’s listen to what Christ says to his church.

First, who Christ is. In chapter 1 John saw the vision of the glorified Christ. He appeared so differently than John had seen him before. When Christ was on earth, John was so comfortable with him that he leaned his head on Christ’s bosom. But before the glorified Christ, who was awesome and transcendent, John fell down as though dead. Then Christ commanded him to write down and send to the seven churches what he had seen, what was then, and what would take place later (1:19). In these letters, Christ revealed himself to each church in a unique way. We can see that Christ knew each church well–their struggles, their city and the environment they lived in, and their political and economic situations. Moreover, Christ knew their spiritual condition.

Christ begins each letter: “These are the words of him…” followed by a unique revelation of himself. Who is Christ? To the church in Ephesus, Christ was “…him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands” (2:1b). Christ knew that the influence of the Ephesian church was great; it was the mother church. They were probably concerned about the other churches. But Christ was concerned about them. Christ wanted them to know that he is among the churches, walking with them, nourishing them, protecting and guiding them as the head of the church. All the Ephesian church needed to do was restore their first love for him and trust his guidance.

To the church in Smyrna, Christ was “…him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again” (8b). Christ understood that this church was afflicted, poor and undergoing severe persecution. He wanted them to know that he is the eternal and infinite God, and that he is the living God who has authority to give life. Knowing this Christ strengthened them to persevere through trials and persecution. To the church in Pergamum, Christ was “…him who has the sharp, double-edged sword” (2:12). This sword represents the power of Christ’s word to judge and purify his church. Pergamum was a center for worshiping the emperor, as well as four of the greatest Roman and Greek gods. Satan’s power was very strong in that city. But Christ is more powerful than Satan. Christ’s word, like a sharp, double-edged sword, could judge and destroy idols and false teachings, like those of the Nicolaitans. When they trusted in Christ’s word, they could overcome the power of Satan in their culture.

To the church in Thyatira, Christ was “…the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.” In that church, most people tolerated Jezebel, a false prophet. Outwardly, their activity was amazing; they were doing more than they did at first. But they condoned sexual immorality and idolatry. Christ, who is the Son of God, saw through their activity to the motives of their hearts, and he was about to judge them with his mighty power. Christ sees the motives of our hearts and never condones sin.

To the church in Sardis, Christ was “…him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars” (3:1). The church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive, but Christ said they were dead. Who can help the dead? Let us see. In one hand, Christ holds the seven spirits of God–the Holy Spirit–and in the other hand he holds the seven stars, which are the messengers of the churches. Christ sends the Holy Spirit to inspire and empower his messengers to proclaim the gospel boldly. Through the Spirit-filled words of God, Christ brings the dead church back to life. Only Christ can make the spiritually dead alive. The church in Sardis had to hear Christ’s words and wake up. To the church in Philadelphia, Christ was “…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” (3:7). False Jews were spreading lies that Jesus was not God and not the Christ. Satan could use these lies to plant doubt which undermined the believers’ faith and made them shrink back. Christ identified himself to them as “holy and true,” which means that he is God, and the true Christ, who holds the key of David. Christ can open the door of salvation for people, even the Jews. The unbelieving Jews would come and fall at the believers’ feet.

To the church in Laodicea, Christ was “…the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation” (14). This church was influenced by early Gnostics who taught that Christ is a created being–just one of the great teachers. This view of Christ made them degenerate spiritually until they became lukewarm. But Christ is “the Amen,” the truth of God incarnate. He is trustworthy; his testimony is reliable. He is not a created being, but the Creator God. Knowing Christ truly is the foundation of the church.