Happy New Year 2012

Dear F.R.I.E.N.D.s,

Thank you for your continuous prayers, love and concern for us. Life in general is becoming very fast and stressful. But friends like you and your prayers and love keep us going. Looking back past one year there are so many things to thank God for what He has done in and through us.

I started the year with a prayer to eat the scroll (Eze 3:1,3; Rev 10:9) i.e. to feed myself with the words of God, especially to grasp eschatology (study of the end times). I confess that God blessed my hunger and opened the store house of heaven and downloaded so much. I can say that the Holy Spirit has anointed the subject of end-time for such a time like this. I was ooohed and wowwwed so many times as I began to see Bible passages in new light illuminating truths that were hidden to me earlier. If God allows me in 2012, I want to gather my thoughts and put into writing some of what God gave to us in a book form for a larger audience.

At the beginning of 2011, I left the ministry with which I was associated for last 12 years due to conflicts with the leadership. But in the process God sanctified me and sharpened my message with the calling to be a forerunner of His return. I was troubled by the leaders who tried to persuade me to return to the ministry, but I could not see them doing so because of their love for me or even more importantly for love for the Lord, rather it was out of desperation to save the organization’s and the leaders’ reputation, motivated by love for the self which was the primary concern for my leaving. I still love and pray for the people there. I am thankful for blog like ubfriends and people who have decided to continue in that ministry but with their renewed mind and spirit. Some of their thoughts and writings in fact edified me in last year and I am thankful to God for such people there.

After discovering my own specific calling of an end-time forerunner, by God’s grace our community was also able to serve two pastors' conferences in Orissa where I was one of the speaker. The first one was attended by 300+ pastors, evangelists and fellowship leaders. It was our first conference outside of my previous ministry association. However God blessed it and blessed the words we preached. It was such a blessing to worship God with spiritually hungry worshippers in Orissa. God provided all the needs for this conference, almost miraculously. The joy of the success of this conference was however soon replaced by conflict with the family of a coworker with whom we had started the community. The conflict was over leadership issue again related to a third person who seemed to have got "marginalized" due to my "dominance" at the Orissa conference. Fact is, some of us could not accept absolute control of the spiritually-gifted third person who lacks basic spiritual fruit and the result was another painful separation with the coworker's family and as well as with that person. As some well wisher said it was a failure on my part to establish a community, I accept the failure and take the responsibility. Sometimes I thank God for the early separation as longer the association, more hurting the separation becomes. I also comforted myself telling that my life goal is not to establish an organization but to prepare the way. Many with whom I identify my forerunner calling actually suffered from loneliness and isolation. But I have been blessed to have wonderful friends and coworkers like Sarah G, the Bhatras (Robert and Happy), the Mullicks (Tapan and Jharana), Ravi, the Changs (Tiger and Rebekah), the Naiks (Firoj and Sama), Satish and many prayer supporters and friends within the country and few around the globe. We entered into a much deeper relationship with S. Robert's parents and with P. Khora of the Prayer Tower ministry. Especially, S. Robert's mummy is such a humble and prayerful person to know closely. She was happy to have Sarah N. as her spiritual daughter and with tears told me how she had misunderstood me earlier on some important issue. God also connected us to friends like Mr Bhatia & P. John, P. Kataria (UP), P. Lee (JNU), P. Micah (Assam) and few others.

God blessed our study of the Seven Churches of Revelation. By the end of this study, while I was preparing to visit Orissa for my niece's wedding, I was invited for another conference by P. Firoj. Due to lack of time we had only one day bible study seminar which was blessed by God. It is quite easy to gather a large crowd, and even serve them, but I insisted to have a small group of only those who are serious to study the Bible. We had a selected group of about 20 with whom we have developed relationship in the past year and the meeting was spiritually blessed and mutually encouraging. Thanks to my friend P. Firoj who has a heart for many young pastors there and keeps praying for opportunities like this seminar to help them.

At my workplace at IILM, Greater Noida, I completed two year and got recognized as a good teacher and a responsible faculty to be entrusted with the post of Head, Admission Cell and also HOD of the Computer Science Department. Sometimes my responsibility as a new HOD is overwhelming and I get exhausted but I am learning to depend on God and He keeps me going.

Thank God for helping S Robert finish his research field work. Apart from a hunger for intimacy with the Spirit, He also is a wonderful messenger and I love the way he articulates his messages. S. Happy experienced God’s help to finish well her present job through faith on God’s guidance for the future. God blessed the Bhatras’ prayers and Liz began her education in a good school. Sarah G rediscovered her life’s calling to be a Jhansi Ki Rani with the message of the gospel on the streets of Delhi. Once she got beaten and her pictures appeared in a national newspaper. But those were the days I saw her most happy. She became stronger in her inner person in the past year. In the face of mistreatments and rejection from loved ones she did not fight back humanly but struggled with God and overcame with patience and love in her soul. She stayed with my family nearly a year now is a miracle for her as well as for my family. But truly she is a blessing and made a deeper bonding with my family as my sister. Ravi has a quiet spirit with a heart to worship God and to serve his friends in JNU. Other than being a good researcher his dholak makes up our worship environment.

By God’s wonderful grace Sarah N and me completed seven happy and blessed years of our marriage. In past two years, Sarah N rediscovered her passion to read spiritual material through books and the Internet. She has been blessed by God with a gift of broken heartedness over many things that God wants her to pray. She loves offering her morning time to study and to pray and has been realizing her mission to pray for the work of God. She also learned faith through her health and our family’s financial needs. Due to my back and forth job switching between academics and ministry, we could not own a car in last seven years of our marriage. But by God’s grace we are going to have a Santro this year end. Isaac will join the senior school from the coming semester. Three years back when we admitted him to St Marys, we just thought about finding a Christian school no matter the standard etc. But we are happy to find this school as one of the best ten among the highly competitive and well established schools in south-west Delhi ranked by an agency. Paul is making significant progress in his speech related issues. I am also thankful for Anju who is the best babysitter we have had so far. I pray for Tapan to establish a gospel-band and be established by God as a trainer and raise up many musicians to change spiritual atmosphere of our cities and villages and to prepare way for our Lord’s return. I thank God when I see a shift in Tapan's focus from money and glamour of a professional musician to offering his music to the Lord with a desire to prepare upcoming musicians. The Lord is also helping him to be song writer and vocalist.

I am very excited about what is in store for us in 2012. One thing is sure, as we get closer to the end of the age, darkness will become darker, but light also will shine brighter (Isa 60:1-2). It is not surprising anymore that the secular world and even hindu religious groups in this country are now talking about the change of the age. I have started seeing more and more hindu groups announcing end of the present age (Kali yug) and beginning of the new age (Satya yug) with a concerted effort in their own way through fliers and posters on public transport like train and rickshaw. What really surprises me is the complete disconnectedness of Christian ministries and Christian leaders. Anyway, this only makes me more resolved to prepare the way of the Lord’s return, beginning with believers who are willing to listen what the Bible has to say and see for themselves the signs of the Lord’s return.

As we seek to announce the Lord's return and prepare His bride, may the Spirit and the Bride cry in unison, “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:17). Amen! I wish you and your family a Happy New Year 2012!

Merry Christmas!

FIRST CHRISTMAS OF THE FORERUNNERS!

Christmas Eve - Forerunner style!

Review Lecture on the Seven Churches of Revelation

THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF REVELATION: A PROPHETIC PICTURE OF THE END-TIME CHURCH IN THE FINAL SEVEN-YEAR PERIOD OF THIS PRESENT AGE?

Introduction: We have just finished the study of the Seven Churches of Revelation in about ten weeks. When we started this study, I had two BIG questions in my mind. First, “Why is the letters to the Seven Churches part of the Book of Revelation?” Meaning, Revelation is a end-time book, where as the seven letters were written to seven Churches of that time. The letters could have been one of the epistles or seven epistles in the New Testament. The seven Churches are:  Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. Second, “Why only these seven churches?” Meaning, there were many other churches in the province of Asia at the time John wrote these letters. On a side note, the order in which the seven churches are introduced (Rev 1:11) and the sequencing in which the letters are arranged is exactly same. Any significance in the order?

The answer we discovered (at least I think so) as we finished this study is this: The letters to the Seven Churches of Revelation form a prophetic picture of the church in general during the final seven-year period of this present age, just before the Second Coming of Jesus and the beginning of the Millennial kingdom. The Seven Churches, with their unique situations introduce us to the various problems and triumphs to be experienced by the end-time church. Further, the seven churches with their unique sequencing, introduce us to various actors of the end-time events and the order of their occurrence.

Background: We need to have the following in our mind for this study:

1)    The Final Seven-Year Period: There is a final seven-year period of this present age about which Daniel the prophet spoke about. In Daniel’s prophecy about the Seventy “Seven” (Da 9:24), referring to a period of 490 years, Daniel divided the whole period into three groups. The first group is seven “sevens” (Da 9:25), meaning 49 years, referring to the time period between Daniel’s vision and restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem. The second grouping is sixty-two “sevens”, meaning 434 years, referring to the time interval between restoration of Jerusalem and the Messiah’s death on the cross (Da 9:26). After that there is a gap of an unknown number of years in which we are living now for the last two thousand years. But Daniel tells that after this unknown gap period, there will be a final one “seven” (Da 9:27), meaning a significant final seven-year period before the end of this age.

2)    Preparation of the Servants of Jesus: The seven churches of Revelation were real churches of their time. Their situations and problems described in the letters are real. However, the situations and problems described for the churches are going to be the situations and problems of the world-wide church during the final seven year period. The Book of Revelation is written for the bond-servants of Jesus (Rev 1:1), for those in the Church to be prepared for the unique dynamics during the end of the age. As such, the Book of Revelation, will be fulfilled in a world-wide scale through the end-time church, the Church that goes through the final seven year period of this present age.

3)    Pattern is Prophecy: Most of us think that prophecy means utterance of the future event by a prophet. But to the Hebrews, prophecy also means pattern. Meaning, an event that happened in the past is more likely to happen in future. In this case the situations and problems of the Seven Churches are likely to re-occur but in a world-wide universal scale to the church in general. Pattern here refers to patterns of events as well as patterns of words or language the Holy Spirit uses to describe events.

    Now let's look at the problems, situation, solutions, promises and their present as well future (end-time) fullfillments for each of the churches.

I. Ephesus (The Rise of the Antichrist; Time of false peace and safety; Deception; Falling away)

    In Jesus’ evaluation the church in Ephesus was excellent in service (to people), commitment (to cause or organization), purity (moral), discernment (based on understanding and exposition of bible) (Rev 2:2,3,6). However, she was charged for forsaking the first love (Rev 2:4,5). This was such a serious charge, that if she did not repent, she would be removed and would cease to exist as a church (Rev 2:5). As the prescribed solution for this problem, Jesus admonished her to do the first things (Rev 2:5 KJV). Here “first thing” does not mean more activities but the first in priority. What is the first thing we as Christians should do? What is the first and the greatest commandment? Jesus said that the first and the greatest command is to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Mt 22:36-38; Mk 12:29-30). To Ephesus, which meant desirable and its title during the Roman rule was “first and greatest metropolis of Asia” [Source: Easton Bible Dictionary], Jesus admonished to restore the first and the greatest commandment. Without loving Jesus as our first thing in life, we can live a religious life, as the church in Ephesus was doing. It is possible to work hard for mission, be busy with many programs and activities, study bible a lot and have sound knowledge of the Scriptures and purity of doctrines, live a morally upright life, yet do all this without loving Jesus enough. Jesus who introduced himself as the owner of this church threatened to remove this church (Rev 1:20;2:1,5).

    It does not matter whether Apostle Paul was the founder of this church! She would be removed by Jesus because she lacked love for Him.  Why is it such a serious matter? It is so because, when we do not love Jesus enough, our hearts do not remain empty. We knowingly or unknowingly love something or someone. The matter is serious when we consider the warning of deception and self love prophesied by Daniel (Da 8:23,25; 11:21,23), Paul (2Ti 3:1-5; 4:3,4), and Jesus himself (Mt 24:4, 11-13, 23-25) about the end time. All of them talked about a period of false peace and security just before the end of the age. This refers to the first three and half year period of the last seven years of this present age. This is the time period when the Antichrist rises as a world leader with great wisdom and able to solve world’s most difficult and long standing problems, such as: terrorism, food security, ethnic conflicts, and religious animosity, etc. This prophecy finds it’s fulfillment when Jesus opens the first of the seven seals (Rev 6:1-2).

   REV 6:1 I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals…[2] I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.

    DA 8:23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue [attractive personality, greatly gifted person], will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power….25 He will cause deceit to prosper, …

   DA 11:21 “He will be succeeded by a contemptible person who has not been given the honor of royalty. He will invade the kingdom when its people feel secure, and he will seize it through intrigue… 23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power.

   MT 24:4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.

   MT 24:11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

   MT 24:23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand..

   2TI 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

    The problem is that as the love for Jesus grows cold in many Christians’ hearts and get replaced by love for self, money and pleasures, Antichrist will find it easy to deceive them with his charming personality, leadership qualities, and unmatchable human wisdom. The world will experience a period of false peace and safety under the leadership of the Antichrist and he will succeed in deceiving many of the elect who are not sincere in loving Jesus (Rev 6:2).

    Repentance of the love for self  and a new resolve to love Jesus (Mt 16:24-27) is the only way for continuity as a Christian and as a church/ministry. Otherwise, Jesus says he would remove the lampstand, meaning loss of salvation as an individual and absence of impact on the world as a church or ministry. Many will join and follow the Antichrist because he will greatly honor those who acknowldge him by distributing his plunders with them (Da 11:24) and he will also make them rulers over many people and will make them owners of the land (Da 11:39). They will look like those who gained the whole world, but they will lose their life (Mt 16:26). On the contrary, Jesus encourages us through truthful eternal promises to love him by telling us about a place in the paradise and the right to eat from the tree of life (Rev 2:7). In the age to come, believers will not need the tree of life to remain alive, but to have unique spiritual experiences. The leaf of the tree of life are described as having effect to heal the nations. Whatever that may mean, the promise is only for the overcomer. With the hope of living in paradise, we must give up self-loving and love for pleasure.and instead love Jesus in this life as the first thing! This answers one of the greatest questions we can ask about the end-time. How can we be saved from the deception? The answer is to love Jesus as first thing. When we love Him as first thing, we will not be deceived, no matter how charming, powerful and attractive is the Antichrist during the first three and half period of his career

    Mt 16:24-27 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [25] For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. [26] What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? [27] For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
   
    Jude 1:24-25 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-- [25] to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

II. Smyrna (The Reign of the Antichrist as the man of lawlessness; Intense persecution against the saints)

    Jesus directly refers to the persecutions, prison and death the Church of Smyrna was about to suffer as the schemes of the devil to test the church. This prophecy will find ultimate fulfillment when the Antichrist will persecute the Christians who refuse to worship him and will put them into prison and death (Rev 13:7,10). This is the beginning of the great tribulation.

    Rev 13:7 He was given power to make war against the saints and to conquer them. And he was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. [8] All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast … 10 If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.

    After the three and half period of false peace and security, the Antichrist violates his own covenant of peace in the middle of the seven years, takes off his mask and reveals himself as a beast, a cruel and most oppressive dictator the world has ever seen (Da 8:23-25; 11:21-). He would be acting as the Serpent’s seed to fight against the Messiah the woman’s seed (Ge 3:15) in the final battle between good and evil. Many Christian who refuse to worship the Antichrist will be put in prison and even killed. But the ultimate victory will be of the saints.

    DA 8:23 "In the latter part … a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. [24] He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people. [25] He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power..

    DA 11:23 After coming to an agreement with him, he will act deceitfully, and with only a few people he will rise to power. 24 When the richest provinces feel secure, he will invade them… He will distribute plunder, loot and wealth among his followers. He will plot the overthrow of fortresses—but only for a time.

    DA 11:36 “The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god and will say unheard-of things against the God of gods. He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed, for what has been determined must take place…. 37 He will show no regard for the gods of his ancestors or for the one desired by women, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all. 38 Instead of them, he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his ancestors he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts. 39 He will attack the mightiest fortresses with the help of a foreign god and will greatly honor those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers over many people and will distribute the land at a price.[d]

    2TH 2:3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

    Jesus calls for patient endurance to the church and faithfulness to the point of death (Rev 2:10; 13:10). This is a time of intense pressure to acknowledge and worship the Antichrist or suffer persecution, even death. Many who love their life will give up their faith and join with Antichrist and worship him (Da 11:30,32,34). But their end will be destruction and eternal condemnation (suffering second death) though they might have had been born again and had faith in Jesus for a time (Rev 21:8). On the contrary to those who love Jesus and refuse to worship Antichrist at the cost of their life will be rewarded by Jesus. Jesus who is the First and the Last, who died and rose again will resurrect them will give them position of authority in his kingdom (Rev 20:4,6)

    REV 20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. … This is the first resurrection… The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

III. Pergamum (Rise of the False Prophet; Deceiving the elect through signs and wonders; Mark of the Beast)

IV Thyatira (Jezebel, Rise of Harlot Babylon—the One World religion, Astounding Parallels between Jezebel & Harlot Babylon, Ahab & Antichrist, Elijah [+ Moses] & the Two Witnesses)

V. Sardis (The Rapture of the Saints and the prepared Bride  enters the Wedding of the Lamb)

    The charge that Jesus brings against the church in Sardis is the ignorance of her own reality. The church was living in false pride. She thought she was alive and ready, but in reality she was dead and not ready to meet the unexpected (Rev 3:1-2). The “unexpected” is the Second Coming of Jesus, for Jesus’ return will be like that of a thief—resulting in loss that could have been avoided through preparation. Jesus (Mt 24:42-44) and Paul (1Th 5:2-4) make it very clear that Jesus’ second coming will be like a thief only to those who are not prepared. It is not meant to be and not supposed to be like a thief for those who are prepared. We will suffer loss if we do not watch the house, but if we prepare and remain watchful it will not suffer loss! That’s the point.

    Mt 24:42“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

    1Th 5:2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. [3] While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

    Rev 3:4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. [5] He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. [6] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

    To those who remain watchful and prepare—which means to be alert and self controlled, putting faith and love as breastplate, and the hope of salvation as helmet (1Th 5:6,8), which also means keeping our clothes on or not indulging in spiritual adultery with false god(s) (Rev 16:15)—Jesus calls them as those who did not corrupt their garments with sin (Rev 3:4). He calls them worthy to enter the Wedding of the Lamb as His prepared Bride (Rev 19:7), like the five wise virgins who entered the Wedding (Mt 25:10; Rev 3:5). Jesus will also present these overcomer to the Father as a reward for the Father’s long suffering in bringing His sons and daughters back to Himslef and the Son’s laying down His life for them on the painful and shameful cross. This will be a day of great rejoicing and celebration of the victory! But the names of those who do not overcome will be blotted out from the book of life (Rev 3:5)though they too had a new-birth experience and lived like Christians, but instead of being prepared to be the worthy Bride of Christ, continued to enjoy sin (spiritual adultery) and back-slided with a false hope of entering heaven anyway! Like the five foolish virgins who were told by Jesus, “I do not know you!” (Mt 25:12) they will be disowned by Jesus to their own surprise and shame (Rev 3:5).

     REV 16:15 "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."

     Rev 19:7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)

     How can we be watchful and ready? Self controlled and living with faith and love and hope of salvation at this critical hour? We need the Holy Spirit who is here to prepare the Bride for the Bridegroom. The five virgins prepared Oil—which symbolizes a Spirit filled life.The Holy Spirit is the source of faith and love and hope, especially at a critical time like this!

VI. Philadelphia (Beginning of the Millennial Kingdom; the Judgment seat of Christ; Mobilization of the saints for their new assignments)

VII. Laodicea (Final dealings with complacency and rebellion)

    The complete set of notes will be freely made available, but only on request. To make your request, use the comment section below, or email to: gnial2001@gmail.com

Letter to the Church in Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13)

[7] "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of 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. [8] I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. [9] I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. [10] Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

    [11] I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. [12] Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. [13] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Philadelphia: means “brotherly love” and commemorates the loyalty and devotion of Attalus (220-130BC), the city’s co-founder, to his brother Eumenes II.

He (Jesus) who is holy (Rev 3:7): Jesus is infinitely superior to any other created being (Isa 40:25). As God he surely is holy, but most importantly, he is holy as a human. Why does emphasize his holiness to this church? In the end time drama, the prophet Habakkuk sees the Holy One (Jesus) marching from Teman to Jerusalem. Jesus will march in zeal and punish the wicked nations on his way to rescue his people (the Jews?), who would be taken captive by the Antichrist’s army (Hab 3:3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,12,13). The Holy One of God is a reference to Jesus’ authority to judge and destroy all that is wicked and evil. Fallen spiritual beings (demons and evil spirits) know this well (Mk 1:24).

He (Jesus) who is true (Rev 3:7): Jesus makes several promises to this Church. Some promises are too fantastic to believe. But Jesus is true. He does not make any false claim or give any false promises.

Jesus holds the key of David (Rev 3:7): This refers to Jesus’ authority over the Messianic Kingdom or the kingdom of heaven. He is the One who sits on David’s throne for ever and ever.

Jesus opens doors that no one can shut: The door of opportunity, the open door for evangelism, also the door to the kingdom (Rev 4:1).

Jesus shuts doors that no one can open: Satan and our enemies also open doors into our lives. The door of trials, persecution, sickness, temptation. Good news is that Jesus has the power and the will to shut these doors.

You have kept my word and not denied my name: Faithfulness to their witnessing. Especially faithfulness when they had little strength. In the absence of their own strength, they received and experienced God’s strength to do God’s work (Ambassadorship: representing and witnessing Jesus’ name).

Synagogue of Satan: unbelieving and hostile Jews (Jn 8:44; 2Co 11:14-15)

The Jews will come and fall down at the feet of Gentile believers; will acknowledge that Jesus has loved them:

Letter to the Church in Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)

⁽¹⁾ “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. ⁽²⁾ Wake up [watch]! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete [finished, perfected, perfect] in the sight of my God. ⁽³⁾ Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up [watch], I will come like a thief [suddenly], and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

⁽⁴⁾ Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes [defile their garments, dirtied your clothes with sin]. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. ⁽⁵⁾ He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out [erase] his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. ⁽⁶⁾ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Rev 3:1-6 is one of the most difficult and disturbing passage to meditate, as it challenges some of our presuppositions and in the light of Jesus’ words in this passage, pushes us beyond limit to answer some tough questions, such as:

1.     Can we spiritually die after spiritually being “born again”?

2.     Once saved, always saved! Is this true? Meaning, can we loose our salvation?

3.     Can a Christian’s name be removed from the book of life, after it is written?

I believe that letting Jesus’ words challenge our presuppositions, and let him push us beyond the limits of our denominational doctrines is the only safe place as far as eternity is concerned. Pure "spiritual milk” is good, but milk is meant for infants. It is now time to bite some "spiritual meat” if we should grow up in our spiritual life. With this in mind, let’s just jump into the passage!

Sardis:  The relevance of the place is not so much from the meaning of Sardis, but from its historic background. The city boasted of its geographic advantage as a fortified city. However, twice in the history the city was captured at night while watchmen failed to see the coming disaster or neglected their duty. In 547BC it was captured by Cyrus and again in 214BC by Antiochus III. This is an appropriate description of the condition of this church: The church was sleeping thinking that she is safe, whereas sudden destructions are coming for which she is completely unprepared!

Jesus holds the seven spirits of God: Jesus introduces himself to the Church in Sardis as the one who holds the seven spirits of God. The word "seven" in Revelation refers to perfectness or complete. The seven spirits of God (or the sevenfold Spirit) is a reference to the one Holy Spirit. Why did Jesus identify himself as the one holding the Holy Spirit? More on this later.

Jesus also holds the seven stars meaning the seven leaders of the seven churches. This talks about the position of this church and her leader.

Reputation of being alive but actually dead:  The church in Sardis had a reputation of being alive in the eyes of men, but in Jesus’ eyes she was dead. This is a serious charge from The Judge. The church is the body of Christ. She is supposed to be a living organism not dead. As a living organism the church imparts life, hope, direction, joy and encouragement. But a "dead body" inevitably spreads sorrow, despair, decay and repulsion. People like to come near a living body, they want to go away from a dead body.

How can a church have reputation of being alive? Through impressive buildings. Through its financial position. Through the size of the gathering. Through its projects. Through its emphasis on Bible. Through its denomination. Conferences. Programs. Reports. Rituals, etc.  It takes years of efforts to build a good reputation and having a good reputation is necessary. But reputation without substance is the problem. The gap between reputation and reality is a problem in the eyes of Jesus, who is the real Owner and Builder of the church.

Jesus found her deeds incomplete: Jesus said nothing good about this church. He knew her deeds, but he evaluates her deeds as incomplete (Rev 3:2, ESV), not completely obeying God (Rev 3:2, CEV), imperfect (Rev 3:2, KJV) and not meeting the requirements of God (Rev 3:2, NLT). Giving us a new birth, making us “born again” is not all. Jesus has a much bigger plan for our lives. Birth is only the beginning of human life. He wants us to grow until we become complete and meet the requirements of God. There are two great grand ultimate purposes for our eternity. First, we will be presented to Jesus by himself (the union of the Bride and her Bridegroom) as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless (Eph 5:27,29,32). Second, Jesus will present us to His Father God, as the eternal sons and daughters (Rev 3:5, 2Co 4:14). There is preparation necessary to be “ready” to be the worthy Bride of Jesus Christ (Rev 19:7). Are we preparing enough ourselves and our converts/disciples to be ready to be the worthy Bride of Jesus Christ? Does this sound legalism? When Jesus evaluated the Church in Sardis, he found that her deeds were incomplete; she was not meeting the requirements of God. She was neither ready to be presented to Christ as his Bride nor to His Father as the sons and daughters. Redemption is only the beginning. We must go through Sanctification to be qualified for Glorification.

What was the reason for such unpreparedness? Jesus' word “Wake up!” makes it very clear that she was sleeping. The King James Version says, “Be watchful!” (Rev 3:2, KJV) A sleeping person is unaware, uninformed, ignorant, and unable to make any response to what is going on around him. A sleeping person has no strength at all. In many ways a sleeping person is as good as dead. But in Jesus' eyes she is still within the limit of recovery if she wakes up and strengthens what remains and about to die.

There is a saying among scholars as to the life cycle of many churches or ministry, using the famous four "Ms". A church or a ministry may very well start as a Movement. As its number grows she resorts to set of rules or Method. Not long after laws and rules and rituals become the parameter of spirituality, people begin to withdraw. Then this church or ministry starts dwelling in her past to retain old members and to invite new ones. In a sense she becomes a Museum. But finally she ends up as a Monument, a structure, organization or a building that reminds of something in the past, but nothing is there for the present and certainly there is no future.

Wake up and strengthen: Jesus tells the church in Sardis to strengthen what remains and about to die. Practically it means: 1) to remember what she received and heard. Jesus tells her to remember his grace that she experienced. 2) Obey it. When we received the grace of Jesus no one told us to be holy. It was our heart’s desire and the only appropriate response to the wonderful grace. Jesus wants us to restore that voluntary love and voluntary obedience. 3) Repent. In this case the command to repent demands a resolve, a complete change in our life direction from unrighteous to a righteous life.

But how is it possible? That is the very reason Jesus introduced himself as the one who holds the seven Spirits of God. We cannot change our life, we cannot keep our resolve and decisions for long, but if we listen and obey the Holy Spirit, he helps us. He is the One in charge of our sanctification.

The use of the word  “the seven spirits of God” in Rev 1:4 identifies the Holy Spirit, in Rev 4:5 to seven lamps before God’s throne, in Rev 5:6 to the seven eyes of the Lamb sent out into all the earth. This description of seven lamps and seven eyes also fits with the description of the Holy Spirit in Zech 4:2,6,10. Was the Holy Spirit known as “the eyes of the Lord” in the Old Testament?

The seven spirits of God = the sevenfold Spirit = the  seven lamps before the throne = seven lights before God =the  seven eyes of the Lamb = the Holy Spirit

2Chr 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD [the seven eyes of the Lamb = the Holy Spirit? Rev 5:6; Zech 4:2,6,10] range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…

Isaiah 11:1,2 also describes the Holy Spirit as a sevenfold spirit, due the nature of His ministry to men. 1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD—3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

Coming like a thief: This expression used by Jesus (Matt 24:42-44; Lk 12:39-40), Paul (1Th 5:2-5) and Peter (2Pe 3:10) means the second coming of Jesus indicating it to be a sudden and unexpected event.  However both Jesus and Paul make it very clear that Jesus’ second coming will be like a thief’s coming (causing loss) to us if only we are not watchful or not prepared. His coming is not supposed to be like a thief’s coming to us, if we are watchful and prepared (1Th 5:4). In fact, Jesus and Paul command us to be watchful for this very purpose. What is more by implication Jesus tells the church of Sardis that they would know the time of his coming if they remain watchful. Thus being “awake” or “watchful” is the key message of Jesus to this church. He wants us to be forerunners preparing ourselves and others for his coming. He wants us to be watchmen -- anointed observers, so that when we see world events and other cosmic events foretold by him, we will know the time (season) of his coming and this will accelerate our preparation.

Jesus rewards the overcomer: a few in Sardis had not defiled their garments with sin compared to the majority of believers. They would walk with Jesus. They will be dressed in white, meaning they will be his Bride, His eternal Companion at the Wedding of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-8). The reason these few and those overcome like them will receive this eternal blessing is because they were "worthy" (Rev 3:4). This is very very different from the Church’s traditional teachings. There is a general and superficial understanding that once you are “born again” you become worthy of every eternal blessings. But Jesus’ words do not say so. Yes, the grace of redemption is absolutely free. But all other etenal blessings depend on our preparation, our “worthiness”!

Jesus will present the overcomer to his Father: The overcomer are the fruit of the Father’s patient endurance for His wayward children, the Son’s atoning sacrifice of himself on a painful and shameful cross, and the Holy Spirit’s years of labor to form the image of Christ in them. They will bring glory to the Trinity and complete God’s eternal redemption plan.

Jesus would not remove the names of the overcomer from the book of life: By implication this means that for those who do not overcome, Jesus would remove their names from the book of life. Now, our names being written in the book is a great thing. But the fatal danger is that it can also be removed by the Lamb (Jesus), if we do not satisfy his standards (Rev 3:5).

The good news: is that we are given the seven spirits of God or the Holy Sprit to help us be overcomer. When He, the Holy Spirit, becomes the Lord of our life, we will not only have good reputation but we will also be living people (as opposed to the charge of being dead). When He, the Holy Spirit, dwells and leads our lives, we will be truly watchful and prepared for the Second Coming of our Lord so that Jesus’ second coming will not be like a thief’s coming to us. When He, the Holy Spirit, controls our lives, we will stop defiling our garments and start growing in righteousness acts to be worthy to be united with Jesus as His Eternal Bride, dressed white. When we let Him, the Holy Spirit, prepare us, we will be prepared indeed to be presentable to God the Father through God the Son in the presence of many angels. Lord Holy Spirit, you are the seven eyes of the Lamb, ranging throughout the earth to strengthen whose hearts are committed to Jesus (2Chr 16:9).  I want to give myself into your hands. Sanctify me and prepare me to be the worthy Bride of Jesus and your partner in this age, preparing others for the return of the Lord, as his watchful servant. Amen!  

Letter to the Church in Thyatira (Rev 2:18-29)

[28]"To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. [19] I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. [20] Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. [21] I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. [22] So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely [into great tribulation, KJV], unless they repent of her ways. [23] I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. [24] Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): [25] Only hold on to what you have until I come. [26] To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—[27] `He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' -- just as I have received authority from my Father. [28] I will also give him the morning star. [29] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Thyatira: means daughter. The problem in this Church was with respect to tolerating a woman named Jezebel who was leading astray Jesus’ servants into sexual immorality and worship of false gods (or idols v.20).

The Son of God: Jesus identifies himself as the Son of God; Never in the Bible Jesus make such direct and exclusive claim of being the Son of God. But here He makes His deity (Second Person of the Trinity) very very clear; He is God and there is no other beside Him. He deserve every man and every creature worship Him. This is the best way for Jesus to challenge and save his servants who are falling away into worshipping other gods (eating food sacrificed to idols in  Rev 2:20).

Jesus eyes are like blazing fire and his feet are like burnished bronze:  Blazing fire alludes to searching or inspection and judgment. Burnished bronze also alludes to severe judgment. Why did Jesus compare his eyes and feet in this way? More on this later.

Jesus commends: their deeds, love (as against the church in Ephesus), faith, service, perseverance. What is more they are improving in these areas.

Jesus’ concerns for correction: “You tolerate…” The activity of Jezebel indeed was a problem and Jesus will deal with that. But the problem with the church was that the church was tolerating her. What should the church be doing rather? Exposing her! Challenging her! Rejecting her doctrine! Correcting her! (Church in Ephesus was commended for rejecting the false prophets and hating the doctrines of the Nicolaitans.) The church’s calling is to be the light of the world, i.e. to confront, expose and remove the darkness. The church’s calling is not to tolerate the darkness even for the sake of peace, harmony, political correctness or whatever!

Jesus gave Jezebel time to repent but she did not: Even the most harmful and dangerous enemy of Jesus is given chance to repent. In Jesus everyone gets chance to repent and be saved (in fact many chances throughout our life on earth!). This reveals the heart of our ever merciful Lord and Savior: He wants not a single person to perish and go to hell. The way of hell is only for those who persistently reject his offer of salvation. He is truly the righteous Judge.

Jezebel would receive the punishment she deserves: Jezebel and all those Christians who committed adultery (spiritually speaking worship of false gods) will be cast onto the Great Tribulation (KJV). (also mentioned in Matt 24:21, KJV). There is a serious misunderstanding among Christians that the Great Tribulation at the end of the age is Satan brining great sufferings on Christians. But the truth is, The Great Tribulation is actually Jesus bringing on the Antichrist and his empire and the fallen Christians will also suffer under this. Jesus also punishes all of Jezebel’s children, her spiritual offspring who follow her into idol worship. At the end of the age and the beginning of the new age, the Millennial kingdom (Jesus’ 1000 year literal rule on the earth), he will get rid of all kinds of false gods and false worship systems. That is the reason Jesus at the beginning of this letter introduces himself as the Son of God: He is God, there is no other gods beside Him.

Past, Present and Future: The mention of Jezebel takes us back into a period of history in Israel, when Israel was divided into Judah in the south and Israel in the north. Jezebel was the queen of Israel, the wife of king Ahab (1Ki 16:29-22:40; 2Ki 9-11). Jezebel promoted Baal and Asherah religion. She killed most of the prophets of the Lord. Ahab supported her and himself became the most evil king under her influence. They were challenged by Elijah the prophet and there was a great show down at Mt Carmel, where Elijah revealed God as only true God and slaughtered 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah on a single day! Ahab was punished by God, so was Jezebel according the prophecies of Elijah.

The letter to the Church in Thyatira and the problem there is a bridge between the history and the future. What happened during Ahab and Jezebel was only a foreshadow of what will happen in the end time during the reign of the Antichrist and the Harlot Babylon, one world religion. The work and ministry of prophet Elijah foreshadows the ministry of the end-time church under the leadership of the Two Witnesses in Rev 11:1-14.

Let’s have a look at these amazing parallels to see the big picture!

A comparison between Ahab and the Antichrist:

Ahab king of Israel	Antichrist a.k.a. the Beast (World leader)
Most wicked king, more than any of his predecessors (1Ki 16:30)	Most wicked world leader at the end of the age (Rev 13:5)
His Baal and Asherah worship provoked God to anger (16:33)	He promotes the worship of the dragon (Satan) and demands everyone to worship him.
Described as one who sold himself to doing evil (1Ki 21:25)	He sets himself against God and heaven (Rev 13:6); Gives himself to the cause of the dragon to be worshipped by all nations (Rev 13:2) and exercises power and authority on behalf of the dragon
Most evil man ever (1Ki 21:25)	Is described by Paul as the Man of Sin or Man of Lawlessness (2Th 2:3). He is the personification of the sin of man.
Marries Jezebel and fully supports and promotes her Baal and Asherah worship (spiritual harlotry) (1Ki 16:31; 1Ki 21:25)	Shown as the carrier of the Harlot Babylon. The Harlot Babylon here is not a person but a city & a religious system that the Antichrist promotes through his influence and funding as peace-loving, all-embracing one world religion with a promise to solve world problems (terrorism, food security, international conflicts etc). Antichrist uses this religious system to come to the world stage (Rev 17:3)
He sees Elijah the prophet as a troubler and enemy when Elijah challenges his idol worship and shuts down rain for three and half years (1Ki 18:17; 1Ki 21:20)	The praying and prophetic end-time church which seeks to expose the Antichrist’s one world religion, one world economic system and sinister design for Antichrist worship and dragon worship invites his anger and rage.
He proceeds to kill all of God’s prophets, esp Elijah (1Ki 18:4,10)	The Antichrist is give power to make war against the saints and to conquer them (Rev 13:7)
To punish him to death, God uses a lying spirit in the mouth of Ahab’s prophets who promise him victory in his war (1Ki 22:23)	Demonic spirit go out of the mouths of the Antichrist, False Prophet and the Dragon to deceive the kings of the earth to gather and to fight against Jesus in the battle of Armageddon (Rev 16:14). Under the influence of these lying spirits they believe that it is possible and it is necessary to fight against Jesus and defeat him.
Although tries to disguise himself during a battle, gets killed by an unknown man’s arrow (1Ki 22:33)	He will be captured by Jesus along with the false prophet and will be thrown alive to the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Rev 19:19-21)

Parallels between Jezebel (wife of Ahab) and the Harlot Babylon in Revelation 17-19

Jezebel (wife of Ahab)	Babylon the Great (Woman riding on the Beast)
She was a princess (daughter of Ethbal, king of Sidon) and a queen (1Ki 16:31)	She boasts as a queen who would never become a widow (Rev 18:7)
She ruled over Ahab, and the nobles and elders of Israel (1Ki 21:7,8,11,14)	She is described as rulers of the kings of the earth (Rev 17:18)
Her daughter Athaliah who marries a king of Judah brings Baal and Asherah worship to Judah	Known as the mother of all prostitutes and mother of abominations (meaning idol worship) of the earth (Rev 17:5)
She made witchcraft abound (2Ki 9:22)	Described as home for demons, every evil spirit and unclean birds (Rev 18:2)
She had murderous spirit – was determine to kill all the prophets of God (1Ki 18:4,13)	Described as drunk with the blood of those who bore testimony of Jesus (Rev 17:6;18:24;19:2)
Financially supported 450 fulltime prophets of Baal and 400 fulltime prophets of Asherah from royal income (1Ki 18:19)	Merchant of the earth grow rich from her excessive luxuries (Rev 18:3) and sea merchants become rich through her wealth (Rev 18:19)
Used Ahab’s seal and deception for murder and theft (Naboth’s vineyard)	Under Antichrist’s rule and the one world economic system no one can buy or sell without the mark of the Beast (Rev 13:17)
Punished by Jehu under the anointing of God (2Ki 9:32,33)	Gets her punishment when the angel pours out 7th bowl (final judgment) full of God’s wrath on the air (Rev 16:17,19)
She is thrown down from window and falls on the ground and dies (2Ki 9:33). Also horses trampled her underfoot.	When Babylon is punished the message from heaven: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!” (Rev 14:8;18:2)
After her death, dogs licked up and nothing remained in her body except the skull, feet and hands (2Ki 9:35) in fulfillment of Elijah prophecy	After Jesus’ return many cities will be rebuilt but Babylon will never be rebuilt again (Rev 18:21-24)

Parallels between Elijah and the Two Witnesses (Rev 11:1-14)

Elijah the prophet (1Ki 17 – 2Ki 2)	The Two Witnesses (Rev 11:1-14)
Name: Elijah the Tishbite	Name unknown, but the nature and work of their ministries resemble that of Moses and Elijah combined
He challenged Ahab to seek the living God instead of idols	They will expose Antichrist’s desire to be worshipped and call people to Jesus the living God and coming King (Rev 11:3,4)
Shuts heaven resulting in no rain in Israel for three and half years (1Ki 17:1, James 5:17)	During the time of their prophetic ministry they shut rain for 42 months, i.e 1260 days or three and half years (Rev 11:6)
During drought on the whole land, he was taken care by supernatural provisions (17)	They along with end-time church will experience supernatural provision in spite of famine and inability to buy and sell without the mark of the beast
Seen by Ahab as troubler and enemy	The world will look at them as if they are the source of all troubles and will celebrate their death (Rev 11:10)
Opposed Baal worship and revealed the living God of Israel (18)	They will oppose Antichrist worship system as this will lead people to second death in the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Rev 11:3,4)
Slaughtered 850 fulltime prophets of Baal and Asherah at Mt Carmel (18)	They will kill some of their enemies through the fire from their mouth (can mean word of judgment) (Rev 11:5)
Elijah performed other great miracles such as supernatural provision and raising up a dead boy (17)	They have power to turn water into blood, and every kind of plague as often as they want (Rev 11:6)
In  spite of great power and authority still a man of fear and vulnerabilities; runs to save his life from Jezebel and hides (19)	After they finish their testimony, they will be killed by the Antichrist and their bodies will be refused burial and kept for display (Rev 11:9)
Went up to heaven alive in a whirlwind of the chariot and horses of fire (2Ki2:11)	After three days, God resurrects them in public view and they go up to heaven in a cloud (Rev 11:12) just like Jesus.
Appeared with Moses at the Transfiguration of Jesus before one of the most significant work of the Messiah (his death and resurrection) (Mt 17:2,3)	My guess: The two witnesses will be part of the victory procession of Jesus when he returns to rule, which will be the final work of the Messiah to restore all things

Primary sins at the end of the age: REV 9:20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood--idols that cannot see or hear or walk. [21] Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Jesus’ eyes like blazing fire searches hearts and minds (Rev 2:23): When Jezebel and Ahab used deception to take possession of Nabaioth’s vineyard, they thought nobody would know about it, except for the nobles and elders who were party in their scheme. But God knew what he did! He sent Elijah to confront Ahab’s sin of deception and theft. 1KI 21:18 "Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel…. He is now in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it… ‘This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?'…” Jesus’ eyes of fire searches and exposes evil schemes and desires and even hidden thoughts. Then he repays us (or punishes) according to our deeds (Rev 2:23)

Jesus’ feet like burnished bronze crushes his enemies: There were two reasons for Jezebel’s death. One falling from the window and two, the horses trampled her underfoot. Feet of burnished bronze is a picture of judgment. The end time Jezebel, Harlot Babylon one world religion, will be trampled under his feet which are like burnished bronze and completely crushed.

Jezebel in Israel’s history and the woman named Jezebel in the church of Thyatira gives us a hint about the ultimate Jezebel: The Harlot Babylon religious system in the end time

1)    Jezebel, Ahab’s wife:  Her zeal for idol worship, murderous spirit and theft are emphasized

2)    Jezebel in Thyatira : Her teaching on sexual immorality and idol worship are emphasized

Note: the Harlot Babylon one world religious system will have all these qualities to the extreme: She will defile the consciences of many well meaning people through sexual immorality and idol worship. She will be rich through theft by enforcing mark of the Beast as the only means for trade. Although she will do many humanitarian services (feeding the poor etc) she and her followers will be intoxicated with the blood of the Christians, meaning she will kill many sincere Christians to death

Paul’s warning for the end time church when believers will abandon faith and follow deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. ¹ Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, ² speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, ³ forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. (1 Timothy 4:1-3, KJV)

Jesus’ promises to the overcomer: Jesus will give to the overcomer, 1) authority over the nations (Rev 20:4); and 2) the morning star (Rev 22:16)

REV 20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

REV 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

Conclusion: As a church we are called not to tolerate the Harlot Babylon, a religious system that is emerging in the nations of the earth, that says all religions are good, all paths lead to heaven, but is inspired by doctrines of demons. We are not to tolerate this for the sake of political correctness! We are to oppose it like Elijah did in his generation and as the end time draws near, we will be helped and inspired by the Two Witnesses who will expose the Harlot Babylon and challenge her. God is anointing those who proclaim Jesus the Son of God (only God, no other besides Him), even if it will be politically most incorrect in the days ahead! Especially in India, the land of 33 million gods and idols, may God help us to proclaim the exclusive deity of Jesus and challenge the spiritual harlotry in the land. Amen.