Conclusion of part 1
Part 12 of the Two Witnesses Series
One more time, at the end of the age we have the overcomer church and the apostate church. Let us look again at the letter to Philadelphia.
Rev 3:8 I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
The overcomers are not hot dog Christians. They have a little power. They struggle with the same things that all Christians struggle with. They are simple everyday Christians that you sit next to in church. However, when they are pressured to compromise His word or to deny His name, they do not. This is what separates the overcomer from the apostate church in the last days.
Rev 3:10 Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
The overcomers will keep the word of His perseverance. They will experience times of intense pressure during the first half of Daniel’s seventieth week, before the great tribulation begins. When the time comes for them to pay a price for His word, they will stand firm. This is the perseverance of the saints. More on this in Part II, Revelation chapter 12.
Rev 3:11 I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
The overcomers will hold fast what they have. Again, this is the time of birth pangs prior to the tribulation. If they do not waver and compromise during this time, they will be kept from the hour of testing that is coming on the whole world, the great tribulation.
The church in Philadelphia has intimate love relationship with the Messiah. They are ministering to Him, meeting His needs. They are in His presence. They have kept the word of His perseverance and have not denied His name.
The church in Laodicea does not have intimate love relationship with the Messiah. Jesus is outside the church. He is knocking on the door. There is no presence of the Holy Spirit in Laodicea. They have been led astray and deceived. The church is run by people, not the Holy Spirit. They think they have it all because they have all kinds of great programs, ministries, wealth, and beautiful buildings. They have everything except the one thing that counts, the presence of the Holy Spirit.
All the letters to the seven churches end with this exhortation: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
May we have an ear. May we hear what the Spirit is telling us! Amen.