15th Meeting Revelation chapters 1-3 & 18 (Church)

We will be looking at Babylon as the apostate church. The definition we will be using for apostate is as follows: Apostate means to believe a certain way and then turn 180 degrees from that belief. This is not a one time thing, and if you are worried about losing your salvation, the fact that you are worried about it, proves that you have not committed this sin. In order to commit the sin of apostasy, you have to be indifferent to the fact that you have turned your back on God. God will not make you be in Heaven if you don't want to.

I waited until now to discuss chapters 1-3, because I wanted to include them with the teaching of the Apostate Church as mentioned in chapter 18. Chapters 2 - 3 talk about the letters to the seven churches that were located in what is now Turkey. At the time these letters were written to the seven churches, Christianity was 98% of the population in this area. We need to keep this in mind to remind us that the seven churches were going concerns and had a large following. Before we look at each one individually, we must understand that each one of the churches were different, and had different challenges to keep their faith alive.

The first Church mentioned is Ephesus, it was commended for rejecting evil, and persevering for the truth of Jesus Christ. The letter warns them that they have lost their love for Christ, and tells them they must return to do the deeds they first did in order to win the "Tree of Life". This means to stay true to the end and receive eternal life. Then I showed them pictures of what the Church of Ephesus looks like today, and it is a pile of rock ruins. This means that God allowed the candlestick to be removed from this church, because of their failing to remain true to Him!

The second Church is Smyrna, it was commended for gracefully bearing suffering. This church had no criticism raised against it. This is the only City of the seven that is still in existence, the Church has also become a pile of rocks. Its promise was to receive the crown of life.

The third Church is Pergamos (Pergamum), it was commended for keeping the faith of Christ. It was criticized for tolerating immorality, idolatry, and heresies. This church was in much the same situation Lot found himself in when living in the city of Sodom and Gomorrah. Lot also believed in God but the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah proved to be much too much for him, he would have given in if it weren't for Abraham and the angels coming and rescuing him. The Church at Pergamum (Pergamos) was not as lucky. The sin of the city finally swallowed them up. Their promise was secret manna, and a stone with a new name.

The fourth Church is Thyatira, it was commended for love, service, faith, patience is growing in them. They were criticized for toleration of cults, idolatry and immorality. They were told to keep the faith; if they remained true they would rule over nations and receive the morning star which is Jesus. They also became a pile of rocks; which means that they did not keep the faith.

The fifth Church is Sardis, it was commended for trying to keep the faith by some of the group, not the whole. They were criticized for being a dead church. Repent and return to keeping the faith of the whole group. The promise was faithful would be honored and clothed in white. This site also became a pile of rocks.

The sixth Church is Philadelphia, it was commended for persevering through faith. It also had no criticism. They were told to keep the faith. Their promise was a place in God's presence, a new name, and the New Jerusalem. They also became a pile of rocks.

The seventh Church is Laodicea, they had no commendation because they were neither hot nor cold, they were not alive. They were criticized for being indifferent. They were commanded to repent and become zealous for the things of Jesus Christ again. Promise, if they retuuurned to their faith they would be able to share God's throne. They did not and became a pile of rocks like the others.

The lesson from these churches is to keep focusing on Jesus Christ and continue to teach about Him if you want to finish the race. In 1999 the percentage of Christians in the area of the seven churches was .2%, that means 99.8% non-christian!!