The Kingdom Message to Tyatira
The fourth church to which John writes is the church at Thyatira.
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 2:18-29
As in each of the first three churches that he addressed, John’s message to Thyatira is written to the angel of the church from Christ in His kingdom glory, and focuses immediately on the works of that church.
Two key elements in the message to Thyatira are John’s reference to the sin of Jezebel, and his reference to the fact that those at that overcome will rule the nations with a rod of iron.
John reaches back into Israel’s history for an illustration on the times of which he writes. This illustration comes from the reign of Jezebel, the wicked, Baal worshipping wife of Ahab, one of Israel’s most wicked kings.
So Omri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria: and Ahab his son reigned in his stead. And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. I Kings 16:28-33
Ahab and Jezebel represent a dangerous element in Israel. The leadership of the nation left the true God, Jehovah, and worshipped Baal. God sent the prophet Elijah to warn Ahab and Jezebel of their sin and called on them to repent and turn to the true God. I Kings 18 tells of the climactic battle between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Elijah and his God were victorious over Baal and his false prophets. This victory and Elijah’s pleading produced repentance and humbleness in the heart of Ahab.
And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words [the words of Elijah], that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house. I Kings 21:27-29
Jezebel’s hard heart never turned to God and she suffered a horrible demise.
And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel. II Kings 9:35-37
Ahab and Jezebel represent two groups in Israel. Ahab represents those that repent and turn to God during the tribulation and Jezebel represents those that do not repent and face God’s wrath at the return of Christ.
Those that do repent and “overcome” the testing of the tribulation will reign over the nations with a rod of iron. Once again John reaches back to Israel’s prophecies to instruct these tribulation churches.
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Psalms 2:1-9
The promise to the overcomers is linked to the prophecies concerning the establishment of Christ’s earthly kingdom.
John uses references in his message to the angel of the church at Thyatira that identify it as a kingdom church in the tribulation.
The Kingdom Message to Sardis
The fifth church to which John writes is the church at Sardis.
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. What group of people in Scripture is destined to be a kingdom of priests? Revelation 3:1-6
John’s message to Sardis is written to the angel of the church from Christ in His kingdom glory and focuses immediately on the works of that church.
Two key elements in the message to Sardis are John’s instruction to watch and be ready, and those that overcome at Sardis will not have their names blotted out of the Book of Life.
The admonition to watch is another indication of the time frame in which the church at Sardis will exist. This admonition is like the instruction that Christ gave to His apostles during His earthly ministry.
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:36-51
The church at Sardis is to look for the Lord’s return and be ready for that event. Their reward is based on how well they have prepared for and anticipated that day. As in Noah’s day, those who are taken out will be taken out in judgment. Those who remain enter into the kingdom to receive their reward.
A part of the reward for those who watch is that their name will not be blotted out of the Book of Life. While the Book of Life is often viewed as a listing of all who have believed in all ages, it is actually a national registry of Israel. We never read of a name written into the Book of Life, only names blotted out. All circumcised Jews are a part of the Abrahamic covenant by birth, and it is only through disobedience that they are cut off from that covenant. Those in Israel that are obedient to God and walk in the faith of Abraham do not have their names blotted out of the Book of Life and enter into the New Jerusalem.
And there shall in no wise enter into it [New Jerusalem] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27
The reference to being written in the Lamb’s Book of Life clearly identifies the believers in Sardis as kingdom saints, not members of the Body of Christ.
John uses references in his message to the angel of the church at Sardis that identify it as a kingdom church in the tribulation.
The Kingdom Message to Philadelphia
The sixth church to which John writes is the church at Philadelphia.
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 3:7-13
John’s message to Philadelphia is written to the angel of the church from Christ in His kingdom glory and focuses immediately on the works of that church.
Two key elements in the message to Philadelphia are John’s reference to the key of David and Christ keeping believers in Philadelphia from the hour of temptation.
Referring to the “key of David” John ties the seven churches to the Old Testament prophets. Concerning the coming Messiah, Isaiah writes the following.
And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. Isaiah 22:22
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6,7
The key of David on Christ’s shoulder represents the governmental structure of the kingdom. Those to whom John writes will participate with Christ in ruling and reigning on the earth during the kingdom. The Body of Christ has no such hope. Our destiny is to rule and reign with Christ in the heavenlies.
John also offers believers in Philadelphia deliverance from the hour of temptation, revealing the time frame in which this church will exist. The hour of temptation is the time in the middle of Daniel’s seventieth week when the antichrist demands worship as Israel’s Messiah. Every Jew will be forced to make a decision between the Christ that came two thousand years ago and the Christ that will come in the future. This is what Christ instructed His apostles to pray about in the so-called Lord’s Prayer.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Matthew 6:13
John uses references in his message to the angel of the church at Philadelphia that identify it as a kingdom church in the tribulation.
The Kingdom Message to Laodicea
The seventh and last church to which John writes is the church at Laodicea.
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Revelation 3:14-22
John’s message to Laodicea is written to the angel of the church from Christ in His kingdom glory and focuses immediately on the works of that church.
Two key elements of the message to Laodicea are John’s reference to God spuing out unbelievers and chastening those He loves.
Spuing out had special meaning to Israel. It is what God did to the Gentile nations as He placed Israel in their promised land. He warned Israel this would happen to them if they repeated the actions of the Gentiles.
And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. Leviticus 18:s25-28
Spuing out is not terminology that Paul ever uses of members of the Body of Christ. This points to the Jewish nature of the church at Laodicea.
The church at Laodicea endures God’s chastening. The time frame of the Laodicean church is the time of Jacob’s Trouble, when God will use the antichrist to chasten His nation and call them to repentance.
O Assyrian, [a type of antichrist] the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation. I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. Isaiah 10:5,6
LORD, in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them. . . . Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. Isaiah 26:16,20
The references to chastening place the church at Laodicea as a kingdom church in the tribulation. The Body of Christ is never chastened by the Lord as He chastens Israel.
John uses references in his message to the angel of the church at Laodicea that identify it as a kingdom church in the tribulation.
Revelation Revealed
The details of the messages to the seven churches in Revelation reveals that they are Jewish assemblies that will exist in the tribulation period. This understanding helps to place the entire book of Revelation in its proper context.