The Message to the Seven Churches

Fred R. Coulter—August 23, 2025

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We see—as we have gone through the Seven Churches of Rev. 2 & 3—some very important things here that help us understand what we need to do, because the Proverb says that 'every way of a man is right in his own eyes.' Also, Jesus said, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God!'

You take those two things, and you understand what God is trying to do in leading and directing us with His Spirit, and why we have the Word of God to do the things that we need to do, and how that we need to do them. That becomes a very important thing. And it's also interesting to understand this. Here's another great, important principle:

That when any of us come up with any ideas that are contrary to the Word of God, and then we present them as being like the words of God, what have we done? Well, in varying degrees, we have put ourselves above God!When we do that, we see what we see in the world: everyone doing that which is right in their own eyes! That's quite a thing!

Remember what Jesus said of the end-times. It'll be like it was in the days of Noah before the Flood. It's very important to understand that WHEN human nature and a large number of people reject God and follow their own ways, THEN they always get in trouble. Why is that? That's because the Word of God and the Laws of God are spiritual and they apply all the time, everywhere, to everyone!

Now, especially with us who are in the Church and have the Spirit of God. Let's come to Rev. 2 with Thyatira, and then we will see that, as we look at all Seven Churches, that it is not just a Church Era and it ends, and we have another Church Era and it ends, and so forth.

You can see within the realm of the Churches of God in the world today that there are some like Ephesus, there are some like Pergamos, there are some like Smyrna, there are some like Thyatira, Laodicea, Philadelphia, and Sardisites, as well. So, here we come to Rev. 3. Let's look at these things from this point of view:

Every one of these Seven Churches give us the understanding from God what we need to do, and to learn from the lessons of the Seven Churches, so that we do not do that ourselves.

Now, remember what we pointed out last time. There are two things for every one of the Churches.

• Christ says, 'I know your works.' That's how He starts out every one!
•  then He ends every one of them up with the same thing. The one who has an ear, let him hear!

That means you have to be willing to listen what God has to say to you! Not have the attitude, that comes about so many times, that you come up with an idea of your own and you're going to tell God what to do.

It doesn't matter what it is, whether a small matter or a large matter. Let's begin in Rev. 3:1 and we'll look at these things from the point of view of what we need to do. How do we come to a point that we develop whatever kind of relationship with God or attitude that these are, without really doing what God wants us to do completely?

I got a letter the other day from a man who says, well, I've written a book and it has caused some of the Sunday-keeping people to keep the Sabbath. Would you like the book? So, I emailed him back and said, 'yes, send me the book. I'd be happy to see it.' And when I get the book, I'll find out what they're doing. But we need to understand this.

It's not a matter of Sabbath-keeping, Sunday-keeping, and once you solve that problem, everything is fine.

• Do a lot of the Jews keep the Sabbath?
• Do they know of the Sabbath?
• How much good is that done them?

Well, the only good it has done is it has preserved the knowledge of the Sabbath as the seventh day.

• Do they understand the Word of God? No!
• Do they understand the prophecies of God? Maybe some few!
• Do they know how to have a personal relationship spiritually with God the Father and Jesus Christ? No!
• Do they keep a Sabbath?
• Do they keep the Holy Days?

It's very interesting. The Jews keep the Passover on the 15th. Why do they do that? That's contrary to what's in the Bible. They follow the teachings of men!

Revelation 3:1: "And to the angel of the Church in Sardis, write: 'These things says He Who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works…'"

God knows everything! Remember what we have said how many times. God is all things to everything! Think about that!

But it's amazing in giving free moral agency how people think about how important they are and how important their ideas are! We'll look at those a little later.

"…I know your works, and that you have a name as if you are alive, but are dead" (v 1).

What does that mean? That you are not actively living every Word of God as Jesus said!

God is interested in repentance and that's what He wants. God is interested in returning to Truth from our own ways and from the world and from Satan the devil. That's what God wants! We see that those are the problems within the Seven Churches; those very things right there.

So He says, v 2: "Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, which are about to die…."

Now, we've often said that that applies to the Church of God-Seventh-Day. Well, that may be in some ways: they keep the Sabbath and they keep the Passover, but they don't keep the Holy Days. They believe in the Ten Commandments. So, whether this applies strictly to the Church of God Seventh-Day, it may not totally do so in every way. So, we need to understand.

"…For I have not found your works complete before God" (v 2).

Meaning, that they have a lot of their own ideas interspersed in between what they have.

Verse 3: "Therefore, remember what you have received and heard, and hold on to this, and repent…." Repentance means:

• acknowledging your sins
• confessing your sins
• forsaking your sins
• putting them behind you
• learn the lesson of what you have learned from it and then you go forward

IF you go forward, THEN you're coming back to life! So, let's hope that whoever is in that condition will do so:

• whether it is an individual
• whether it is a group
• whether it is a whole church

"Now then, IF you will not watch.…" (v 3).

That doesn't mean prophecy. Yes, we're to watch prophecy, that is true, and there's a lot of that taking place today in every way.

"…IF you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief…." (v 3).

Isn't it interesting? You go along, you go along, you go along, you go along, and then all of a sudden, BOOM! something happens! That's what he's explaining here!

"…and you shall by no means know what hour I will come upon you" (v 3).

Now, lots of times we like to, in our own mind, think about, if this happened or that happened, I would do this, I would do that, I would do the other thing. The truth is, when the trial comes like this, it's not what you expect.

That's why we have to stay close to God. Now, notice what He says, because this becomes important, as well.

Verse 4: "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments.…

That means they're sloppy in what they do and their obedience. They're not seeking the true righteousness and the mind of God and the way that God wants.

"…and they shall walk with Me in white because they are worthy" (v 4).

He also gives this to all of the Churches; v 5: "The one who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments; and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches" (vs 5-6).

Not just the Church; the Churches! So, we learn lessons from ALL of them! That's what the important thing is. It's not what we think, it's what God wants us to do!

Prov. 16 will apply to all the Churches, to everyone, because:

• we're dealing with eternal life
• we're dealing with righteousness
• we're dealing with love
• we're dealing against sin
• we're dealing against the world
• we're dealing against Satan the devil

and he's right there to bring 'a wonderful idea!'

That's how these things happen so let's look at the pitfall of human nature, which we can apply to all Seven Churches!

Proverbs 16:1: "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, are from the LORD." God has given you the ability:

• to think
• to reason
• to choose
• to understand

What are we going to do with it? Here's the problem, you can see this on television everywhere Look at all of the stupidity and insanity that's taking place among people:

• rioting for this
• rioting for that
• upholding lawlessness
• upholding criminals
• putting down those who want to do good

So, you see you have the whole thing and they what we'll see it right here:

Verse 2: "ALL the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes…"—meaning 'I'm right doesn't matter what someone says, I'm right.' Ask yourself:

• Are you right with God?
• Do you agree with God?
• Do you think you know more than God?

That's the problem with human nature and that's the problem within the Seven Churches!

Verse 2: "ALL the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes…

Remember this: Whatever you think because it says:

Verse 1: "The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, are from the LORD."

Regardless of what you think God is going to judge you—and God is judging all the time with His Laws—and God is upholding all of His Laws that pertain to human life by the power of His Word!

Whether we're converted or not everything concerning the world and everything on the world and everything in the world and under the world and under the sea God has made and He keeps it going because His Plan is so great He's eventually going to overcome everything of Satan the devil! So, our part is concerning what we do:

• whether an individual
• whether a congregation
• whether a whole Church

I'm dealing right now with Richard Gonzales who is a Seventh-Day Adventist, who has seen how wrong some of their doctrines are! Let's hope that some of the Seventh-Day Adventist and even churches of God will come to the understanding of what the Truth of God is and everything like that and follow what they need to follow!

Let's continue on with the Prov. 16 for just a couple more verses and then we will get back to the Seven Churches and Rev. 2 & 3.

Verse 2: "ALL the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits."

Proverbs 14:12[transcriber's correction]: "There is a way, which seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death."

That's exactly what is happening in the world today. Here is the key, Individually for us, collectively for whatever group, and for churches.

Proverbs 16:3: "Commit your works…"—what you do!

What did Jesus say to the Church at Sardis? Your works are not complete!

Verse 3: "Commit your works unto the LORD, and your thoughts shall be established." Why? Because you will learn to think with:

• the Word of God
• the Spirit of God
• the Laws of God

Verse 6: "By mercy and Truth iniquity is purged…"

That's repentance! That's what God says to the Churches there in Rev. 2 & 3.

"…and by the fear of the LORD men turn away from evil" (v 6).

Verse 7 is the goal that we need to get to. This is the whole purpose. It's almost like Christ is using another version in His own words to the Churches that's here in the book of Proverbs.

Verse 7: "When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."

Now, think on that! You need to also concentrate on that!

Now, let's come back here to Rev. 3, and let's look at the next Church, the Church at Philadelphia.

Didn't we say for years that 'we're the Church of Philadelphia?' But there wasn't any brotherly love! Same thing with the Church at Philadelphia today, headed up by Gerald Flurry. He's a dictator! No one can even speak to any of their own relatives. How is that the Church of love? It's not!

Revelation 3:7: "And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia, write: 'These things says the Holy One, the One Who is true; the One Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shuts, and Who shuts and no one opens.'"

That is telling all of those in the Church that have this kind of attitude. And by the way, this is the only Church of the seven that He doesn't say to repent. Why? Because they're yielding to God every day! Every thought, just like we read back there in Prov. 16.

He says, v 8: "I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, and no one has the power to shut it because you have a little strength, and have kept My Word…"

Remember Matt. 4.4? Luke 4.4? What we have are the two things:

• the words of men under Satan the devil
• the words of Christ under God the Father

There you have it!

"…[you have] kept My Word…" (v 8)—haven't cast it aside!

What word have you cast aside? Well, one of them is, as I covered last time, idols in the mind! You're not to have any idols. But IF you just follow men, you have idols in your mind! That's the problem with some of the Churches of God; they idolize Herbert Armstrong so much that they stay stagnant in what they believe.

The Seventh-Day Adventists have their minds polluted with Ellen G. White. I don't know how they ever came to have her, as one of the leading teachers in the Church. Because right from the start, she never kept the Passover. I've read some of her writings recently, and it's kind of like Kamala Harris' 'word salad' with Scripture.

"…you have a little strength, and have kept My Word and have not denied My name" (v 8).

How do you deny the name of Jesus Christ? By saying, That He didn't mean what He said!

Verse 9: "Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan…"

What is the synagogue of Satan? The whole world system! The religious system! Now people have religion:

• the Muslims think they're right
• the Hindus think they're right
• the Buddhists think they're right
• the Jews think they're right
• the Protestants think they're right
• the Catholics think they're right

and they're ALL wrong!

We use the Spirit of God, which is also the Spirit of the Truth! Everything that we do must be based upon the Truth. We have to repent and change everything that does not agree with that! That's the whole sum of it.

But there's the whole world system out there: the synagogue of Satan! Who took down Worldwide Church of God. God did! There were those Who were lying, cheating and going against God; spending money on things that should never have been spent on. So, God took it down!

"…synagogue of Satan, who proclaim themselves to be Jews…" (v 9).

In other words, they are claiming that they have the way to salvation. This one whole world religion that is coming…

You're going to be surprised at a new booklet we're going to put out called: Mystery Babylon the Great.

They're all going to be accepted of one another. Now I've got the quote where several years ago the leaders of the SDA Church said this:

"…that many Roman Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ"—with the Seventh-Day Adventists.

How did that happen? We'll look at that In a little bit here. But What we need to do is keep our mind on what is right. The only way that we can judge anything about who is following God or not is:

• Do they believe God?
• Do they believe the Truth?
• Do they live by it; every Word of God?

"…Behold, I will cause them to come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved you" (v 9).

When they are resurrected to face whatever they're going to face, they are going to worship God in your presence!

"…and to know that I have loved you" (v 9).

Go back and read John 13-17, and there's the whole basis right there of us loving God, and Christ loving us!

Now, I want to point out Something very important right here. Remember it says there of Ephesus That they have left their first love—'agape'! So, they were leaving the true love of God! This word right here is also 'agape'—I love you!

Now we'll see a little later when we get to the Laodiceans Where he says 'As many as I love'; that is 'phileo.' That is friendship love!

How that works You just see how It figures out In the long run.

"…I have loved you. Because… [now here is the cause of why] …you have kept the Word of My patience…" (v 10). Everything that Christ has said:

• to understand His Truth
• to understand His Word
• to get rid of the errors in the Bible
• to get rid of the errors in doctrine
• to get rid of errors in the way that we think on our own

and not come to God the way that we should!

"…I also will keep you from the time of temptation, which is about to come upon the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth" (v 10)

This is a worldwide thing that is coming, and that is the one government and the one religion That is it! How He's going to keep us two ways:

• we'll die
• there may be some taken to a place of safety to fulfill the Word of God that Christ said that His Church should never die out

But it's coming!

• the world-government
• the world-religion
• the world-banking system

It's going to be something and the greatest enemy is Satan the devil. Even though men are putting together AI, every error that men have had are also included in all the knowledge that is there Satan is going to be behind it!

For all of those who think that the Mark of the Beast is Sunday-keeping, you don't understand what Rev. 13 actually means, because you can buy and sell on Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday And those Who don't keep the Sabbath, Saturday!

If they enforce total Sunday-keeping you still have six days to buy and sell. But with the digital system we have today—

• if you don't have the number
• if you don't have the name

—you can't buy or sell and the Greek there is impossible, powerless! Think about it today.

• How many credit cards do you have right now?
• What if wherever you have that credit card from they take it away?
• you have no credit
• you're deleted from the computer
• you don't exist
• you don't have an identity
• you cannot buy
• you cannot sell

That is on its way!

Now for the Seventh-Day Adventist, Ellen G. White has been wrong in so many things, and Sunday-keeping is not the Mark of the Beast, it's a sign of the system!

Notice what is coming, it's not a localized little thing that's going to happen. It says it's about to come upon the whole world, world-wide, 'to try those who dwell on the earth.' There are going to be people who will not submit to it!

I want to point out to you that there are people who have died for the name of Christ, but may not have been converted for the first resurrection.

Revelation 17:5: "And across her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." That's the one-world religion!

Verse 6: "And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints…"—those who:

• were converted
• were faithful to the end
• were martyred for standing for Christ in the right way that they should
•  

"…and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus" (v 6).

Are there people who died for the name of Jesus, who weren't converted, but still believed in it? Yes! So, there are two categories of martyrs:

• the true saints
• the ones who are martyred for the name of Christ

How all of that fits together we don't know, but it's possible [speculation] that those who are martyrs for Christ were the those who believed in Christ but were unconverted!

There are a lot of people who do that, and there will be a lot who will be killed for that! But to be converted to enter into the Kingdom of God with eternal life, God is the One Who has to judge that! That is something that is going to happen in the future!

Revelation 3:11: "Behold, I am coming quickly; hold fast that which you have so that no one may take away your crown." How do they try and do it? Then Christ says:

Verse 12: "The one who overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall not go out anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which will come down out of heaven from My God; and I will write upon him My new name."

Superlative in every way! That's why when you go back and you read Prov. 16 that when you commit all your ways to God your thoughts will be established! Spiritually speaking, that our thoughts are established right with the Word of God, right with the way of God and NOT with the additions of men or women. Can't be, because as I have said: Every time you try and improve on God you make yourself 'God'!

Col.1—we'll see how this fits in with Philadelphia. Then we'll look at Col. 2 and see how that fits in with Laodicea.

Colossians 1:17[transcriber's correction]: "And He [Christ] is before all, and by Him all things subsist."

Isn't that what we said: God is all things to everything? Yes!

Verse 18: And He is the Head of the Body, the Church…" No man is the head of the Church!

Remember the lie that was sold in Worldwide: If you don't believe Herbert Armstrong, you don't believe in God, because he is the only apostle! LIE!

Christ is the Head! "…Who is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead so that in all things He Himself might hold the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell; and having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things to Himself; by Him, whether the things on the earth, or the things in heaven" (vs 18-20).

That's what Christ is doing; that's what He said there in Rev. 3 to the Church at Philadelphia, the same thing in different words.

Verse 21: "For you were once alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works…"

• Doesn't that tie in with Prov. 16?
• Doesn't that tie in with what our thoughts are today?
• What are our thoughts?
• What do we think?
• What is it that is going on in our mind—God knows—that on an individual basis for every one of us?

"…but now He has reconciled you in the body of His flesh through death" (vs 21-22).

That's the key important thing! Remember this, and you're going to hear me emphasize this a lot, because in dealing with the SDAs! They don't keep the Passover and that's the thing that they miss. So do the Protestants and the Catholics. The Passover is the key thing!

• What is the first thing that is listed in the Holy Days after the Sabbath in Lev. 23? Passover!
• Why?
• What was the first thing mentioned by God after Adam and Eve sinned? The coming Messiah!
• How many prophecies are in the Bible concerning the coming of Jesus Christ and what He's going to do? Filled with it!

That Passover Day that He died and gave His life; He laid it down willingly, but that day is the whole focal point of salvation, because everything else comes from that. IF you don't keep the Passover on the 14th day in the way that Jesus said:

• it doesn't matter if you have communion ten times a day
• it doesn't matter if you wash feet every day
• it doesn't matter whether you read Scripture every day
• IF you don't believe it
• IF you don't keep the Word of God

it doesn't make any difference; that is just so much 'religion'! That's what the Laodiceans are going to learn to face, and all of us have to face it as well!

Verse 22: "In the body of His flesh through death, to present you Holy and unblamable and unimpeachable before Him."

That's another way of describing the Philadelphians; they have kept His Word!

Verse 23: "If indeed you continue in the faith grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel, which you have heard, and which was proclaimed in all the creation that is under heaven; of which I, Paul, became a servant." That's the message to the Church at Philadelphia!

Col. 2—the message to the Laodiceans and how did they get the way that they are?

Colossians 2:1: "Now, I want you to understand what great concern I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding…" (vs 1-2).

Now that's important, because what does it say about the Laodiceans? You say, 'You're rich and increased with goods see and have need of nothing."

You need the riches of Christ! That's what He's saying here:

"…all riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the knowledge of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (vs 2-3). Not in men! The Word of God! That's why we are told to prove all things!

• Do we do that?
• Do we do it honestly?

Some people like to go through and 'prove it' and then read into it their own understanding of it, and they don't rightly divide the Word of God!

Verse 4: "Now, this I say so that no one may deceive you by persuasive speech."

How does that happen? Speech that is persuasive is to get you to go along with what they're thinking!

Verse 5: "For though I am indeed absent in the flesh, yet, I am with you in spirit, rejoicing and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, be walking in Him" (vs 5-6).

• walking in the way of Truth
• living in the way of Truth
• thinking with Truth
• understanding with Truth
• living in love
• keeping faith

all of these things are all together! This is what is necessary!

Verse 7: "Being rooted and built up in Him…"

• not in Herbert Armstrong
• not in the pope
• not in Ellen G. White
• not in any man
• not in Gerald Flurry
• not in David Pack

Christ!

"…and being confirmed in the faith, exactly as you were taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving" (v 7).

Verse 8 is the key, and this is what has happened to the Laodiceans, regardless of whether they're in the Church; whether it's the SDAs or whatever!

Verse 8: " Be on guard…"

You have to be diligent and be on guard, because Satan is always there, and he comes along with a good idea! Didn't that sound good to Adam and Eve:

You eat of this fruit or you'll become like God and you can decide what's right and wrong.

Persuasive speech! There it is right there!

"…so that no one takes you captive through philosophy and vain deceit…" (v 8)—philosophy!

That's the whole basis of the Roman Catholic Church! Then you have:

• Islamic philosophy
• Protestant philosophy
• Buddhist philosophy
•  

Taken captive!

What does it mean? That means you were in the grips of those thoughts of men, and philosophy comes from 'sophia,' which means wisdom!

What did Paul say about the wisdom of this world? That's what he's talking about here:

Verse 8: "Be on guard so that no one takes you captive through philosophy and vain deceit, according to the traditions of men… [any teaching of men] …according to the elements of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power" (vs 8-10).

Verse 18: "Do not allow anyone to defraud you of the prize by doing his will in self-abasement and the worship of demonic angels…"

• that's what the Catholic Church is
• that's what the Muslims are
• that's what a lot of the Protestants are

being taken captive by; This is exactly the spirit behind Ellen G. White!

"…intruding into things that he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his own carnal mind" (v 18)—philosophy!

Rev. 3—Let's look at the Laodiceans in the light of everything that we have covered today up to here.

Revelation 3:14: "And to the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans…"

Remember Colossians was also instructed in writing, by Paul, to read that epistle of Colossians to the Church of the Laodiceans and Ariopolis [unsure of spelling], as well.

Revelation 3:14: "And to the angel of the Church of the Laodiceans, write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginner of the creation of God. I know your works…" (vs 14-15).

There it is! Think of this: God knows our works all the time, and the works of the wicked! What did Job say upon his repentance!

Now I know that no thought can be withheld from You! I have spoken of things that I knew nothing about!

Verse 15: "I know your works that you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you be either cold or hot"—unconverted or completely converted!

There are too many 'half-ways'! That's what it is they have a religion, they believe in Jesus, but they don't keep the Passover so they're not in covenant with Him!

They believe in Ellen G. White more than they believe in God the Father:

• or they believe in the pope
• or they believe in in Mohammed
• or they believe in the gods of the Hindus
• or the Buddhists

Whatever!

Verse 16: "So then, because you are lukewarm, and are neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth."

That means rejected from the Body of Jesus Christ! This is why He says to repent!

Notice that this Church talks back to God; v 17: "For you say, 'I am rich… [think about it today] …and have become wealthy…'"

What happened when Worldwide COG became wealthy and all the sins? Wouldn't you say that getting rid of Worldwide Church of God and three colleges is vomiting out of the mouth of Christ?

Think about it! You can say the same thing with the SDAs; they're 22-million believers and they're worth $15-billion!

"'…and have need of nothing'; and you do not understand that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (v 17).

Think about that, and everything that that implies! Each one of those could be a message or sermon in itself! Look at it!

"…and you do not understand…" (v 17). You don't even know what's wrong with you, because you have all of these things in your mind that you think all right!

"…and you do not understand that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (v 17).

In in other words, you are spiritually unprepared for anything

Verse 18: "I counsel you to buy from Me gold purified by fire… [the pure righteousness] …so that you may be rich; and white garments… [the Commandment-keeping of God] … so that you may be clothed, and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and to anoint your eyes with eye salve, so that you may see."

That's going to be quite a thing! Who is willing to admit that: 'I have blinded my own self by my own thoughts'—and perhaps also inspired of Satan the devil—to do that, and to come to repentance! You can't work it out yourself! You have to come to God in:

• tears
• repentance
• humility
• fasting
• confessing your sins
• understanding the idols of your mind
• understanding that you have put men or women before God
• understanding how you have been living

You can apply this whole thing to all of the Protestants, as well. The Catholics are just pure pagan!

Verse 19: "As many as I love…[phileo'–you're a friend of Christ] …I rebuke and chasten…."

The correction that comes from God; that comes from God's Spirit! That is when you see what you have done your heart is cut so that you're no more stubborn; that you come to God!

1-Cor. 3—let's see that this was also quite a thing that was within the Church there

1-Corinthians 3:11: "For no one is able to lay any other foundation besides that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ." What do you have in your church that:

• glorify men?
• glorify women?
• have doctrines that are not true?
• are not according to the Word of God?

You can take this and apply to anyone, any church, any group that professes the name of Christ! What does it say? Let all those who profess the name of Christ do what do righteously!

Verse 12: "Now, if anyone builds upon this foundation, gold… [which is pure] …silver, precious stones…"

All three of those, if they're put through fire, are purified! Made better! So, whatever trials we go through, we need to use those trials to help us purge away the dross of what we have been doing, and to be purified by the Spirit of God!

That's why Christ says, 'I counsel of you to buy of me gold tried in the fire.'

Right now the SDA Church is facing that head on! Even some of the leaders of the SDA Church have said that 'many Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ with the Adventists'! You see where it's going!

"…wood, hay or stubble… [those can be consumed by fire] …the work of each one shall be manifested…" (vs 12-13).

• we're all going to go through trials
• we're all going to have difficulties

"…for the day of trial will declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall prove what kind of work each one's is. If the work that anyone has built endures, he shall receive a reward. If the work of anyone is burned up, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved, yet, as through fire" (vs 13-15)—by the skin of your teeth!

Then Paul wants you to understand here's the important thing; what we need to realize with the Holy Spirit of God:

Verse 16: "Don't you understand that you are God's Temple, and that the Spirit of God is dwelling in you?"

Do we all realize the great connection that we have with God the Father and Jesus Christ directly? That's what it's all about!

Verse 17: "IF anyone defiles the Temple of God, God shall destroy him because the Temple of God is Holy, which temple you are. Let no one deceive himself…. [Is that what we read in Col. 2? Yes!] …If anyone among you thinks himself to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, so that he may be wise in God's sight. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God for it is written, 'He entraps the wise in their own craftiness.' And again, 'The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain'" (vs 17-20).

Rev. 3—the Laodiceans! This is quite a thing and we need to remember that God is dealing with us! When we deal with God and He with us:

• we need God's Spirit
• we need God's Truth
• we need God's love
• we need all of these things

Revelation 3:19: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore, be zealous and repent."

• don't be lukewarm
• don't be satisfied with what you have
• don't think that because you have some of this or some of that that everything is fine

NO! What you do today is for today, it's gone! What you do tomorrow hasn't yet come! So, don't spoil it by what you're doing today!

Verse 20: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. IF anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with Me."

What does this tell you? Many of those who think they are converted are not converted because Christ is not in them!

That's what it says! There may be a lot of people who need to really come to Christ and God the Father the way that they need to according to the Scriptures:

• in love
• in mercy
• in forgiveness
• in acknowledging of sin
• in coming to God
•  

Maybe you need to be baptized again!

I'll talk about that at another time, but this is the message to the Seven Churches, which shows that God is with us as long as we are with God! As we're growing and overcoming through the power of the Holy Spirit of God and the Word of God and letting that purify our minds and our hearts and our attitudes and what we do God is with us, and:

• we can look forward to the resurrection
• we can look forward to the Kingdom of God

But if there are things that we need to change of any of the things in the Seven Churches that are not right, that's what we need to look at! Take these two these two chapters of the book of Revelation and use that as a study guide and see what you can do to come closer to God!

• to get rid of your own ideas
• to get rid of your own doctrine
• to get rid of the doctrines of men

and stick to:

• the Word of God
• the Truth of God

and God will help you!

Scriptural References:

• Revelation 3:1-6
• Proverbs 16:1-2
• Proverbs 14:12
• Proverbs 16:3, 6-7
• Revelation 3:7-10
• Revelation 17:5-6
• Revelation 3:11-13
• Colossians 1:17-23
• Colossians 2:1-10, 18
• Revelation 3:14-19
• 1-Corinthians 3:11-20
• Revelation 3:19-20

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Matthew 4:4
• Luke 4:4
• John 14-17
• Revelation 13
• Leviticus 23

Also referenced: Booklet (coming soon)
Mystery, Babylon the Great

FRC:bo/po
Transcribed: 8/29/25

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