The End of the World, Part 4

We left off at the prophecy of Jesus Christ concerning the Church at Thyatira, in Revelation chapter 2. Thyatira represents the Church in prophecy during her downward trend resulting from compromise with the world. Pagan holidays were converted and given Christian meaning. Easter (an English corruption of Astarte, or Ashtoreth, or Ishtar: a fertility godess) replaced Passover, bringing with it acceptance for fertility rites using eggs and bunnies (reproduction). Christmas was advanced from its celebration at the Feast of Tabernacles on September 25th three months ahead to December 25th, a compromise with the sun worshipers who moved their day of celebration from December 21st (the winter solstice).

This was Thyatira, the Jezebel church.

Rev 2:20 But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.


Who was Jezebel? Literally, she was the wife of King Ahab back in the Old Testament. The following describes her influence on King Ahab:

1Ki 16:31 It wasn't enough that he committed the same sins as Jeroboam (Nebat's son). He [Ahab] also married Jezebel, daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon. Ahab then served and worshiped Baal.
1Ki 16:32 He built the temple of Baal in Samaria and set up an altar there.
1Ki 16:33 Ahab made poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah. He did more to make the LORD God of Israel furious than all the kings of Israel who came before him.

Upon marrying this woman, Ahab caused his nation to sin against God. The reference to Asherah is interesting when one takes into account the compromise that brought Easter [the day originally dedicated to Asherah] into the Church.

The compromise of Pergamum led to its logical conclusion here at Thyatira. But it had not worked itself to completion yet. Sardis was next.


Rev 3:1 And to 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 thou art dead.
Rev 3:2 Be thou watchful, and stablish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine fulfilled before my God.
Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep it, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Rev 3:4 But thou hast a few names in Sardis which did not defile their garments: and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.
Rev 3:5 He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Rev 3:6 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

The Church basically died. It had a name as if it lived, but was dead. Had you been there at the time, you might have seen the beautiful cathedrals that were built in the days of this prophecy. They still stand today as wonders of the world. But again, had you been there then, you would have witnessed the crusades. You would have seen heretics tortured, and burned alive. You would have seen heads on the ends of poles. You would have heard of the abuse of power by priests and popes. It may have had an appearance of grandeur, but death was everywhere.

Yet there was a few names that stood out. John Huss was burned for preaching to his congregation in a language they could understand. He will walk in white. John Wycliffe was another. And God was working in the hearts of Luther and Zwingli. Other names include Michael Sattler, Conrad Grebel, Menno Simons and others who would ultimately break away from that which had died and return to the Word of God.


Rev 3:7 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 none shall shut, and that shutteth, and none openeth:
Rev 3:8 I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name.
Rev 3:9 Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them which say they are Jews, and they 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.
Rev 3:10 Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Rev 3:11 I come quickly: hold fast that which thou hast, that no one take thy crown.
Rev 3:12 He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.
Rev 3:13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

Here is a church with no condemnation. It is a persevering church, holding on to the word of God's patience. This church has a promise that it will be kept from the time of trial that will come upon the earth.
It could probably date roughly from the time of the First Great Awakening (1700's?) through the missionary movement of the 1800s and my estimation is that it is over, or very close to its end. Such names as D.L. Moody, John Wesley, Charles Finney, C.H. Spurgeon, George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards, Billy Sunday are among those who represent the Philadelphian age of the Church. Recent names who have been part of it and will be kept from the time of trial include Jerry Falwell (recently deceased), Billy Graham (soon to pass), James Dobson (already had a stroke), J. Vernon McGee (radio gospel preacher, deceased), Oliver Green (radio gospel preacher, deceased).
The Philadelphian generation is about over. Those who were part of it, and are part of what is left will be kept from the time of trial yet to come.

But the last age of the Church has already begun. There is no promise of relief for those numbered in the modern liberal crowd: the church at Laodicea represents the last age of the Church.


Rev 3:14 And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:
Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Rev 3:16 So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and have gotten riches, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art the wretched one and miserable and poor and blind and naked:
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold refined by fire, that thou mayest become rich; and white garments, that thou mayest clothe thyself, and that the shame of thy nakedness be not made manifest; and eyesalve to anoint thine eyes, that thou mayest see.
Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20 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.
Rev 3:21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

Lukewarm is the order of the day. We call that "Politically Correctness" here in America. You can no longer call homosexuality an abomination. It might be considered a hate crime. Drunkenness is no longer a sin, it is a disease called alcoholism. And sex between a man and a woman is nobody's business except the two involved: even if it is the President of the United States. These days bad is good and good is bad. Moral relativity is the norm. And the Church is right in the middle of it all.
Gay ministers, women pastors, members living with mates outside of wedlock: yet they proclaim to know Jesus.
Jesus says He doesn't know what these people are. They are neither hot nor cold. And He spews them out of His mouth, and says there is going to be a trial by fire, and chastening is going to happen.

We are on the edge of the end of the world. We have reached the age of the Church where Christ is standing at the door.

Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

And people act just like the did when Noah entered the ark. And the flood came and took them all away.

More to come? We'll see.