“But Peter said, “I do not
possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In
the name of Jesus
Christ the Nazarene—walk!” (Acts 3:6)
In Revelation chapters two
through three our Lord identifies seven churches of Asia. These were real
churches during the days of the apostle John, each with its own
characteristics. These churches also characterize the Church from the time of
the apostles to today.
Ephesus – (Apostles) the
church of the apostolic age; legalistic
Ephesus was doctrinally
sound, but had lost their first love. The era ranged from about 30-100 AD and
the church had become legalistic.
Smyrna – (Martyrs) the church
under severe persecution; persecuted
Smyrna was faithful unto
death, and Jesus pronounced nothing against them. They suffered mightily for
the Lord. The era ranged from about 100-313 AD.
Pergamum – (Constantine) the
church settled in the world; liberal
Pergamum stayed true to the
Lord, but allowed the way of Balaam and the Nicolaitans to enter their midst.
The church began with Constantine and the era ranged from about 313-590 AD.
Thyatira – (Popes) the church
in idolatry; pagan & cultic
Thyatira’s strength was
service, but they allowed the spirit of Jezebel to corrupt them. This church
began with the popes and ran from about 590-1517 AD.
Sardis – (Reformation) the
church that is dead, yet with a believing remnant; dead
Sardis had no strengths. They
were a dead church. The era was the Reformation from about 1517-1790 AD.
Philadelphia – (Missionaries)
the church in revival; alive
Philadelphia was strong in
mission work, and Jesus offered no negative comments against them. The era was
about 1790-1900 AD.
Laodicea – (Apostate) the
church in the final stage of apostasy; worldly
Laodicea had nothing good
said about it by Jesus. Its weaknesses are that it is lukewarm, pompous,
apathetic and worldly. It began with the time of German criticism from about
1900 AD to present.
Even though remnants of some
of the churches can still be seen today, we are now in the final stage; i.e.
the Laodicean church.
When studying the book of
Acts isn’t it exhilarating to see the power of God that was in the beginning of
that Ephesian church age? In Acts 2:41 we are told that about 3,000 souls were
added to the Church. In Acts 4:4 we are told that 5,000 men heard and believed.
(Obviously, there were women and children that were also saved.) Keep in mind,
these numbers are from Scripture and are real, true numbers. I strongly
doubt that that many have been saved at one time since then.
God has not changed. The
Gospel has not changed. The power of God has not changed and is still readily
available. So what happened from then until now?
The church was growing in
leaps and bounds during the apostolic era (Ephesus) since the power of God was
unleashed.
Satan hated this of course,
so persecution became extreme (Smyrna). Much to Satan’s surprise, the church
grew even stronger. The blood of the saints just increased the roll call of
Heaven.
Satan decided that if
persecuting the Church made it grow, maybe it would be better to co-mingle it
with the world (Pergamum). This was accomplished through a Roman emperor named
Constantine who embraced the Church and welcomed it into the empire of Rome.
Sure enough, the fire quickly began to fade.
But that’s not enough, says Satan.
So popes and cardinals were installed to be over all the commoners in the
Church (Thyatira). The emphasis of the Church is taken from Christ and put upon
men and sacraments. One earthly man now determines what all will and will not
believe and follow.
Thankfully there was a
rebellion called the Reformation begun by Martin Luther who finally realized
that it is grace that saves, not works (Sardis). Splinter churches came from
this movement, but many of the practices of the Catholic Church were kept and
continued. Not much had changed but the actors on the scene. The church was
dead.
Only God can bring the dead
to life, and that He did on the mission fields (Philadelphia). Men gave their
lives to print the Holy Scriptures and put them in the hands of the commoner.
Many others gave their lives to carry the message of the true Gospel to their
own countries and others far away. Thousands upon thousands began coming to
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, but Satan wasn’t finished.
This would never do, so Satan
got men to thinking about higher criticism, and from German criticism we
learned that “God is dead.” We have now become so much smarter than God; we
don’t need Him (Laodicea).
Dr. J. Vernon McGee related an
incident that sums up what has happened to the Church down through the ages.
“An incident is told of one
of the early saints of the church in Rome who walked in on the pope as he was
counting money. Realizing that he had walked in on something which was private,
he started to walk out. The pope said to him, “No longer can the church say
‘Silver and gold have I none.’” As the saintly man continued walking out, he
said, “Neither can the church say to the impotent man, ‘Rise up and walk.’”
Look around you at our
churches today. What do we have? We have plenty of silver and gold. There are
millions of dollars in cash and assets owned by the churches of the 21st
century. How much of these ‘riches’ are being hoarded and used for selfish
gains? How much is being freely and gladly provided to further the Gospel of
Christ? Yes, we have the silver and gold, but we do not have the power.
Now before some get their
tail-feathers ruffled, some of our churches can be identified with Philadelphia,
for example, but by and large, we are neck deep in the Laodicean age. We think
we are rich, but we are poor. Now how can that be?
As Jesus said we are neither
hot nor cold. We think we’re rich and need nothing, but we are wretched,
miserable, poor, blind and naked.
Then He goes on to say, “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 3:18-22)
There were three critical
components of the Gospel the apostles always preached that we rarely hear
today.
Sin – We are sinners in need
of a Savior.
Blood – Jesus shed His blood
on the cross for us.
Resurrection – Jesus rose
from the grave.
We have no power because we
have forsaken what the Gospel is all about. It isn’t about buildings, bank
accounts, beautiful stages, comfortable pews, opinionated sermonettes, the good
life, no worries, no problems, health and wealth, and comfort. It is about:
“And he said to them all, If
any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,
and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
Grant Phillips
Email: grantphillips@windstream.net
Pre-Rapture Commentary: http://grant-phillips.blogspot.com
Rapture Ready: http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips.html
