The Fifth Seal – Part Three

We now trace John’s movement from seeing Jesus as He is to the “open heaven,” where he is afforded the revelation of the Church as God sees it. It is not within the scope of this writing to delve into the particulars of all seven, but we need to know that His estimation of His Church is often substantially different from the ethos of His people.

The Seven Letters Of God
To His Church

“The mystery of the seven stars which you saw on My right, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are angels of the seven assemblies, and the seven lampstands you saw are seven assemblies.”
Revelation 1:20

With this temper of heart, we see John the Apostle on the Isle of Patmos caught up in the Spirit and shown God’s perspective concerning HIS Church. We see the sharp sword of His Spirit as God reveals the condition of the seven locations of HIS Church amidst their error and compromise.(Revelation 1:16)

These revelations apply to His Church in every age. The failures of each, the struggles, and the admonitions of God are always present tense to His Own that they might withstand the folly of their day. In every age of the Church, there are the erring ones, but there are also the remnant who have ears to hear.

We need but a casual reading of His divine admonitions unto each church to see the truth of these things in our day. For example, we see the spirit of the Laodicean church flagrantly declaring their prosperity gospel. A carefully crafted confession of faith that minimizes sin to the point of a flagrant declaration of “we have need of nothing” as we console ourselves with a declared righteousness. The horror of such a deception always culminates in lukewarm living and a callousness to its true condition. God’s response to such an attitude is to spit it out of His mouth.

“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
Revelation 3:16-17 (LITV)

There is often a vast difference between His church’s confession and its actual condition. Whenever we fail to hold His Word to measure our walk, our attitudes, and our motives, we move from the place of security into the shadows of religion.

His words fly in the face of our gospel today as one of the greatest travesties of all time. May we grasp His estimation of those who hold to such frivolous concepts in His House! Our prosperity gospels, flippancy towards sin, and the unsanctified things we allow in our midst have brought us to the precipice of judgment. It is time to consider our ways and repent so that He may turn us again from our pride and hardened hearts to a spirit of brokenness and humility. May He restore us to the joy of His Salvation that we may again be clothed in the garments of His salvation.

“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.”
Revelation 3:4

Please listen to short segments of the PODCAST – The Church At Sardis

The Throne Room of God

John, in Revelation 4, is brought into the throne room as he beholds the inner workings of God in His Holy habitation. John, moving in the Spirit, observes the Throne and HIM who sits upon it; One like unto Jasper (see Foundations of The City – Jasper) with the encircling Rainbow, unhindered by earth’s limitations, speaking to us of the unbroken nature of His promises and person.

John’s gaze then moves to one of the most startling sights found in this place of Glory: 24 elders bearing golden crowns, giving testimony to their victories in Christ. The astounding fact is that they are at HOME in His Glory. Oh, may we comprehend what awaits those who “overcome” in our day! These precious ones represent ALL who stood true to declare His truth, His way, and His worth amid the perversity of their day. These now stand for eternity in His very presence. These have not rested in some flippant confession of Him; they are those who risked their lives unto death and stood against the evil and tyranny of their day.

Will we be of such mettle? Will we stand when the fires of all that is unholy, all that is false, all that for a short moment has been given over to the present authority of darkness (as Jesus before Pilate), to overcome as the true saints in this hour? (Revelation 3:21)

“I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints,
and prevailed against them…”
Daniel 7:21

Will our vision hold us in this day, which is about to break upon the face of the whole world? It is here that the “endurance of the saints” and His Victory are revealed. This endurance of His saints is the precursor to the rising up of OUR ANCIENT OF DAYS!

“Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.”
Daniel 7:22

(Continued in Part Four)

The Sealed Book

(This article is best read as one document, but it is broken down into shorter segments to ensure maximum retention.)

The Fifth Seal Series:

The Fifth Seal – Part One

The Fifth Seal – Part Two

The Fifth Seal – Part Four

The Fifth Seal – Weep Not

The Fifth Seal – Part Six – The Sealed Book

 

Brian Troxel