Presently, with our brothers and sisters in Shillong, we are studying the Book of Revelation, and we’ve just completed Chapters 2 and 3, the messages to the Seven Churches.
We need to realize that Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8). The same standard of judgment He used when He inspected the Seven Churches of Asia-Minor is the same standard He uses when He inspects, tests and judges our Christian congregations and fellowships today.
These two chapters tell us volumes about the KIND OF CHURCH WHICH IS ACCEPTABLE TO JESUS CHRIST, and receives His commendation, and that which falls below HIS standards.
I wonder if the common-accepted-standard of what is Church and Christianity today, falls below the standards of the Seven Churches?
He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. Revelation 3:22
August 2, 2012 at 4:35 am
Perhaps even the very concept that Jesus is in the midst of His Churches and that He Himself executes judgment against sin in His Churches is virtually unknown today.
(Hebrews 12:5-13). Illegitimate “Christians” are exempt from Jesus executing His discipline, as they are not children of God, therefore they will be able to “get away” with sin and not be under Jesus discipline, until they are judged on Judgment Day. True Christians can’t “get away with it”.
The elders should judge sin in the Church, and if they don’t, then Jesus will “visit the Church” in judgment (Please refer to Revelation Ch 2 and 3)
August 2, 2012 at 11:21 am
Very true! Pardon my being incommunicado. Have been busy!
August 14, 2012 at 8:07 pm
I think these chapters show that Christians should not be a member of ungodly or dead churches. Sometimes new converts have been told to stay in their churches and try to renew them (example: the Catholic church) Since churches are clearly judged by God, it is best that we belong to the one that is closest to practicing true Biblical principals, regardless of denomination.
August 15, 2012 at 1:07 am
Welcome to my blog SD!
Interesting question: Are “churches” today judged by God?
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your lampstand out of its place, except you repent.
As per this verse, if a church is indeed a lampstand, then Jesus will judge it, just as He “visited” and judged the Seven Churches in Asia-Minor (Rev 2-3).
If Jesus removes the lampstand (due to them ignoring His commands) then the church may go on, but Jesus no longer sees it as a church, and the judgment on it comes in the form that it is no longer under Jesus discipline, they are on their own, without Him rebuking or correcting them.
If a person or group is not subject to Jesus’ judgment, THAT itself is their judgment – Jesus treating them as illegitimate and not as children (Heb 12).
And we see that happening today, in that the most “successful” Christian “churches” are actually the most apostate ones, and they are not under God’s judgment (for now) but “add sin upon sin” and seem to get away with it, for now.
Rev 17 explains this: the great harlot is very successful, and seems immune from judgment, until finally and suddenly she is judged and destroyed.
August 16, 2012 at 1:31 am
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are raised up; yea, they that test God are even delivered.
Then they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.
Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.
(Malachi 3:15-18)
August 16, 2012 at 1:55 am
This is for the Righteous,
to “..discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.”
It is gross spiritual blindness NOT TO discern truth from error, righteousness from corruption.
Those who don’t like this and say “Don’t judge!” are simply revealing how deep a darkness they are in.
Daniel 12:10 “Many shall be purified, and made white, and refined; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand”.
The reason people don’t understand is bcos their heart is still set on their sin, and the reason some understand is bcos their sins have been purged and washed away by the precious Blood of Christ and their hearts are set on Him and on nothing else.