F C BI BL E ST UDY

THE RE VEL AT IO N O F C H R IST I II

II Thessalonians 2:1-3,

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our
gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or
troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the
day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day
will not come unless the falling away comes rst, and the man of sin is
revealed, the son of perdition…”

The Apostle is writing to the church of Thessaloniki.

But….

These letters would have been circulated to the other churches as well — so we see
this message is for the churches.

Notice Paul’s message to them is:

• “The Day of Christ,” hasn’t yet come
• “The Day of Christ,” will only come after something called: “The falling away,”
happens rst.
• “The Day of Christ,” will only happen after the coming of the “man of sin, the
son of perdition.”

Then verses 5-8 go on to say…

“Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own
time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now
restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one
will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth
and destroy with the brightness of His coming.”

Notice the Apostle says:

• The church knows — what is restraining the coming of the “lawless one.”
• The church knows — that he will be revealed in his own time.
• The church knows — that he cannot be revealed until the body of Christ on the
earth is “taken away…”
• The church knows — that “the Lord will consume the lawless one with the
brightness of His coming.” [The Second Coming of Christ]

So…

With that said…

Let us introduce the SIGNS OF THE END for the CHURCH AGE.
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 SIGNS OF TH E E N D [ C H U RC H AG E ]

Introduction

Revelation 1:1

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—
things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signi ed it by His angel
to His servant John,”

Verse 3…

“Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and
keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”

And, then, verses 10-20 go on to declare…

“I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of
a trumpet, saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and,
“What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in
Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to
Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with
me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of
the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down
to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair
were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a ame of re; His
feet were like ne brass, as if re ned in a furnace, and His voice as the sound
of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a
sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its
strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right
hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am
He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I
have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen,
and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The
mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven
golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and
the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”

This is rst:

• A prophecy to the Stars [Seven angels of the seven churches]

• A prophecy to the seven churches

Who are the SEVEN ANGELS of the SEVEN CHURCHES?

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 Well…

The greek word for “angel” is: messenger.

So…

We can deduce — because they are in the right hand of God, and that the Apostle
is instructed to write and deliver to them these prophetic words:

• That these “angels” are not the guardian spirits over the churches.

• Rather, these are the “messengers,” or ministers of these churches.

Now…

Who are the SEVEN CHURCHES?

Well…

A close look at this prophecy reveals that John is speaking of SEVEN SPECIFIC
PERIODS of the church age.

While there were more than seven churches in Asia at the time of this prophecy,
God purposefully selected these seven for a distinct purpose.

And…

That purpose is revealed in verse 19…

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the
things which will take place after this…”

When we compare these words with the rst thing John hears and writes after
giving his message to the seven churches in…

Revelation 4:1

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And
the rst voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying,
“Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.””

We can clearly know that the “after this,” is after the church is taken away in the
RAPTURE.

So…

Let us look at the prophecies concerning the SEVEN CHURCHES.

Ephesus - The Day of Pentecost - 96 AD [The writing of the

Revelation of Christ]

The name Ephesus means: DESIRED.

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The FIRST CHURCH — the church of the Acts of the Apostles — was God’s desire for
the church.

For He says in Revelation 2:2-3,

““I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those
who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are
not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience,
and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.”

However…

At the end of this CHURCH AGE — due to a lack of fervency — apostasy began to
creep in.

So…

Revelation 2:4-5 says,

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your rst love.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the rst
works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its
place—unless you repent.”

The church must always measure itself by the FIRST CHURCH in its:

• Works

• Labor

• Discernment

• Patience

• Perseverance

• & Endurance

As well…

The church must:

• Be always fervent in its love

• Remember from where it has fallen

• Be quick to repent

And, furthur…

Verse 6 says the church must hate what God hates…

“But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans [They put the
stumbling block of spiritual indifference & sensual promiscuity in the way of God's
people], which I also hate.”

The prophecy ends with a promise…

Revelation 2:7
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 ““He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him
who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of
the Paradise of God.” ’”

Smyrna - 96 AD - 316 AD

Smyrna means: DEATH & SUFFERING.

Truly the pages of history are stained with the blood of martyrs during this church
age.

Jesus rst addressed this church with the words,

“These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:”

He was letting the church of this period that He was the rst one to suffer.

He went on to say in Revelation 2:9,

““I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich)…”

And, then in verse 10 He says…

“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the
devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and
you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you
the crown of life.”

The prophecy again ends in a promise to the suffering church…

Verse 11…

““He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who
overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’”

Pergamos - 316 AD - 500 AD

Pergamos is derived from three Greek words:

• “Peri” - meaning: WITH

• “Gammio” - meaning: MARRIAGE

• “Cosmos” - meaning: WORLD

Thus the name “Pergamos” means: THE CHURCH MARRIED TO THE WORLD.
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When the blood of the martyrs only fanned the ame of new believers & disciples
around the world, Satan changed tactics — merging the church in an unholy union
with the Pagan Roman government.

As we see in Revelation 2:13-14, Pergamos was a compromised church…

“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is [Rome]….”

He says…

“You held fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in
which Antipas was My faithful martyr [During either the persecution of Nero, or
Domitian], who was killed among you, where Satan dwells [Rome]. But I have a
few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine
of Balaam [The gospel for hire], who taught Balak to put a stumbling block
before the children of Israel...” \

In Timothy, Paul calls them “…“men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth,
who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.”

In verse 16 God warns…

“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will ght against them with the
sword of My mouth.”

In other words…

Compromisers not only will be judged by the Word of God — but the Word of God
works against them.

For Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me
in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out
demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will
declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!’”

And, then we receive the promise in Revelation 2:17…

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him
who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give
him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows
except him who receives it.” ’”

The food from idols won't sustain spiritually.

So…

The hidden manna is the promise of His Spirit to sustain those who hear and do
the will & Word of God.

In receiving the hidden manna — we will receive a white stone of acquittal (a

common practice in Greek courts) and will enter the gates of heaven.
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Thyatira - 500 AD - 1500 AD

Thyatira means: CONTINUAL SACRIFICE.

Secular history names this time well: “the dark ages.”

Thyatira was the corrupted church.

This was the period at which the Roman church, and the Papacy dominated the
people and chained God’s Word.

Masses, penance’s, and continual sacri ce replaced the original Gospel of faith &
freedom in Jesus Christ.

This was the time of: “the great falling away,” Paul prophesied in II Thessalonians
2:3.

In Revelation 2:19, God says…

““I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your
works, the last are more than the rst.”

While many residents of Thyatira worshiped the sun god, the faith of believers at
Thyatira was still in Jesus, the Son of God.

Furthermore, they engaged in service.

The word "service" comes from the same Greek word translated into the term
deacon.

It suggests relief work.

Apparently the church reached out compassionately with assistance to the poor.

In Thyatira, if a person did not belong to a trade union, he found it dif cult to
provide for his family.

Fortunately, the church was there to help the needy.

But as we read furthur…

We discover that although a church may be zealous for certain Christian qualities,
distortions can neutralize its effectiveness for Christ.

Thyatira was a church that did many wonderful things, but it distorted Christianity
in other things.

For verse 20 goes on to say…

“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman
Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants...”

And verse 22 warns…

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 “Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her
into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.”

And nally in verses 24-26 God declares & promises,

“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this
doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on
you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who
overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over
the nations—”

Although there are many ways the corrupted Church of Rome, like Jezebel, taught
& seduced the people, the rebuke seems to be focused upon the phrase; “as
many as do no have this doctrine…”

Like Jezebel, the Church of Rome led people away from the worship of One God,
to the worship of a plurality of God’s.

And…

The prophecy calls this, “spiritual adultery.”

Sardis - 1500 AD - 1900 AD

Sardis means: ESCAPING

This was a time when believers began to escape out from under the darkness of
an apostate church.

History calls it the “Great Reformation.”

This church age, its return to Biblical truths, as well as its challenges are clearly
described in Revelation 3:2-5,

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die,
for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how
you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not
watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will
come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not de led
their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He
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 Reformation was a period of remembering rst church foundational truths, but
in ts and starts.

Here the prophecy is accurately telling the history of how there were those who
were:

• Watchful
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 • Strengthening what remained of rst church truth

• Remembering how those things were received and heard

• Remained unde led by the apostasy of the Roman Church

While also recognising the existence of those who were:

• Not perfect

• Not watchful

• Blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life

Unfortunately, there were certain commitments to the traditions established by the

apostate church that remained.

Such as:

• The plurality of gods

• The spiritual adultery of deifying man by praying to the “saints” & Mary.

• Baptising in titles and not the name of the Lord Jesus.

God says to this church age in Revelation 3:1…

“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are
dead.”

The apostle Paul describes this same apostasy in II Timothy 3:5, where he says
they…

“Have a form of godliness but deny its power. And from such people turn
away!”

In verses 7-9, he adds…

“They are always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the
truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will
progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.”

Jannes and Jambres were the Egyptian magicians who with illusion, imitated the
miracles of Moses with the staff.

And…

One of the greatest illusions from the apostate church that is still among
Christianity today is:

• Ritual without relationship

• Tradition without truth

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 • Preaching without power

Notice the foundation of the rst church in Acts 4:7-8, 10-12

“And when they had set Peter and John in the midst, they asked, “By what
power or by what name have you done this?” Then Peter, lled with the Holy
Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: let it be known
to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of
Nazareth, whom you cruci ed, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this
man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by
you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation
in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by
which we must be saved.””

Now…

Many believe that the nal two churches addressed in Revelation will
simultaneously be in existence when the Lord takes His church.

One is full of the Spirit of God while the other is full of the spirit of this world.

Philadelphia & Laodicea 1900 AD - Present

Laodicea means: INDIFFERENT

The prophecy states in Revelation 3:15…

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot..”

As the end of the church age approaches, we can expect “Lukewarmness” in

believers to increase.

Revelation 3:17 describes why the endtime church will grow lukewarm.

God says to the Laodicean church, “Because you say:”

• I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing

• and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked

God is saying that there will be an element of the endtime church that will be rich
in:

• Buildings

• Programs

• Events

• Activities
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 And recognised for:

• Its contributions

• Its social organising

• Its media presence & prowess

Falling short of those things which truly matter, and that truly count.

Such as:

• Transformation [De nition: a marked change in form, nature, or appearance.]

• Deliverance [De nition: the action of being rescued or set free.]

• Power [II Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power
(to overcome) and of love and of a sound mind.”]

In II Timothy 3:1-5, the Apostle Paul says that there will be an element in the
endtime church which will be full of:

• Pride

• Blasphemy

• Unthankful

• Unholy

• Sexually immoral

• Misrepresentation

• Temperamental

• Jealousy

The two phrase which sum up this element of the endtime church are:

“Lovers of their own selves.” [Self-seeking]

And…

“Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” [Sensation-seeking]

In a recent survey across a wide representation of Protestant denominations,

ministers and administration of these denominations were asked:

• Is the Bible the inspired Word of God?

• Do you believe in the virgin birth of Jesus?

• Do you believe in the literal resurrection of Jesus?

• Is there a literal heaven, or hell?

A majority of those questioned answered — NO!

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 Recently a major church denomination implemented a new code on sexual
conduct.

It practically eliminated the reference of immoral, or un-natural sexual relations as

being sinful.

Many believers have discontinued the practice of gathering weekly for worship.

You be the judge — are we seeing the evidence of the Laodicean church?

The lukewarm church is encouraged to be zealous and repent.

God says to it in Revelation 3:18,

“I counsel you to buy from Me gold re ned in the re, that you may be rich;
and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your
nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you
may see.”

However…

Not all the signs of the endtime are negative.

For Peter said in Acts 2:17-18,

“‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My
Spirit on all esh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young
men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My
menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall prophesy.”

Jesus predicted in Matthew 24:14, that the Gospel of the Kingdom would be
preached in all nations, beginning at Jerusalem, and then the end would come.

He said in Mark 13:10 concerning the end…

“And the Gospel must rst be published among all nations”

Presently, 96 percent of the world has access to the Word of God in their
language, and the remaining 4 percent is quickly coming to fruition through
digital means.

There are more believers today who profess to be born again, lled with the Holy
Spirit, and empowered by the same than at any other time in history COMBINED!

Not only does the declining condition of mankind, and the lukewarm church point
to the END-TIME for the church age, but the revival of the church, and the
outpouring of the Spirit of God around the world also testify that the Lord is soon
to gather His church.

What church?

The Philadelphia church!

For Revelation 3:7-13 de nes this church, and this church age so well…
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““And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He
who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and
no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: “I know your works. See, I have
set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little
strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will
make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but
lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know
that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I
also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole
world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly!
Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who
overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go
out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city
of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My
God. And I will write on him My new name. “He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’”