Sardis and Philadelphia (Revelation 3:1-13, 1 Thess. 4:15-18, Matthew 24:29-31, Ephesians 5:28-31)

"Our 22nd Anniversary"
I think God created roses for husbands, to make up for all the laundry we wash.
Hope you can smell these, they are so beautiful.

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

We had a great anniversary this year.  My husband took me out for a nice dinner, and I felt spoiled.  I'm so grateful for our marriage.  The people at the restaurant were thrilled that we had been married for 22 years.  It's not very common in the USA today.  We even got some extra goodies : )  Here's the Bible marriage verses:

28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
(Ephesians 5:28-31 NKJV)

Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank You and praise You for marriage, love and all that is good.  I lift up those who are facing war, or the prospect of war.  Please grant our world leaders wisdom as to what to do.  I pray You will guide the nations to work together.  Help our president to comprehend what is happening and how quickly it can be stopped.  Grant courage and strength where it is needed most.  Please send the angels to help us out.  

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
10 Set the world right;
Do what's best––
  as above, so below.
11 Keep us alive with three square meals.
12 Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
13 Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
  Yes. Yes. Yes .
(Matthew 6:9-13 Message)

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Back to Revelation

Sardis - The Dead Church

This is not what any of us would want to hear about our Church, Dead!  Yikes!
1 “ And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
“These things says He who has the seven Spirits (Isaiah 11:2 Spirit of the Lord, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord) of God and the seven stars (angels of the Churches):‘I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 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. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 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.
6 “ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
(2 Peter 3:10 NKJV)

Don't know about you but I really like hearing about the good Churches : )  Philadelphia is a good Church.  It's not the USA town, it's from a long time before us.  Jesus calls this the Faithful Church.  I think most of us want to be known as faithful people who keep commitments and don't pretend to be things we aren't.  I'm a Christian by choice.  I'm glad even though some don't understand it.

Philadelphia - The Faithful Church
7 “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”:8 “ 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 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.
13 “ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
(Revelation 3:1-13 NKJV)

There's more detail about all this as we read through Revelation.  Some important things to remember is God loves us and wants us to win the battles we face.  Holding on to our faith is critical and Jesus knows and appreciates how hard it is at times.  He was tested and tempted as we are and has compassion for us.  However, He never sinned. These letters were written so we would know how God sees the Churches.

One thing I forgot to define for folks is the difference between the Rapture and the Great Tribulation.  The rapture is when Jesus will call us to Himself. We'll rise through the air and be with Him.  It's believed the Great Tribulation will come after the rapture.  It is the time when people will need to choose right from wrong.  People will be able to accept Christ as Savior up until the end of the Great Tribulation.  

The Rapture
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
(1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 NKJV)

End of the Great Tribulation
29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
(Matthew 24:29-31 NKJV)

Here's a song from Chris Tomlin, "Indescribable" (link)