Now what is a temptation that is coming upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth?  A lot of people think it is the tribulation but the tribulation, though it affects many people in the world, there are still human beings left over at the end of the tribulation even when Christ returns they survive through it.  So this has to be before it.  And He is going to keep us from that time of temptation.  Now, does that mean that we will flee to a place of safety?  Possibly.  We’ll look at that in just a minute.  But let’s look at the temptation that is coming. 

Come to Revelation 13.  This is the temptation that is coming, and it will be two-fold.  Now I know we’ve covered this before but we are living in these days so we need to cover it again.  Verse 11, “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.”  It’s the coming one world religion.  “And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.  And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,”   Now here is the deception - the temptation.  “And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth…”  Now that’s exactly the same thing that is back there in verse 10 of Revelation 3.  “…Saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast…”  And the image of the beast has always been the female goddess - always.  That’s why today’s education is so much involved in environmentalism so that they can get in line with Gaia, which is Mother Earth, or the Virgin Mary, or the Virgin of Guadeloupe, or whatever other virgin, the Virgin of Fatima, whatever.  It’s all the same thing.  So they make an image for the beast “… which had the wound by a sword, and did live.  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (Rev. 13:11-15). 

So the temptation is going to be, “You make this image to the beast and you bow down to worship it or you’re going to be killed.”  That’s one part of it.  Christ gave the promise to the Philadelphians that they would be spared from the hour of temptation that temptation. 

Now notice what else happens here, verse 16.  “And he causeth all…”  Now you might go down here to verse 14 meaning “all that dwell on the earth”.  Do we today have the power to do something to all on the earth for the first time in the world’s history?  Yes we do.  “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in [the Greek there is epi or “upon”] their right hand, or in their foreheads:”  Now we’ve covered it concerning the Digital Angel.  Small little chip the size of a dime and they’ll get it smaller, which is called a transceiver. 

And as I mentioned years ago before the information ever came out concerning the Digital Angel chip, which they are perfecting right now, that it is not just a system to buy and sell.  But it is a system of control.  A transceiver means that someone out there with the same kind of mechanism that they have with the satellites that they use for cellular phones, they can actually with this Digital Angel take away your free moral agency by making you do what they want you to do.  And as I said, that’s why the mark of the beast is so absolutely treacherous because you give up your choice.  And since you have chosen God and God has chosen you, if you give up your choice you are giving up God.  That’s why the mark of the beast is so damnable.

Now notice verse 17. “And that no man might buy and sell, save he that had the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”  And the number is 666.  The number 666 applies to the first beast of Revelation 13, and the second beast of Revelation 13, which is wrapped up in all the Babylonian mystery religion system. 

Now let’s understand something here with this.  Today there is a vast criminal movement going on, which they can hardly stop, which is this:  the theft of not only you’re financial things such as credit cards, bank statements and things like this, but the theft of your identity, that with these things they can in a planned way take everything out of your bank account.  Even one company worth $20 million was taken down in five hours and they had to declare bankruptcy and they didn’t know who did it.  Now I suggest you do all you can to protect your personal identity and everything like that.  And don’t throw out bank statements and bills in the garbage in the street.  And any checks that you write, by all means use permanent ink, because they can take your checks, they can drop them into a solution - eliminates all the ink, but it keeps all of the markings and everything, the printing for the bank on there and they can fill it out to their hearts desire.  And since they have your number they can get into the bank and find out how much you have.  So you protect it.

So the solution to this will be the mark of the beast so we will have full proof identity of who you are.  Whether you are on-line with the computer, or buying and selling in a store, or whatever it may be.  And I think the mark of the beast will be voluntary at first.  But don’t worry, they are targeting everyone who believes in the Bible anyway.  So you are already marked one way or the other.  So it gets down to this:  will you be a true Philadelphian and trust in Christ?  Or will you look to save your own life but lose it eternally?  Well the Philadelphian chooses to trust God.

Now let’s come back here to Revelation 3:11 and let’s get the time setting here on this.  Now I’m sure there are other things that we could add to this.  Many other scriptures, but I want to finish in seven tapes so we’ll save some of these things for a little later.  Suffice to say that the attitude that the Philadelphian has…let’s go to Philippians 2…here is the, what you might say, the perfect loving Philadelphia attitude described by the apostle Paul. 

Philippians 2:1, “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love [now I want you to notice how these verses fit in so well with the Philadelphian church of God], if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies [now bowels means “deep innermost affection”], fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind [and that means minding the one and selfsame thing, that is attaining to the kingdom of God].  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory [because a true Philadelphian will not do that]; but in lowliness of mind [recognizing your weaknesses, if I can just interject that there] let each esteem [the] other better than themselves” (Phil. 2:1-3).  And that applies not only for brethren, but that applies for elders and teachers and ministers in relationship to the brethren.  Paul said that he wanted to see the Corinthians elevated to a high status of spirituality.  And that should be the goal of any minister, any elder.  And to see the brethren promoted, yes, above him spiritually.  That is true love. 

Verse 4, “Look not every man on his own things [to get your own, save your own], but every man also on the things of others.  And let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”, which then was the mind of true humility that the Philadelphians have.  “Who, being in the form of God [or that is existing as God], thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant [which in the Greek means “slave”], and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death even the death of the cross” (vs. 4-7). 

Now, what it means that we’re going to have to do if we’re Philadelphians, I don’t know.  But I know this: God is the one Who makes the decision and the choice.  So what we need to do is conform our lives to the word of God and the truth of God so that we will function as Philadelphians without having to go around and trumpet our horn and say we are Philadelphians.  Because know this for sure:  anyone who proclaims himself to be a Philadelphian probably is not.  What they want to do is escape to go to a place of safety. 

Now let’s come back to Revelation 3 and let’s finish up here with the church at Philadelphia.  Then He gives a warning, verse 11.  “Behold, I come quickly…”  So there’s the time setting.  Right close toward the end of the age.  Now quickly to God, or to Christ may be slow to men because some men will say, “My Lord delays His coming.”  But He isn’t delaying His coming.  He’s right on time.  The only problem is carnal men have their own time schedule and Christ is not going to go by carnal men’s time schedule.  He’s going to go by the time schedule of God the Father.  “…Hold that fast which thou hast [don’t let anyone take it away], that no man take thy crown.”  So what we’re seeing happening with a lot of brethren who may have been Philadelphians to begin with, someone is stealing their crown because they are not holding fast.

Now notice this superlative.  This promise to this church is the superlative promise to any of the seven churches.  Verse 12, “Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of My God…”  And a pillar is one of the strong supports.  “…And he shall go no more out…”  In other words he will stay right there in the temple of God.  Of course he will go in and out from there but he’s not going to go out from there and not come back.  “…And I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him My new name.” 

Now I’m just going to interject here, just, I don’t have my bell out today.  So just consider that I rang the bell.  I believe that verse 12 describes the ones who are in the first resurrection who will be the bride of Christ more than any other.  Now that’s just my opinion, so it’s not dogma.  But when you look at all of it there.  The name of the Father, the name of Jerusalem, and the name of Christ.  And what happens when a bride gets married?  Takes the name of the husband, correct?  Yes.  So I’ll leave it at that. 

Let’s go on.  Let’s finish here and we’ll do the Laodiceans quickly.  We’ve beaten enough on the Laodiceans enough so we don’t need to spend very much time on them.  We’ve spent lots of time on them. 

Ok, verse 13.  “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”  And isn’t it profound that one of the most basic themes in the Bible is to obey the voice of God.  And if you obey, that means you hear.  So He lays it out for everyone. 

Now, the church of the Laodiceans.  Big, bad, nasty Laodiceans, you know.  Let me say before we get into that, that Christ loves the Laodiceans, but they have some very difficult problems to work on and overcome.

Verse 14, “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the [beginner] beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot [cold means being unconverted, hot means being converted].  So then because thou art lukewarm…”  You’re half carnal, you’re half spiritual, you’re right in-between.  And right here I’ve got a lukewarm partial cup of coffee.  And when you try and drink that you just don’t like it.  So then because you are “…lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth [and that means vomit].  Because thou sayest…”  Now this is the only church of the seven that has the gall and audacity to talk back to God.  Now they don’t think they’re talking back to God, but they are.  “…Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods…”  They are trusting in all the physical things as evidence of their great conversion, yet they’re corrupt.  “…And have need of nothing…” 

Now when you talk about physical things, let’s understand something.  Physical blessings do indeed come from God.  But let’s understand something else, if you compromise the way that you believe, as the Laodiceans have here, and become lukewarm can also Satan the devil reward you for that and you deceive yourself that this comes from God?  No question about it.  Remember during the temptation of Jesus Christ, Matthew 4 and Luke 4.  What did Satan tell Jesus Christ?  He took Him on a high mountain and he showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and all the glory of them.  And the glory of them means the riches, the wealth, the splendor, the buildings, the whole thing.  And he said, “If you will fall down and worship me all of this will be yours because I give it to whomsoever I will.”  So if you do, like this church group.  Here’s a perfect Laodicean attitude.  Let’s finish this first.

“…Have need of nothing; and knowest not [that is you cannot perceive or understand] that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (vs. 14-17).  Now this is one of the most scathing corrections.  I think the most scathing correction was for Thyatira because they got clear into the depths of Satan.  But here they don’t understand their spiritual condition.   They are not in right standing with Jesus Christ.  Their lives are miserable because they are not keeping the commandments of God the way that they should.  They are poor spiritually because they’re looking to all the physical things and saying, “Look at all of these things that we have.”  And isn’t that how the church we came out of measured their spiritual condition?  Yes.  Where is it now?  All removed, correct?  Cause if you trust in physical things God will remove them, and He has done it.  “…And blind…”  You can’t even understand your own spiritual condition.  “…And naked…”  Naked means you don’t have the righteousness of Christ through the garments.            

Now this is taken from off the line here, and this is reference to a congregation.  I don’t know where it is.  It starts out, “I suppose the problem arises from several sources…”  Now this is in relationship to “Lazarus and the Rich Man”, and “U.S. and Britain in Prophecy.”  “…Inconsistencies such as this don’t bother me any more because I’ve learned after lo these many years, that every question doesn’t necessarily need an answer.  Sometimes the best answer is ‘I don’t know’, which I’ve never said enough of.  Amen.  This concept of systematic theology is laudable…”  Now let me just say something.  What we do when we go through Romans and Colossian, and Ephesians, and Philippians, and Revelation, and take a topic and a subject and go through it, that is systematic theology.  That means you are systematically going through something so you can come to a full understanding of it .  And apparently this person was saying, “Look the way to understand these difficulties is to have a systematic way of analyzing it, of studying it so that you can come to the truth of the conclusion here. 

“This concept of systematic theology is laudable but I wonder if it is even necessary.  Far better to take the advise of the old Quaker, in Benjamin Franklin’s auto-biography.  When asked why he didn’t have a doctrinal statement, the Quaker told Franklin that such a statement would lock them into beliefs that might later prove to be wrong, and the statement would only make it harder to accept that.”  Which is a silly answer indeed.  How can you believe unless you have a form of belief based upon scripture.  And then you take that and put it into a statement of beliefs.  Now if there are some things you may learn, you need to change later, you can change it.  No problem.  That’s why we have a beliefs booklet that we send out to everyone. 

“I agree that we should not have a static doctrinal statement.  We already have the Bible for that.”  Now, if someone says, “What do you believe?”  You just hand them a Bible and say, “What do you believe - well read the Bible”. 

“Well, no, I want a summary on it.”

“Well, read the Bible.” 

What it really does is this: it means that you don’t believe anything.  And we’ll see what happens.

“A systematic theology is not a doctrinal statement.  It is a process for approaching the scriptures in a way that help us to recognize the inconsistency in our views of scripture and reconcile them.  This process generates a dynamic view of the Bible that changes as we grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”  So that was his answer to it.  Which is basically true.  And we do grow in grace and knowledge don’t we.

Now here’s the answer:  “I’m happy to say that our congregation doesn’t have a doctrinal statement.  So we have people who keep a different Passover date, different calendars, different ideas on who Jesus is, God in the flesh verses a created being, tithing, etc.  Some systematic theology we would have, but what we do have by the grace of God is people who truly enjoy being together.” 

Answer:  “I’m glad to hear of your diversity.  In the end the tolerance required to have such diversity may lead to greater unity.”  Go figure it out.

A comment was made:  “It doesn’t sound like they even have a doctrine.”  No wonder they don’t have a doctrinal statement.  And brethren do you realize how many people are out there that are buying into this kind of thing.  To have within the congregation all of these divergent beliefs.  And what is the rule?  You are dumbed down to the lowest common denominator.  And what is the lowest common denominator with people like this?  A social club.  They enjoy being together.  And a social club then becomes an idol because you have put getting along with people on a social basis before your relationship with God.  You have put how people think of you and feel about you before understanding the word of God, and how God looks at you and how God feels about you.  This describes a perfect Laodicean attitude of lukewarmness and wretchedness they can’t see, they can’t understand, they have no doctrine, they have no statement.  They have no spine, they have no backbone.  They are not cold.  They certainly are not hot.  They are lukewarm.  And another way of saying that is bland, bland, bland, bland.  They wouldn’t stand for anything. 

So Christ says verse 18, here’s the counsel for them.  “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire,   This does not necessarily mean the tribulation.  It could, because every person’s work is going to be tried by fire.  So what He’s saying, the trials and difficulties that are coming upon you because of being lukewarm and being spewed out of My mouth, I counsel you to gain spiritual of character of gold.  And just put in your margin there, 1 Corinthians 3:10 through the end of chapter.  I covered that when we went through the dead church of Sardis.  “…That thou may be rich…”  True spiritual riches, not just the physical things.  “…And white raiment…” Which then is the righteousness of the saints.  Which then is what?  Learn to obey.  Which means you need to learn the scriptures.  “…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.”  In otherwords strip back the scales that are still there.  The scales should be done away in Christ that you see.  So when someone is baptized and have the Spirit of Christ then the veil is removed and they begin to understand.  But the Laodiceans then close down the veil again over their eyes.  See, “…that you may see.” 

Here’s a little encouragement.  “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten…”  So God still loves them.  But just like with children they have to be rebuked and chastened.  “…Be zealous therefore, and repent” (vs. 19).  Repent of your attitude toward God.  Repent of stupidity like this congregation I just read of here. 

You know, they…I heard of one where they have everything under the sun.  One man gets up there to preach to them and says, “Well, I guess you would call me a believer in the trinity.”  Well if you haven’t proved the truth of God, if you haven’t proved that God is a family, if you haven’t got into the word of God…  And here he is a supposed minister.  Another minister gets up and says well, “I can’t find any place in the New Testament where it commands us to keep the Sabbath.”  Bingo!  Are you bringing in Sunday keeping?  Shows you he doesn’t know his Bible.  It’s amazing what goes on out there in the name of Christ, but it’s all Laodiceanism.  So they have to repent.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock…”  So Christ hasn’t given up on them yet.  He’s still knocking.  But what a thing that they thrust Christ out.  You know, it would be like you leaving your house and you locking yourself out of your house.  And you can’t get back in.   Well it’s the same way with those who thrust Christ out of their life.  Christ does not want that.  He’s knocking at the door. 

Now then, “…if any man…open…”  which means based upon repentance and the condition of if, you must open your mind to all your sins and your weaknesses, and your wretchedness’, and the high-fluting attitude of that every physical thing is a guarantee of the spiritual something and you don’t even see or understand the word of God.  “…If any man hear My voice, and open the door…”  You have to open.  Christ says, “I will come in to him [which then is real conversion], and will sup with him [that is you will have a relationship 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” (vs. 20-22).

So there is the seven church harvest representing the seven weeks of harvest that we have in counting toward Pentecost.  Now I want to go back and review just a few things here in very quick order.  So I want to go back and bring out all the things that describe Christ because we are dealing with God, we are dealing with Christ Who is God, {and} God the Father.  And remember the revelation came from the Father to Christ, and Christ gave that to John to write it down so it would be for all the churches.  But remember Christ is the head.  Christ is over all the churches.  So let’s just begin.

Revelation 1:11, “…I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last…” Revelation 1:17, “…I am the first and the last.”

Revelation 1:18, “I am He that liveth, and was dead [showing about His life and His crucifixion, resurrection]; and, behold, I am alive for evermore…and have the keys of hell and of death” [showing that He is the one Who can open the graves and bring us out because He was resurrected from the dead].

Revelation 2:1, “These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden [lampstands] candlesticks.” 

So Christ is walking in the midst of the Church always.  And when we gather together on the Sabbath and ask for Christ’s blessing and His Spirit, He will answer that prayer.  But we need to have open hearts and open minds in that continuously. 

Revelation 2:8, “These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive.

Revelation 2:12, “…Which hath the sharp sword with two edges…”

Revelation 2:18, “Who is “…the Son of God, Who hath His eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass.” 

I tell you what, we’re dealing with the power and authority of Christ.  That’s something.  When we really comprehend Christ is the head of the Church and He is working with all of His people, even the Laodiceans.  And if there’s anything we can do to help them come to repentance we should do that.  And that’s part of some of the things that we’ve been doing down through the years. 

Revelation 3:1, “These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars.”

Revelation 3:7, “These things saith He that is holy [and that is His nature is holy], He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth” [so Christ is the one Who controls all of this].

Revelation 3:14, “These things saith the Amen [meaning He has the final  authority], the faithful and true witness [witness there could also mean martyr because the Greek is martus], the [beginner] of the creation of God.” 

And all the way through the New Testament you find that everything was created by and for and through Christ. 

Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock [we just read that]: 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.”

So the Lord of glory, Christ, the one Who is head of the Church, is right now trying all the reins and hearts, as we saw with the church in Thyatira.  He knows all of our works.  He knows whether we’re lukewarm or zealous or dead.  He knows whether we’ve gotten off the track doctrinally and even into the things of Nicolaitanism, Balaaism,  and into the things concerning the depths of Satan.  He knows all of that.  And yet Christ calls out to His Church to repent and to change.  So you’ll have to come to Pentecost in order to find out about the harvest for the 50th day.  And that will conclude the harvest of the seven churches plus one.