ENDTIMES CHAT with GJ and DAN

EXPLANATION OF GOD’S JUDGMENT

The Lord Himself is very patient. To the church of Thyatira, he says, “I have given her time to repent.” How wonderful is God's long-suffering toward us. He gives us time to get right with Him, and we should never assume that He will not judge us.

(1 Corinthians 11:31-32 says, “But if we would examine ourselves, , we would not be judged by God in this way. Yet when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned along with the world.” God’s judgment is pronounced on those who do not repent in Thyatira (and maybe on the church in our day that follows the same patterns).

1. Physical disease for Jezebel

2. Great distress for her followers

3. Coming death for her children God's judgment should affect the attitudes of all the churches.

Verse 23 says, “Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds." The simple point here is that we cannot escape the judgment of God. We cannot tolerate what went on in Thyatira and expect to avoid the coming judgment of God. God knows what we are doing. Nothing is hidden from His knowledge and presence (Hebrews 4:13)-and we are accountable to Him. God's judgment will come to every one of us. Verse 23 adds a final note: and I will repay each of you according to your deeds." This truth is presented in the Bible over and over again (Romans 14:10, Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

There is no escape. This is a strong admonition to every church and every believer to resist teachings and insinuations by professing Christians that tolerate sexual sin and approve of carnal involvements with unbelievers. God's Word emphasizes separation from sinful practices as the standard for Christian conduct and ministry.

The Exhortation to the Faithful (Revelation 2:24-25) The Encouragement to the Overcomer (Revelation 2:26-28) The overcomer is the true believer. He demonstrates his faith by obedience ("does my will to the end") throughout all his days. It does not mean that he never makes a mistake or has his moments of defeat. It means he is characterized by obedience to God's will. I would love to be characterized by obedience to God’s will.

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP. POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

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What would it look like if Jesus came to your church, or into your home?

What would He see?

What would He say? What would He hear?

What would He sense?

This is what it was like for John to write the letters he wrote to the seven churches in Revelation. We are on letter and church #4.

What would Jesus say to your church?

What would Jesus see?

What would Jesus hear?

What would Jesus sense?

These are very sobering thoughts. In our lives, we can sense the blazing eyes of Jesus watching the things we do that are pleasing to Him, and guiding us away from the things that are not. This is the same for these seven churches in Revelation.

Revelation 2:18-29, Jesus writes a letter to the church in Thyatira. In this passage, this is the only time we see John refer to Jesus as "The Son of God," although he frequently used this phrase in his work, The Gospel of John. I believe it is because this church in Thyatira needed a re-establishment in the minds of the believers of the sovereignty and authority of Jesus. It is not our own authority that roots out evils, but our submission to His will.

Revelation 2:23 affirms for us why Jesus has eyes like fire when it says, "I am He who searches hearts and minds. We must remember Who examines our spiritual condition. We need to remember His authority, deity, and sovereignty over all. We need to acknowledge that His role is one of peace, forgiveness, and love, but also of righteousness, justice, and truth.

Is it possible to have a growing and maturing church and yet be compromising with sin? It would seem so here in this letter to the fourth church. Jesus examined this church and mentioned four basic things worth of commendation - their love, their service, their faith, and their patience.

The church in Thyatira:

1. had the proper motivation (love)

2. demonstrated an effective ministry (service)

3. were committed to the right message (faith), and

4. endured with a tough mentality (patience). Their spiritual development had even grown since the church began there.

AND... We can remember, that just because we are being blessed and we are active in the ministry, motivated properly, and committed to the message of God's Word in our lives, does not mean that everything is okay, or that God is pleased with everything we do or say. There is something that we often today shy away from discussing. It is Moral Decay. Moral decay is that which chips away from the inside out. You may not see the unhealthy nature of the church until you go beneath the surface to see what is happening. Are we doing inwardly what we portray we are doing outwardly? This is the message to the church in Thyatira. Tune in to find out more...

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP. POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

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THE MOST POWERFUL DESCRIPTION...

Revelation 2:12 provides one simple but powerful description of Jesus: “He who has the sharp two-edged sword.”

Then in Revelation 2:16, we see again that it is “the sword of My mouth.” The sword of His mouth symbolizes the judgment which can come when He speaks the word. This is a church in Pergamos facing severe judgment if they do not repent. Christians in Pergamos were trying to coexist, which led to the result of religious compromise and sinful practices in the church. The church in Pergamos was situated in a dangerous environment.

Jesus says to the church there, “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me. You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.” This is probably a reference to the giant altar to Zeus in Pergamos. It could also refer to all that was dominating and controlling the life and culture of this city; it was truly a seat of satanic power. The serpent god, Asklepios, would also serve as a symbolic picture of Satan and his power. The symbol for Asklepios was a serpent. Satan wants to make his throne global. We see symbols all over the place that creep into our subliminal passageways, continuing to desensitize us to what is happening around us.

After Jesus lets the church at Pergamos know what they are up against and encourages them in their faithful following of Jesus, He then goes into a serious evaluation. Two issues were confronted by the Lord when He says to the church, “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you.” Revelation 2:14. Jesus says, “you tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel.” Revelation 2:14. Balaam was a prophet in Israel. You can read about him in Numbers 22-25. Even though he talked like he was upright and would not curse the people of God, he advised the people in Israel to commit immorality and participate in pagan rituals. Numbers 31:16. The doctrine of Balaam walks softly on immorality and encourages immoral behavior and compromise with pagan worship.

In other words, The way of Balaam is a religious compromise for a few coins. What a message this is to the culture of our day! Religious leaders have fallen for a few coins or pleasure. Attitudes of holiness and godly living have become mere words as leaders have adopted immoral practices and succumbed to the secular attitudes and beliefs of society around them. But God's standards have not changed. The doctrine of Balaam is still condemned by the One to Whom we must all give account. I have seen and heard many seasoned pastors say to younger pastors something like, “When you are just starting off in the ministry, you will have to take whatever you can be given and don’t expect much in the way of money. But when you have been in the ministry as long as I have, you will see the increase of the finances.”

I ask you, what is the heart of God? Is it for pastors to seek the ministry for financial profit wherever He can get it or is it for the lost? When seeking a church for ministry, are pastors seeking the benefits and the compensation, or are they following the heart of God and desiring to see lost people come to know Him? Jesus doesn’t stop there. He gives a strong exhortation in Revelation 2:16.

Jesus commands the church to “repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” How do we battle Satanic influences and religious compromise? It is not by condemning the lost to hell, it is by living in a way that draws people to WHO Jesus is, Why he died and rose again for them, How he can turn life from darkness to light, change them from the inside out, and give them a life of promise and purpose.

Will you accept Jesus today?

We pray you will.

Are you ready?

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If you are a believer in Jesus, you have faced, you are facing, or you will face satanic opposition in your life. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Satan is our accuser.

He spends his time and effort trying to remind us of how UNWORTHY we are, how DISCREDITED we are, how much we have FALLEN from the purpose God has for us. Keep in mind that Jesus is not surprised by this onslaught of the enemy in our lives.

He even predicted it would happen. "For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.’ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. " (1 Peter 2:19-23). Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. As it is you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also" (John 15:18-20). The second letter to the churches in Revelation was sent to Smyrna who was reminded by Jesus of the opposition they faced from Satan for their faith in Jesus.

This letter emphasizes Who Jesus is, what He knows, what He commands, and what He promises. He promises two things to Smyrna and all who face satanic opposition and overcome it. Jesus promises He will give them a "crown of life" and that those who overcome will not be hurt at all by the "second death."

The second death is the final separation between GOD and those who will never believe in Him. It is the final consequence for unbelief. Are we listening to what the Spirit is saying to the churches? May our ears be open to hear what Jesus is saying. May our eyes be open to see what he wants us to see. May our hearts be receptive to what he commands us to do May we have boldness to carry out His purposes and plan for our lives!

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP. POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

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GOD NEVER INTENDED THERE TO BE ANYONE IN BETWEEN US AND HIM!

Even when Samuel the prophet anointed Saul as King over the Israelites, God only allowed it because the people were crying out to Him. When He gave them what they wanted, there were only 2-3 kings out of 39 total for Israel and Judah that were considered Kings that did what God desired. There was one high priest that came on the scene called Melchizedek. He was not connected to the line of Levi - where all the priests would come from. He honored God and was a spiritual leader to none other than Abraham. After the Exodus, Moses set up the Ten Commandments and the sacrificial system because sins cannot be forgiven without a payment, a sacrifice.

Enter Jesus: Hebrews 7:15-28 This change has been made very clear since a different priest, who is like Melchizedek, has appeared. Jesus became a priest, not by meeting the physical requirement of belonging to the tribe of Levi, but by the power of a life that cannot be destroyed. And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” "Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. For the law never made anything perfect. But now we have confidence in a better hope, through which we draw near to God. "This new system was established with a solemn oath. Aaron’s descendants became priests without such an oath, but there was an oath regarding Jesus. For God said to him, “The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: ‘You are a priest forever.’” “Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God. There were many priests under the old system, for death prevented them from remaining in office. But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. He is the kind of high priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by sin. He has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven. Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people.

Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins. The law appointed high priests who were limited by human weakness. But after the law was given, God appointed his Son with an oath, and his Son has been made the perfect High Priest forever.”

Do you see? Jesus is the ONLY way to obtain a relationship with God through the purity of His willing sacrifice.

He has created THE WAY to Heaven. He has removed any need for any man or woman to communicate through.

We can go directly to Jesus and be in a relationship with Him. Have you accepted the forgiveness Jesus offers?

Are you ready?

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP. POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING.

Check us out at endtimes.chat