We cannot displace our failings on misguided womanhood or even on Satan. The judgment of Jezebel is severe as is that of those who succumb to her lead (her children). Nevertheless, the judgment is based on individual standing. The judgment of Jezebel will resonate in all the seven churches (see the judgment of the scarlet woman).
The strength of Thyatira is in those who have not succumbed to Jezebel. The Lord is happy with them and will impose no other burden on them. However, they need to hold firmly to what they have until He comes in judgment. Even those who have not wholly succumbed to Satan and the misguided direction of humanity (the rest of Thyatira) will still have to stay alert and strive very hard to remain in the faith. The elect cannot afford to relax their vigilance or to become indolent. No further burden apart from the need to remain vigilant and steadfast is imposed on them.
The Lord again ends by addressing the individual striving spirits in this community. Only he who overcomes and does the Will of God to the end will receive the promised reward. To such will be given the authority to rule; a very high reward indeed. Those who emerge in and with pure womanhood will be the purest human spirits and to them He will also give the morning star.
The significance of the morning star is uncertain. It may be another form of representing the Knowledge of the Truth, the Message of the Son of Man. The Son of Man again concludes that they must listen to the Message to the seven churches. Clearly, since each specific letter is sent to a specific church, what the spirit says to the churches is a different Message from the content of the letters.
CHAPTER THREE: ADMONITIONS TO THE SEVEN COMMUNITIES CONTINUED
Sardis (Rev. 3: 1-6)
31 “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Sardis is the fifth of the seven churches in order of merit. The Light of its star is dim and weak. Sardis is hypocritical, pretending to be alive, but the Lord knows their inner activity and they are almost dead. The Lord manifests as the Creative Will, the Holy Spirit, the Lord of all Creation. Sardis is addressed with severity straight from the embodied Holy Spirit (alternate translation, the seven-fold spirit of God) who is Lord over the seven Universes and their guardian Angels.
The church in Sardis is not completely dead. They need to awaken to their true position and honestly face their condition. They will have to strengthen what remains and is about to die. All they need had been given to them but they need to remember and make appropriate use of them in humble repentance. The visit of the judge will be swift and unannounced by any fanfare and certainly, will not be expected. The promise of the Spirit of Truth has been fulfilled. The Message has been granted and all the Truth we need brought to our attention. There is nothing anymore that we may expect from the Father to help us in the Judgment, which will now inevitably advance.
Yet even in Sardis there are still few who remain pure, who have walked the path of faith and will walk with the Lord. These are those who are alert enough to recognize and follow the Spirit of Truth promised. They are the specially called ones. All other striving human spirits who overcome at the end will be dressed in white (purity) and will not be rejected by the Son of Man; their name will be permitted to remain eternally in the book of life before the throne of the Father. Note again the admonition to listen and to awaken their spiritual intuitive perception.
Philadelphia (3:7-13)
37 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
The Lord appears in the perfection of Holiness and Truth. He comes as the ultimate judge, dispensing reward and punishment. He is the final arbiter.
He pre-knows Philadelphia as He knows all human nature and He brings to them at the critical turning point a need for personal decision. Like Smyrna, this is a striving community with a glowing star. In spite of their little strength, they have kept to the word. The door is open and the choices indicated awaiting a personal decision. Although, they are weak, their volition at this critical turning point (to recognize the Spirit of Truth – the open door, or to reject Him) will decide their future. This grace is permitted them because, in spite of their lack of strength, they have striven to keep the word and have not denied God or His Son, Jesus. The Lord, therefore, immediately places before them the choice of walking into the Light through the door He has opened for them; a door that no one can shut and all that remains is for them to choose.
This is the time of the Spirit of Truth promised by Christ. He has the key, the word he brought with which He has opened the door to the Light. This door cannot be shut by any agency. However, the choice to pass through this door remains the individual’s who has to recognize the Son of Man and follow where He leads. Indeed, He, the Spirit of Truth is the door! Here, He addresses those human spirits who have recognized Him and although, they have little strength, yet their volition is good and their striving will be rewarded. Like the other Envoy of God, Jesus, He is not only the shepherd whose voice only the sheep will hear, but also the gate or door to the Light through which the sheep, those who hearken to His call can enter into Life.
Also like Smyrna, this community suffers from the activity of hypocrites, but these, in spite of their apparent strength within the community, will be humbled. Hypocrisy is present in this community and humility is a much-harassed virtue. Many claim to believe or to belong to the community of believers but are liars or just indolent. Ultimately, after the judgment, it is the meek, those who have entered through the door, who will inherit the earth. Those who, having endured patiently, choose life through the shepherd’s gate will be protected from the hour of trial (Tribulation/purification) that will sweep the earth.
This is going to happen soon. Philadelphians must hold on to the word and the volition to serve God, otherwise, they will lose their crown. The individual who overcomes will be a pillar