“The hour of Judgement has come...and it begins in the House of God. Get your affairs in order.” ~ Revelation 14:7; 1 Peter 4:17; 2 Kings 20:1, Isaiah 38:1
In the Book of Revelation (ch. 2&3) Jesus addresses 7 churches - each church represents “The Church” throughout the ages. These 7 churches also represent believers everywhere. It is a message sent by Jesus to convey one final warning to the body of Christ - repent or risk being left behind.
To repent means to seek forgiveness, and then to turn away from the very thing that caused you to stumble in the first place.
So the one whose heart is open let him listen carefully to what the Spirit is now saying... ~ Revelation 3:13 TPT
To Christians Who Have Lost Their First Love and Who Do Not Love Others:
Jesus said,
“But I have this against you: you have abandoned the passionate love you had for me at the beginning. Think about how far you have fallen! Repent and do the works of love you did at first. I will come to you and remove your lampstand [ministry, purpose, and light] from its place of influence if you do not repent.” Revelation 2:4-5
To those who repent and overcome: Jesus said, “I will give access to feast on the fruit of the Tree of Life that is found in the paradise of God [they will have eternal life].” Revelation 2:7 TPT
To Christians Who Are Persecuted OR Endure Numerous Trials:
Jesus Said,
“I am aware of all the painful difficulties you have passed through and your financial hardships, even though, in fact, you possess rich treasure. Do not yield to fear in the face of the suffering to come, but remain faithful to the day you die and I will give you the victor’s crown of life [eternal life].”
Revelation 2:9-10 TPT
Those who overcome and remain faithful until the end: Jesus said,
“will not be harmed by the second death.” Revelation 2:11 TPT
The Second Death is Hell. ~ Revelation 20:14
To Christians Who Compromise their Beliefs and Dabble in Sin:
Jesus said,
“Nevertheless, I have a few things against you. There are some among you who hold to the teachings of Balaam. Furthermore, you have some who hold to the doctrines of the Nicolaitans. So repent, then, or I will come quickly to war against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Revelation 2:14-16 TPT
The teaching or doctrine of Balaam is the view that Christians can—or even should—compromise their convictions for the sake of popularity, money, sexual gratification, or personal gain. It’s the attitude that treats sin as “no big deal.” Balaam taught believers that a “little sin” never hurt anyone. It makes believers indistinguishable from unbelievers.
The teaching or doctrine of Nicolatians taught believers that it was okay to have one foot in both worlds. It left believers without power and without conviction. It was and is a defeated, worldly type of Christianity.
To those who repent and overcome: Jesus said, “I will let him feast on the hidden manna and give him a shining white stone. And written upon the white stone is inscribed his new name, known only to the one who receives it.”
Revelation 2:17 TPT
The hidden manna is the help we receive when we pray through trials, tribulations or temptations. It provides nourishment and strength, and because of it, our soul prospers.
The white stone is a symbol of innocence. During the time when the Book of Revelation was written-when a person was tried for a crime-they received either a white stone or a black stone depicting their final judgement. A black stone signified guilt. To receive a white stone means that you are free from condemnation.
The name written on the stone will reflect the battles and sufferings you have faced while on planet earth. It will illustrate who you have become because of your faith and God’s grace. The name will be a symbol of faith, strength, victory, endurance, and ultimate transformation.
To Christians Who Practice False Doctrine and Sexual Immortality:
Jesus said,
“But I have this against you: you are forgiving that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is seducing my loving servants. She is teaching that it is permissible to indulge in sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.”
Revelation 2:20 TPT
Jezebel represents false doctrine, divination/witchcraft, power, control, and all forms of sexual immorality within the Church. Witchcraft is not just black magic. It can be gossip and slander too. Jezebel can be found in the secular world as well.
To those who repent and overcome: Jesus said,
“I will give you authority over the nations to shepherd them with a royal scepter. And the rebellious will be shattered as clay pots— even as I also received authority from the presence of my Father. I will give the morning star to the one who experiences victory.”
Revelation 2:26-28 TPT
The morning star is Jesus Christ. Those who have Jesus have the Holy Spirit. Those who have Jesus also have salvation, fellowship, the anointing, as well as power and authority over all nations.
To Christians Who Pretend to Be Alive But Are Really Dead Inside:
Jesus said,
“I know all that you do and I know that you have a reputation for being really “alive,” but you’re actually dead! Wake up and strengthen all that remains before it dies, for I haven’t found your works to be perfect in the sight of my God. So remember all the things you’ve received and heard, then turn back to God and obey them. For if you continue to slumber, I will come to you like a thief, and you’ll have no idea at what hour I will come.”
Revelation 3:1-3 TPT
To those who repent and overcome: Jesus said,
“And the one who experiences victory will be dressed in white robes [will be called righteous/pure] and I will never, no never erase your name from the Book of Life [they will be given eternal life]. I will acknowledge your name before my Father and his angels.”
Revelation 3:5 TPT
To Christians Who Remain Faithful:
Jesus said,
“I have set before you a wide-open door that none can shut. For I know that you possess only a little power, yet you’ve kept my word and haven’t denied my name. Because you’ve passionately kept my message of perseverance, I will also keep you from the hour of proving that is coming to test every person on earth.” Revelation 3:8-10 TPT
To those who remain faithful: Jesus said, “I will make you to be a pillar in the sanctuary of my God, permanently secure [a friend of God who walks in Fellowship with the Almighty God]. I will write on you the name of my God and the name of the city of my God—the New Jerusalem, descending from my God out of heaven. And I’ll write my own name on you.” Revelation 3:12 TPT
To Christians Who are Lukewarm:
Jesus said,
“I know all that you do, and I know that you are neither frozen in apathy nor fervent with passion. How I wish you were either one or the other! But because you are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, I am about to spit you from my mouth.”
Revelation 3:15-16 TPT
To those who repent and overcome: Jesus said,
“I will give the privilege of sitting with me on my throne, just as I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne [you will receive eternal life].” Revelation 3:21 TPT
There is a lie in the Church that says a one-time salvation prayer will get you into Heaven. You can continue to live an unholy life as long as you say this one prayer. I break that lie in the name of Jesus.
Hebrews 10:26-31 MSG says this, “If we give up and turn our backs on all we’ve learned, all we’ve been given, all the truth we now know, we repudiate Christ’s sacrifice and are left on our own to face the Judgment—and a mighty fierce judgment it will be! If the penalty for breaking the law of Moses is physical death, what do you think will happen if you turn on God’s Son, spit on the sacrifice that made you whole, and insult this most gracious Spirit? This is no light matter. God has warned us that he’ll hold us to account and make us pay. He was quite explicit: “Vengeance is mine, and I won’t overlook a thing” and “God will judge his people.” Nobody’s getting by with anything, believe me.”
God is not asking for perfection. He is asking for repentance and humility. He is asking for believers everywhere to truly give their hearts to Jesus. Let go of pride and the very things that hold us down. His grace covers our failures and our shortcomings. Everyday we must choose to fix our eyes on Jesus, turn from our ways with repentance, and allow the Spirit of God to transform us day-by-day.
To my brothers and sisters in Christ I say this - Finish Strong.
Chelsea Solomon Carpenter
Scripture Reference:
“In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes. Staying with it—that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:11-14 MSG
“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you’ll see it yet! Now that we’re on the right track, let’s stay on it.”
Philippians 3:12-16 MSG
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NIV
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV
“If your faith remains strong, even while surrounded by life’s difficulties, you will continue to experience the untold blessings of God! True happiness comes as you pass the test with faith, and receive the victorious crown of life promised to every lover of God!”
James 1:12 TPT
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 NIV
“You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?” Galatians 5:7 NIV
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