This is the Truth Network. My friend, have you ever heard of Jesus in judgment mode?
Now I know you've heard of Him in teaching mode, in preaching mode, healing and delivering modes. But what about Jesus in judgment mode?
Well, stay with us, listen, and learn. You're listening to "Until He Comes," a blend of prophetic and practical biblical studies with Dr. Greg Hinnant, author of "The Second Coming of Christ," His Appearing, His Return, Our Preparation, and now author and teacher Greg Hinnant. Welcome to the program, my friend. Today we begin a new series on Christ's judgments of the churches of Asia and of us.
Now, our texts for these series will be Revelation two and three. If you'd like to study those as we go through them week after week, I believe this will be a very enlightening study to you because it reveals an aspect of Jesus many Christians don't even know exists. Here we see Christ in judgment mode. As I said in the introduction, we've seen him in other modes. We're used to seeing Jesus.
Teaching, Jesus, preaching, Jesus, healing, the sick, Jesus, delivering the oppressed. We used to seeing Jesus' compassion; he was moved with compassion, and then he ministered by teaching, preaching, or feeding the multitudes. We used to seeing Jesus suffering, on the cross, bent over the pole where. A terrible, brutal lashing was administered to him by a Roman lictor. And by his stripes, we were healed.
We used to see Jesus in all these capacities. We even are used to hearing of Him as the coming King, and coming General of Heaven's armies, the Lord of Hosts, Yahweh Sabaoth. But we haven't heard much about Jesus in his judgment mode.
Now there were flashes of Jesus in judgment mode in the New Testament for those who have read the scriptures closely enough. For instance, twice Jesus famously went into the temple and literally threw things out that had no business being there, according to his mindset. And according to the word of God, He said, "My Father's house is to be a house of prayer for all nations," and you've made it a den of thieves. We also know that Jesus spoke to a fig tree as He was on the way to Jerusalem, and He cursed that fig tree for fruitlessness. Oh my, that's not like Jesus to go around cursing things, but He did.
Why? Because that was symbolic. Of the curse of the law that was about to come on Israel because they had rejected Him, when they cried out, "We have no king but Caesar. Crucify Him," speaking of Christ, and when they foolishly said, "His blood be on us and on our children," oh my, oh my.
So we used to sing Jesus suffer. But we're not used to seeing Jesus as the judge.
Now, Jesus Himself was very plain about this. He said that He was the judge of all. In Matthew, excuse me, in John, five twenty-two, Jesus said, "For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son. He has committed all judgment unto the Son.
So every time there is a divine." Judgment. Jesus will be the judge on the throne or on the bema platform.
Now, in our studies in these two chapters, we're going to see and interpret these messages three ways: historically, figuratively, and prophetically. Because each is important. Historically. These messages record Jesus' thorough examinations and very frank assessments of several different churches in the Roman province of Asia in A.D. 95.
Now, these were not randomly picked. The Lord intentionally chose these churches. I believe He did so because they exhibited certain characteristics, certain habitual actions, which, down the Christian centuries, Would reflect that of other Christians and other churches.
So figuratively, each church represents other churches and other Christians down the centuries with spiritually similar characteristics. Do we know what that means? For instance, a church that is given to sin in this group of churches is that found in Thyatira, and. There was a female prophetess there, called Jezebel. That wasn't her actual name.
That was the name Jesus attached sarcastically, ironically, caustically. But she was leading her followers into spiritual and physical fornication. Into unfaithfulness to God in worshiping other idol gods, but also in physical sexual immorality.
So it was a church filled with evil. Jesus dealt with them rigorously.
So any church that may be filled with sin, he might address as he did the church in Thyatira.
Now, since Christ is unchanging in his character, and he shows no favoritism. And he's unchanging in his values and his ways. The opinions he expressed toward Asia's churches and individuals reveal to us today those he holds toward all spiritually similar churches and individuals. Why is this important? Again, because we will stand before Christ and give an account of our life works, and he will render his opinion.
About our life in Christ.
Now, our life BC, before Christ, before we received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, is not at issue here. Only those works wrought since we have come to Him. And you know, the Bible's concept of works—does it just mean some physical action? But it means that is as we would recognize it. But it also means thinking what we think.
What our attitudes are? Why? Because there is a physical action that occurs in the thinking process in our cerebrums. Our brain is involved. One of our bodily organs.
When we are thinking adversely to certain situations and people. Attitudes are very important with the Lord. Motives are very important with the Lord. Why we're doing what we're doing? Why do we go to church?
Is it to impress certain people, or do we think we're just fulfilling our obligation to God by sitting in the pew? Or do we go because we're hungry and thirsty for more of God? Our motive is so important.
So He examines us for those motives as well as our actual deeds.
So. Here we're seeing that when any Christian or any church, throughout the Christian era, is similar to one of these churches—Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea—then we may expect Jesus to. Assess that church and that individual exactly. I'll repeat to you exactly as he did these churches. You say, "How can you be sure?" Because the Scripture says in Hebrews thirteen verse eight, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, once since eighty ninety five, and today, as you hear me speak, and for ever, He will never change." His character, his core values, or his ways of operation, and on top of that, he will never show favoritism.
The Bible repeatedly says, in one wording or another, God is no respecter of persons. He does not show favoritism to the rich, the powerful, the famous, or to the poor. He's equal in the application of his biblical word to all of us.
So that's the figurative application. Then there's the prophetic application. These churches, unofficially—that is, God hasn't declared it in the Word yet—many believe, and I agree, that it does have a prophetic application. These churches represent seven successive periods in the church age from Pentecost. To the Rapture, or between the Advents.
Think about that seven successive periods.
Now, at the end of our teaching on these two key chapters of the Book of Revelation, I will give you what I believe is the accurate interpretation of this prophetic application of these churches and the messages Jesus sent.
Now, if the New Testament did not have such a book of predicted prophecy as Revelation, how unlike the Old Testament it would be. You see, predicted prophecy is all over the Old Testament. There are three major prophets, and we can group Daniel in as a fourth: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. And there are twelve others. We call them the minor prophets.
They were writing prophets, and so the Old Testament is simply filled with examples of God speaking to the future, because He wants His people to know certain things that are coming, so they may be prepared. I believe it's true that revelation is for preparation. Prophetic revelation comes.
So that we can prepare ourselves for it, and be ready when we encounter it, this is the love of God.
So it is very important then that we recognize that the New Testament needs to have prophecy in it to be like the old. And to help dispel the lie that the God of the two covenants, these two are two gods, not one. That the Old Testament God was an angry God, a wrathful God. The New Testament God is in a better mood. No, the two are the same God, and their word, their words, and particularly their prophecies are intertwined in extraordinary ways.
So. That's why we have the book of Revelation to give us this predicted prophecy that we need, so that the Old Testament and New Testament will be alike.
Now, there are other passages in the New Testament: Jesus Olivet Discourse in Matthew twenty-four and twenty-five, Paul's revelation of the church and of the coming Antichrist, of the coming rapture of the church, First Thessalonians four and First Corinthians fifteen, and then Peter's revelation of the day of the Lord and the various aspects of that. In Second Peter three, all of these are New Testament prophecies, predictive prophecies.
However, they're not individual books.
So Revelation, as a book, particularly from chapter four forward, gives us predictive prophecy of things to come. These two chapters, Revelation two and three. Show us what it's going to be like when we stand before the bema. The Jesus we see and hear then will be the same Jesus of the Scriptures, of the Gospels, yes, but particularly here of these two chapters. And I would also encourage you to read Jesus' parable of the talents, Matthew twenty-five.
There, verses fourteen through thirty. That's exactly a representation of the Jesus you and I will meet next. And I say that because the Bible is clear in associating Jesus appearing with the judgment seat of Christ. In Revelation twenty two thirteen, He said, "Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me." So He associates His reward. Our reward with his coming.
Note the words, "Behold, I come quickly, and my reward. I come, and my reward." He wouldn't have to mention the rewards at the judgment seat unless the two were closely related to his coming.
So there's a clear linkage in Revelation twenty-two thirteen to the rapture. Which he speaks of, and the judgment seat. The two are closely associated. In First Corinthians four verse five, Paul said this. He said, "Therefore, judge nothing before the time.
Don't make any personal judgments of people's character. You don't know, and it's not your place to do. Until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts." Then shall every man have praise of God.
So listen to this language. Don't judge anyone until the Lord comes. Who, and I'll interject this, at His coming, will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsel of our hearts.
So He's saying that when the Lord comes, He will judge us.
So this is why we're involved in this very important study of Revelation chapter two and chapter three. These truths are very important, very timely, and we should learn them so that we live by them.
So let's begin now by reading about the sovereign judge's legal opinions. Jesus is that sovereign judge, and his legal opinions are given to us in this important. Series of messages, the sovereign judge's notable position and activity is something we should heed very carefully. First of all, his position in Revelation one thirteen, John is seeing Jesus on Patmos, and he says in the midst of the seven lampstands. One like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girded about with the paps with a golden girdle.
So here he's saying, our Son Jesus, dressed in a high priestly robe, a beautiful robe, and with a golden sash around his midriff, and he was in the midst. Of the candlesticks, that is right in the midst of the churches. The Bible here likens the churches to lampstands, candlesticks is the antiquated KJV word, but lampstands, then and now, are made to release light.
So your church, mine, and every church is made to release light. What the light of the saving gospel of Christ. How to be saved? How to come into the kingdom of God? How to be right with God?
How to have righteousness? We're to spread the light of eternal truth first, concerning salvation, then concerning how to grow up in Him and to do His will in every area of our life.
So, individually, we are called to be light bearers, and as churches, we are called to be light bearers or lighthouses.
So that is a direct reference to a lampstand. They both release light. This is the way we are to be.
So Jesus is standing right in the midst of them. He's not somewhere else. He's right in the midst of the church. Then the second thing we want to see here is that He is walking in the midst of the church of every church. Look at chapter two, verse one.
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus, write these things. Saith he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven churches, or the seven golden candlesticks.
So here he's walking in the midst of the churches. Walking in the midst of the seven golden lamp candlesticks, which represent churches, so he's standing and walking in our midst.
Now, pause and consider for just a moment: What if Jesus were to come to your town today and say, "I'd like to visit the churches. I like to do a little examination." Well, now I think it's true that anybody who knew that Jesus was going to come to the church would be hustling about. Wanting to get this and that and the other in good order for the Lord's inspection. I don't think anything is really wrong with that, but pause and consider: if we are living in His order every day, then if Jesus were to visit us, we don't have to hustle around and act differently. We can be ourselves, because we're allowing Him to examine us every day.
We're allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin as we read our Bibles, and then we're dealing with the sin issues in our life. We're allowing God to convict us of selfishness, and we're dealing with those issues of selfishness until we put God first, others second, and ourselves third.
So, it would indeed be telling if the Lords showed up at our church. What would he do?
Well, I don't know, but I would suspect he would do this. I would think he would go through every phase of our life and activity. He would examine the meetings on Sunday and midweek meeting if we have one. He would examine to see if are there any prayer meetings and who's coming. He would examine to see what is this church interested in.
What's this goal? Why does it come together? Is it to conform us to the image of Christ and? Fulfill our commissions, or is it to have fun, or you know, see what we can do to please others? All these things would be examined.
He would examine our programs. How many programs do we have? Are we programmed to death, or do we do we leave no room for personal quiet? Following of the Lord through the still waters and green pastures. Think about that.
He would examine our leadership, our ministers, pastors, preachers, and elders. Are they in the Word to find messages and truths that we need to pause and consider?
So that our lives may be changed and we may be grown into the image of Christ. Are they listening to the Holy Spirit and getting their messages from Him through the Word, or are they just preaching what other people preach, doing what others do, and particularly following the programs and preaching and ministering? Of those who are successful in the sense of numbers, I think one of the worst things that's happened to us over the last forty years is the megachurch concept.
Now, don't misunderstand me; there are some great megachurches who are both large and godly, but there are too many that have sold out truth to get the numbers. People will gladly come to a church as long as you just don't tell them anything that might dare. Offend them now. If you want to go around offending offending people, then perhaps you should have a class yourself on the love and mercies of Christ. But if you desire to present the truth, even if it should be offensive, that's the right attitude.
That's the attitude that the prophets had, and you are on the Lord's team for sure.
So He's looking us over. I think He would also look to see how we spend our money. Is the church giving to other missions, other needs, charities, to the poor? Is the church helping its own—that is, those who are helpless and need help—that's just so important. Or is the church just simply soaking up spiritual teaching and doing very little to reach out to the other branches of the church and its work?
Or to needy individuals in their own hometown, we have to think about this now, long before we stand before the Veima. And Christ talks to us about it. Paul said in First Corinthians eleven, "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." Listen to that, friends. It's up to you and to me. All of our sin is going to be judged.
Every bit of sin and selfishness in our life is headed for judgment. Either you and I judge our sins and cast them off by the conviction of the Spirit, as we read and study God's Word, listen to messages as well, and read books concerning these subjects. Or, if they remain outstanding in our lives, Jesus is going to talk to us about them.
Now, I tell you, Paul said, "Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men." And I think Paul meant he had been in the presence of God, and he knew what a experience that was. That Christ is so awesome in His glory that just the sight of Him will undo us.
So, these are some thoughts on Christ standing in our churches and walking through the midst of them. And I'll just add this: that all begins with the ministers. If the ministers are not totally sold out, then the church is not going to be either. But if the minister is a disciple, indeed, one who follows the Lord closely and hangs on his every word, and Seeks genuinely to receive messages that the Spirit is speaking to the churches, whether like other churches or not. That's a good man.
That's a good man. That's a good man of God. You can safely trust his leadership. Jesus will clearly be examining the ministers.
Now, next, there are three things that Jesus says to every church. These are great refrains in his message, like the chorus to a very popular hymn. For instance, "How great Thou art." And so, just as we sing these refrains over and over again in the same way, Jesus said these made these statements to each of the seven churches repeatedly. Every one of them got this message: three things. I know your works.
Hear what the Spirit says to the churches. And to him that overcomes, I will this, that, and the other. In each case, he mentioned a reward for overcoming. Think about that. Jesus says first he knows our works, that is our life deeds, that is the way we're actually living.
I've heard for so many years, preachers stand up and assure their people, oh, don't worry about your sins and failures. Don't worry about that. Jesus just sees His life in you. That's all He sees—the imputed righteousness. You know, I would say, "Amen." That's true, but it's not the whole story.
Here, when He speaks to these churches, He doesn't say, "Well, you know, Thetarai, I see my righteousness in you, so I don't really mind for Jezebel to mislead my people." Or to the church at Sardis, you know, I, I know that you're really a dead church, but you've got a Lively reputation, so I'll just let people continue to think that you're lively. No, he didn't say that at all, not at all. He knows our works; he is paying close attention to our life deeds. Are we? Are we?
Some of you may object and say, "Wait a minute, Doctor Hinda didn't God say that he quote looks on the heart in quote First Samuel sixteen seven? That is, he looks on our mind, our Spiritual core to see what's in there, what kind of thoughts we're thinking, and words we're speaking, actions we're taking. Yes, Jesus said, "I know your works." Instead of, "I look on your heart," because He understood, and we need to understand this also that what is in our hearts is going to be seen in our works. What you think. That you will do, that you will say, the position you hold in your heart it will be revealed in your life deeds.
Proverbs four twenty three says this: Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life. Above all else, guard your heart. One version says, for it's the wellspring of life.
So, friend. We need to pay attention to our works and our hearts. We'll come back and discuss this further in our next episode of Jesus in Judgment Mode: Christ's Judgment of the Seven Churches of Asia and of Us. If this message has blessed you, tell your friends, and please consider helping us stay on the air by sending your tax-deductible donation to Greg Hennett Ministries. Also, remember you may download the "Until He Comes" podcast from your preferred podcast app.
May you walk closely with Christ and trust and obey Him in your daily tests of faith and patience until He comes. This is the Truth Network.
