The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Revelation 3:7-13, “”And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9 ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie– I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
10 ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
13 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

The Church at Philadelphia was The Commissioned Church. It was the next-to-the-last of the Seven Churches. Historically, this timeframe covers the years of A.D. 1800 to 1900. These are the days of the Great Evangelistic meetings conducted by men like D. L. Moody, J. Wilbur Chapman, W. P. Nicholson, R. A. Torrey and Billy Sunday. They drew massive crowds throughout the world –crowds to whom they faithfully declared the Gospel of Christ, and witnessed thousands come to saving faith in Jesus!

This era was also the era of missionary expansion. China Inland Mission, the British and Foreign Bible Society, the American Bible Society and many others were organized during this time. Alongside the 600-plus mission societies marched some missionaries of historical note: Hudson Taylor, Adoniram Judson, Luther Rice, David Livingstone, Robert Morrison, William Carey, George Fox and Sir Wilfred Grenfell.

Simultaneously, these organizations and their godly leadership, the Church was subjected to internal persecution from the philosophies of men like Hegel, Darwin, Marx, and Freud. Never-theless, the LORD promised: “He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this –“ The Church, therefore, experiences a reprieve from the onslaughts of Satan and his minions.

The LORD commends the Church (3:8), denounces the adversaries as “The Synagogue of Satan” (3:9-11), affirms the Security of the Church and those who hold to His Name (3:12-13).
The Commission given to the Church has never been rescinded. Those who cleave to His Name and His Commission will forever be protected and extolled for His Glory! Are you one of those? I sincerely pray that you are!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. For excellent 26-minute videos on the Seven Churches of the Revelation go to:

Dr. Stowell is excellent! He covers all seven Churches of the Revelation. Videos are free!

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 3:1-6, “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
2 “Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God.”
3 ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
4 ‘But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
5 ‘He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
6 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

The Church at Sardis can well be called The Camouflaged Church. Isn’t this what we do when we’ve been charged with corruption? We hide! The overall history of the Church parallels the history of Sardis.
Having been well-founded, the subtle intrusions of false doctrines and worldliness render the Church virtually helpless and unproductive. The singular element for renewal resides within the Church herself in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He has not departed, but His effectiveness through the Church has greatly diminished.

Observe the LORD’s accusation “I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God… Therefore, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you” (3:1-3).

“The Sardian people were idolaters: they feigned worship of God, but worshipped Cybele, whose worship was the most debasing of character. “Sins of the foulest and darkest impurity were committed on…festival occasions” (Tait).

Yet, while the LORD admonished them to strengthen what remained, there were a paltry few who had true life and spirituality within them. Otherwise, He would not have admonished them as He did. Not only did the LORD possess knowledge of the Sardian church, neighbors all around also knew the Sardis’ reputation.

Remember how we used to hide things from our parents and pretend that we didn’t know things we truly knew? Somehow, they always knew. So it is with God; only He knows infinitely more about us than our parents –even more than we know about ourselves! So it is with churches. We often pretend to be what we are not, yet the LORD knows who and what we truly are! Remember the old song we use to sing?

I cannot hide from God; however I may try;
Though mountains cover me, I cannot escape His eye;
I’ve wandered far and near, and yet His voice I hear:
I know that I can never hide from God.

As we “come clean” with God, He forgives and blesses us. So, too, is He with His Church. We have a ministry far more vital than we know. May we freely cast off those things that drag us down and exault the LORD Jesus Christ in and through our daily lives. When “push comes to shove,” He’s all that truly matters!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. For excellent 26-minute videos on the Seven Churches of the Revelation go to:

Dr. Stowell’s videos are excellent! He covers all seven Churches of the Revelation in free videos.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 2:18-24 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
19 ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first.
20 ‘But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
21 ‘I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality.
22 ‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds.
23 ‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.
29 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

To date, we have surveyed the churches at Ephesus, the Cooling Church, 2:1-7; Smyrna, the Crushed Church, 2:8-11; and Pergamum, the Compromising Church, 2:12-17. Now, we come to Thyatira, the Corrupt Church, 2:18-29. Thyatira means “unweary, continual sacrifice.” Thyatira is also the home of Lydia, the first western convert to the Christian faith (cf. Acts 16).

There are some serious commendations to this church. First, the church is commended for its deeds (works). It is also commended for its love. Agape is the love that seeks the best for others and expects nothing in return. The church is commended for its faith and service and perseverance. Are these aspects for which we could be commended? How many of these positive aspects do you and I bring to our local church?

There is also a serious condemnation: the Thyatiran Church tolerated sin (v. 20). The Jezebel who is mentioned,
may in reality refer to the local pastor’s wife. In any event, this Jezebel is dominantly forcing her ways upon the church. She claims the right to the office of priestess, and urges the church to continue its pagan worship. Still further, Jezebel tutors the people saying, “…you shall be as gods…,” contrary to the true teaching of the Scriptures (Gen. 3:5). Some of the finest Christians I have ever known were women. Yet, when doctrine erodes, the erosion of morals is not far behind.

Jezebel was encouraged to repent of her sin (v. 2:21); but she steadfastly refused! Repentance (metanoia) means “to change one’s mind”; and true, genuine repentance is a repentance that confesses and forsakes sin! (Compare Mary Magdalene!)

There is a final notification regarding the saints in the Thyatiran Church “But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them– I place no other burden on you. ‘Nevertheless. what you have, hold fast until I come. He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from My Father” (2:24-26).

We need to take an honest look at the church we attend. Is it what the LORD requires, or are there those who
advocate and teach contrary to the Word of God? We also need to ask: “Am I what the LORD wants of me? Are my beliefs and is my involvement what He requires? Am I truly repentant of my sin? How would the LORD use
me if I were all that He desires?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. For excellent 26-minute videos on the Seven Churches of the Revelation go to:

Dr. Stowell’s videos are excellent! He covers all seven Churches of the Revelation in free videos.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 2:12-17, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
13 “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith, even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.
14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit acts of immorality.
15 “Thus you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
16 “Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.”’”

There is a logical, downward regression visible in the early Church through the Letters to the Seven Churches. When the Church left her First Love (as at Ephesus), she removed herself from the LORD’s protective custody. As a result, she came under severe persecution from the ungodly world around her (as did the Smyrnan Church). Thus, Ephesus, the Cooling Church, resulted in Smyrna, the Crushed Church, which in turn led to Pergamum, the Compromising Church. Ironside notes that “Constantine’s patronage did what (Emperor) Diocletian’s persecution could not do: it corrupted the church, she forgot her calling as a chaste virgin, and gave her hand in marriage to the world that had crucified Him.”

Observe the LORD’s Commendation (v. 13, “’I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is,,,, Antipas…, my faithful one, …was killed among you.’” Christianity was confronted by some major pagan religions, and the character of the church revealed the nature of the church’s heart. It was not good.

The church had resorted to the teachings of Balaam (vv. 14-15), who taught Israel’s leader, Balak, to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel by eating things sacrificed to idols and committing acts of immorality (cf. Num. 22). Further, they subscribed to the teachings of the Nicolaitans, who taught that “in order to master sensuality, one must experience the whole range of it” (Vincent). Imagine!

The Notification of the LORD was: “…repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth” (v. 16). “Repentance means “to change one’s mind”; and it is mandated (imperative)! “Coming to you quickly” references neither the Second Coming nor the Rapture! It is judgment!

The LORD’s prediction is addressed to the spiritually alert: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (v. 17). Hopefully, the prediction will catch the ear of the spiritually alert in every age. We cannot count on the protection and blessings of the LORD if we ignore His mandates. What does not work for the Church overall will not work for individuals. Today is the day of salvation! “Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 4:7).

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

P. S. For excellent 26-minute videos on the Seven Churches of the Revelation go to:

Dr. Stowell’s videos are excellent! He covers all six Churches of the Revelation in excellent videos.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Revelation 2:8-11, “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The first and
the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy
by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 ‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’”

The Church at Ephesus (our previous study) could easily be called “A Cooling Church,” inasmuch as over time she allowed herself to be influenced by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life. The LORD challenged the Church at Ephesus to “…remember from where you have fallen, and repent…” (2:5).

The Church at Smyrna could well be designated “the Crushed Church,” for the LORD said, “I know your tribulation and your poverty…” The pressures of extreme poverty had been brought upon this church through external circumstances; yet, the LORD encouraged the church saying, “but you are rich…Do not fear what you are about to suffer…”

Although different, it may well be that the LORD’s Church has never suffered what it is suffering today! So much of the world has invaded the Church that some believers have simply surrendered to those invading powers. Assuming that to be so, we must remain faithful. We must hear and believe the encouragement He gives to us through the Smynan Church. Faithfulness produces a Crown of Life! And that Crown of Life supersedes all others!

As born-again believers in our LORD Jesus Christ, we must never surrender to the Adversary Satan! Every church is comprised of people that we hope and trust are born-again. Unfortunately, some (perhaps most) may be spiritually weak or even spiritually lost. It’s the spiritually born-again people that perceive the church’s weakening condition and often elect to abandon her altogether. This particular message cries out for the spiritually observant NOT to abandon the Church. Remember the parting words of the Savior:

“…the first and the last, who was dead…has come to life…” (v. 8).

We must encourage the weak by being stronger ourselves. Attend the Church! Be
faithful to the LORD! Pastors and teachers may be weaker than you would like.
Pray for them! Encourage them! Don’t allow them to suffer weakness! Stand with
them, as the LORD stands with you. There is guaranteed Victory at the end of the
road.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom