14 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock..."

At the end of the first century, some 60-65 years after the Ascension of Jesus Christ, the apostle John, of whom is written that Jesus loved him,was banished to the Isle of Patmos, close to the Turkish coast.

During his stay there, one day John was "in the spirit" and heard “...behind me a great voice as of a trumpet, saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What thou seest, write in a book and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia: unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."” (Revelation 1:10-11 KJ21)

Wouldn't that upset you?

John turned around to see the person who spoke to him and saw seven golden candles:
“and in the midst of the seven candlesticks One like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the breast with a golden girdle. His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as though they burned in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His right hand seven stars, and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword, and His countenance shone as the sun shineth in his strength.” (Revelation 1:13-16 KJ21)

How would you react?

“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, "Fear not; I am the First and the Last. I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen, and have the keys of hell and of death.” (Revelation 1:17-18 KJ21)

John met the risen, glorified Son of God Who reassured him and then explained to him what he just saw:
“Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in My right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” (Revelation 1:19-20 KJ21)

After this our Redeemer dictated seven letters, for seven churches. Sadly enough the first letter, for the church of Ephesus, wasn't entirely positive:
“Nevertheless, I have something against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the works as at first; or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, unless thou repent.” (Revelation 2:4-5 KJ21)

The second letter, for the church of Smyrna, is more commending. Admittedly the Lord talked about a time of suffering, but at the same time He encouraged them to remain faithful and overcome this evil:
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of Life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt by the second death.’” (Revelation 2:10-11 KJ21)

The third letter was for the church of Pergamos, which had members that really messed up:
“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So thou also hast them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” (Revelation 2:14-16 KJ21)

The fourth church, of Thyatira, wasn't much better:
“Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He that searcheth the souls and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” (Revelation 2:20-23 KJ21)

The church of Sardis also had some points for improvement:
“And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: I know thy works, and that thou hast a name that thou livest, but thou art dead. Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard; and hold fast and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.” (Revelation 3:1-3 KJ21)

Then, the sixth church, of Philadelphia, was praised:
“I know thy works. Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. For thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My Word, and hast not denied My name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but do lie—behold, I will make them to come and worship at thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” (Revelation 3:8-11 KJ21)

The seventh and last letter was for the church of the Laodiceans. I didn't find any compliments in it. They were heavily criticized, because they were "lukewarm":
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot; I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth.” (Revelation 3:15-16 KJ21)

The Christians of this wealthy city, where famous eye salve was manufactured, got some sarcastic advise from our Saviour:
“Because thou sayest, "I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing," and knowest not that thou art wretched and miserable, and poor and blind and naked, I counsel thee to buy from Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed and that the shame of thy nakedness may not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.” (Revelation 3:17-18 KJ21)

Most of these seven churches didn't act as expected, nevertheless Jesus loved (and loves!) them and wanted them to repent:
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Revelation 3:19 KJ21)

Doesn't this world, here and now, contain many churches who also need some rebuking and chastisement?
"Lukewarm" churches, whose fire of their first love is close to being extinguished. Churches, where the Word of God has been robbed of its Power because words got twisted ("church" instead of "Israel") or quoted out of context, or not read at all or even denied. Churches, where everyone's so busy with all kinds of everything that they lost sight of the Head of the Church, Jesus Christ. Churches, where it's all about feelings while Gods Word tells us:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? "I, the LORD, search the heart; I try the inmost being, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."” (Jeremiah 17:9-10 KJ21)

Feelings can be so deceitful. Perhaps the men and women mentioned in the following part of Scripture had a feeling of content about themselves, but then Jesus came with the truth:
“Not every one that saith unto Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of My Father who is in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that Day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and in Thy name have cast out devils, and in Thy name done many wonderful works?’ And then will I profess unto them, ‘I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23 KJ21)

Observe the wellknown example of the five wise and the five foolish virgins:
“Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made: ‘Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, ‘Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.” (Matthew 25:1-8 KJ21)

They all had oil (an image of the Holy Spirit) in their lamp, yet only five had extra oil with them. The cry in verse 8 is really desperate: "our lamps are gone out!"

Isn't this a clear example of "quenching" the Holy Spirit by ignorance? The five foolish Virgins did have the desire to meet the Bridegroom but weren't properly prepared. Their lamps went out because all their oil was used up.

Do you see the resemblance with men/women who became believers in Jesus, but lost their belief because they didn't let it grow, it wasn't fed properly. It wasn't handled with great integrity.

Behold the warnings of apostle Paul:
“And we beseech you, brethren, that you come to know those who labor among you, and are over you and admonish you in the Lord, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man, but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and with all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Test all things; hold fast to that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 KJ21)

It turned out bad for the five foolish Virgins, they asked the five wise for some oil:
“But the wise answered, saying, ‘Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” (Matthew 25:9-12 KJ21)

Ouch, that must have hit them like a ton of bricks! And worse!

Fortunately Jesus immediately warned His audience (and us!) with the following words:
“Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.” (Matthew 25:13 KJ21)

Let's make sure we don't share the same fate as the five foolish virgins. Let's not fall asleep awaiting the return of the Messiah. There is still time for repentance.
That's what Jesus desires. That's why He said to John, and to us:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20 KJ21)

Pay attention to the position of Jesus: He's on the outside! He stands at the door and knocks, He wants to enter.
These words were addressed to the church of the Laodiceans, apparently they had shut the Lord out by their behaviour. How many have done the same? Even now!

Still these wonderful loving words from the Son of God sound: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock...” (Revelation 3:20a KJ21)

Again, there's still time for repentance.

Jesus, Who left the heavens to be nailed at a cross and die a horrible death, forsaken by the Father because He voluntarily carried ALL our sins, wants us (that is you and I) to repent, to humble ourselves and give God the glory, forever and ever.

When He, Who rose from the dead and thus showed the world that God is more loving and mightier than anyone or anything, has returned and when He has closed the door of His Wedding Hall, where will you be?

Inside?

Or are you standing on the outside, in the “...outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” (Matthew 25:30 KJ21)