In Revelation 3:1 we find Jesus instructing the Apostle John to write a letter to His church located in the city of Sardis, telling the church there that He knows their WORKS, that they have a reputation for being spiritually alive, but that they are spiritually dead. He goes on to say that they are so dead, that what few positive things they have going for them are on the verge of death. He then makes clear to them–and to all churches everywhere and at all times–exactly what He commands of them: “… for I have not found your WORKS PERFECT BEFORE GOD.” Jesus goes on to tell them that, because of their IMPERFECT WORKS, they must remember what they had been taught by His apostles (His Truth), embrace it and hold fast to it (obey it). Otherwise, He would come upon them as would a thief.

Then the Lord acknowledges that there are a FEW true Christians in the Sardis church whose WORKS had been PERFECT BEFORE GOD. These would walk with Him in paradise for they, and only they, are worthy for they have overcome Satan’s call to sin and will therefore wear robes of white. Now notice that Jesus promises that, because of their pure WORKS, HE WILL NOT ERASE THEIR NAMES FROM THE BOOK OF LIFE. Upon their becoming part of His church their names had been written in the Book of Eternal Life. Only those few, having been justified (had all past sins forgiven, making them righteous) had remained righteous by obeying His Law–doing WORKS THAT WERE PERFEST BEFORE GOD. ALL OTHERS (THE MAJORITY) WOULD HAVE THEIR NAMES ERASED FROM THE BOOK OF ETERNAL LIFE. So much for the “once saved, always saved” theory believed by so-called “sinners saved by grace.” Only those who endure in their state of righteousness until the end will be saved and born again upon Christ’s Second Advent (Matt. 10:22; 24:13).

In 3:7 John is instructed to write to the church in Philadelphia. Christ tells them that He knows their WORKS which are such that He has opened for them a ministerial door to the world which neither Satan nor his servants cannot shut. This ministry is part of that open door opportunity. At last count–four months ago–this website had received more than 3.3 billion visits. I hear from people from all over the world. The door is definitely open and I am writing “while it is day, for night is coming when no man will be able to work.” This will be during Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord. Read about this soon-coming time of terror and death using the key word–Tribulation. I came into this ministry during the Philadelphia Era (mid-1950’s through the mid-1980’s). Jesus said about those of the Philadelphia Era that they had kept His Word, and in so doing, had not denied His name. Those who do not keep (a military word meaning to surround so as to protect) His Words are guilty of denying His name, meaning that they DESPISE BOTH HIM AND HIS FATHER (Lk. 10:16).

In verse ten Jesus tells the true saints of the Philadelphia Era Church that He will protect them in a special place during the coming Tribulation period. Read about this place using the key word–Safety. Notice that the Lord has nothing negative to say about that church. As righteous as those of the Philadelphia Era are, Jesus warns them not to let anyone “TAKE YOUR CROWN”–SALVATION. No one is immune from Satan’s temptations–not even God’s Very Elect. We must be on guard at all times against him, his fallen angels (devils/demons) and their false prophets. As we will see, the vast majority within the Philadelphia failed to keep His Word. He tells His people then and now that only those who remain righteous until the end will live forever in New Jerusalem which will be the capital of the Kingdom of God. Read about that paradise using the key word “Kingdom.”

In 3:14 we find the Lord’s message to the church at Laodicea being dictated to the Apostle John. That church represented the church now in existence–the Catholic/Protestant Religious System known as “Christianity.” Notice that the Lord has nothing positive to say about this Satan-serving, Bible-denying abomination. He tells them that, though they believe that they are one with Himself and the Father, they are the exact opposite. In the following verses Jesus tells them that He knows their WORKS–that they have not kept His Word and have thereby denied His name–the exact opposite of the WORKS of the Philadelphia Era church (3:8)

Those who were part of the Philadelphia Era church that have not joined the Laodicean Era’s apostasy (falling away from God), are minutely few in number. But because God is with us we continue to speak His Truth to the world through His Grace and power. Only about 5% of the Philadelphia Era of God’s church have remained true to His call on our lives. We prove our allegiance to Him through GOOD WORKS–OBEDIENCE TO HIS HOLY, ETERNAL LAW.

GOOD WORKS MEANS THAT ONE OBEYS GOD’S WORDS/LAW/GOSPEL/TRUTH/LIGHT AND THEREBY WALKS IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS AS DID THE CAPTAIN OF HIS/HER SALVATION–JESUS CHRIST. Read James 1:22; 2:10,14,17,18,20, 24,26/ Luke 10:16/ Matt. 7:21-23. L.J.