I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. (Rev. 3.1)
The seven letters to the seven churches of Revelation all coalesce on one immutable reality. They all point to a future time when decisions may become irreversible, unless fateful consequences are endured. That time is looming ever nearer and for the most part the Church remains oblivious to it.
Although the seven letters were addressed and delivered to the seven local churches of Asia Minor, the general message they contained was one. More so, the message concerned a future event and was meant to serve as a warning to those who would be alive on earth at the time it occurs. Even though the seven letters themselves don’t mention that future event by name, they’re seamlessly encapsulated inside the whole of John’s vision. On that account, the event the seven letters warn of, is the same event found in the book which bears its name, The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
The revelation or appearing of Jesus is the focal point of all biblical prophecy. His appearing initiates the resurrection and judgment of both the dead and the living saints. It also marks the inception of Jesus’ kingdom, the subject of many of His own parables.
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom (2 Tim. 4.1 KJV)
I do fully testify, then, before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is about to judge living and dead at his manifestation and his reign (2 Tim. 4.1 YNG)
From the explicit warnings contained in the seven letters of Revelation, it seems the Lord has great concern over the fate of those not prepared for His appearing. The blessing of being prepared, however, is being a partaker of the resurrection of the just. Although the resurrection is not mentioned in the above verse, it’s implied on account of the reference to the judgment of believers. You simply can’t have one without the other. The resurrection of the just is not some arbitrary event for believers. It’s the pinnacle of our redemption in Christ. No wonder Paul could say without any equivocation,
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection . . . If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Phil. 3.10-11)
Paul continued a few verses later calling the resurrection the prize of the high calling of God in Christ (Phil. 3.14.) Certainly Paul considered himself to be in Christ, yet he expressed a need to press on saying, I count not myself to have apprehended (Phil. 3.13.) Why would he have any misgivings over the possibility of not partaking of the resurrection unless that possibility existed? He realized that starting a race strong means nothing unless you finish the race.
The same sentiment shows up in one of the seven letters of Revelation. Jesus, addressing the church at Ephesus, said
Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent . . . (Rev. 2.4-5)
Jesus acknowledged that at one time their love for Him and devotion to Him was real, but at some point they drifted away. If all was well, and there were no consequences for taking leave of their zeal for Him, what would the need have been to make mention of it? I wouldn’t go so far as to say they had lost their salvation, only He would know that. But, there’s another element to this that’s usually overlooked. In his exhortation Jesus went on to say,
Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. (Rev. 2.5)
In this letter to Ephesus, and in most of the others as well, He mentions His coming or appearing. There’s a great deal of significance for this, in that, it would necessarily only pertain to those alive at the time when He does appear. That’s not to say that the letters were not applicable in some degree to earlier believers who’ve come and gone, but the ramifications of not repenting from the loveless state outlined by Jesus can only apply to the generation of believers alive at the time of His appearing. The consequence Jesus is concerned with then is the potential of some to miss the resurrection, since it’s accomplished at the very same moment He appears.
We see the same message presented in the letter to the church of Thyatira. After Jesus calls attention to the unwholesome behavior of Jezebel and those who follow her example, He mentions how she was given space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not (Rev. 2.21) As a result, Jesus said,
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (Rev. 2.22)
It’s certain that the great tribulation Jesus mentions here is the same great tribulation recorded in Matthews gospel.
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matt. 24.21)
The great tribulation, which lasts for three and a half years, begins immediately following His appearing and His kingdom. Therefore it’s no surprise that a few verses later Jesus exhorts those who didn’t follow Jezebel’s example by telling them to,
. . . hold fast till I come. (Rev. 2.25)
The same concept holds true for each of the other letters of Revelation. In the letter to the church at Philadelphia it says,
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Rev. 3.10)
The hour of temptation is another term used in relation to the great tribulation. In the following verse (v.11) Jesus continues by mentioning His coming, confirming once again that the consequence of the warning could only be immediately realized by those alive at the time of His appearing. And a verse found in Luke’s gospel validates the hour of temptation to be a reference to the great tribulation which commences immediately following His appearing.
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory . . . take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. (Luke 21. 27, 34-35)
With all that said, the reality is that it’s possible to miss the resurrection. If it wasn’t, Jesus wouldn’t have needed to address the issue in the manner He did. After all, He wasn’t addressing the lost in those letters, but those who once knew Him and became luke warm by leaving their first love.
Herein lies the fate of the dead church (the same fate of the Jews who do not know Christ at the time of His appearing – see Shedding Some Light on the Outer Darkness.) Missing the resurrection, yet remaining alive to face the great tribulation, is only the half of it. These newly rededicated believers will find themselves in one big predicament. The promise to rule and reign with Christ is only given to resurrected saints (Rev. 20.4.) Since they were not resurrected at the appearing of Christ, unless they die during the last three and a half years, they will remain as mortal men throughout the millennium and perhaps even forever. That’s why John heard the voice from heaven say,
Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth (Rev. 11.13)
This is spoken at the beginning of the events concerning the great tribulation, the last three and a half years immediately following the Lord’s appearing. Revelation 20.4 states that all those who are martyred during the great tribulation will be resurrected and counted among those who rule and reign with Christ during the millennium.
and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Rev. 20.4)
The reason we can be sure these saints are martyrs of the last three and a half years is because they lose their lives refusing the mark of the beast. The mark of the beast isn’t initiated until the beginning of the last three and a half years.
Will the saints of that time find the strength to seek out martyrdom? As I said from the start, the seven letters of Revelation all point to a future time when decisions may become irreversible, unless fateful consequences are endured. That time is looming ever nearer and for the most part the Church remains oblivious to it.
As for the here and now, Peter got it right when he said,
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1.10-11)