Acropolis - Pergamon - Turkey. The ruins of the "Great Altar" were probably dedicated to Zeus and Athena. The Apostle John wrote the third letter in the Book of Revealing to the Church of God that was in this once-flourishing city - Pergamos.
by Leonard V Johnson
In prayer, I was asking our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus about a person that I know── a man that does have great knowledge in the living word of God; who is a marvelous teacher of the glorious New Covenant of our Lord Jesus── a man that I love. Yet, is narcissistic and is slipping in many areas concerning the precepts of the LORD God, and the fruits of God’s Spirit are beginning to wane in their illumination. “What,” I asked our Lord Jesus, “will become of him?” As soon as I asked this question – the Spirit reminded me of our Lord Jesus’ words – “’ Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom [from] heaven; …’” – Matthew 5:19.
Last July I did a sermon entitled “You Were Born To Rule!” There is a second part also. And often, brethren, we are allowed to be placed in situations with people── because we need to learn how to handle the situation the LORD God’s Way ── like a future ruler would. I’d like to expound in this article why.
Have you ever thought about what your job or position might be in the glorious kingdom of God? About what our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ── the King of kings and the Lord of lords── will have you be doing in His Millennial Reign!? And, how you must qualify for that responsibility?
First and foremost let me say that salvation is a gift from the LORD God── it is a free gift and we can never earn it.
But you can lose it.
As I spoke directly to this man who does have great biblical knowledge recently in a sermon, I said, “You speak of others who grieve the Holy Spirit. Please look at yourself in the mirror, my dear brother! Adhering to the LORD God’s commands, precepts, and teachings is extremely important!” And they are indeed!
So, since eternal salvation is something you can lose, then logically the LORD God has set rules and laws, as well as conditions, that we must adhere to to receive the glorious gift of eternal salvation. Do you know what those rules, laws, and conditions are?
Unfortunately, I mentioned this not long ago when I was speaking about the Nicolaitans, and how it became apparent to me that “the Nicolaitans were the greater Body of Christ that actually was disbanded from our Lord Jesus Christ’s “little flock.” That in fact there was (and are) a great many people being thrust out of the Body of Christ. Our Lord Jesus says of those who perish – “’ … from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30) And cast the UNPROFITABLE SERVANT into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” – Matthew 25:29-30.
What is this ‘outer darkness’ that our Lord Jesus is speaking? In an ethical sense – people thus face a choice of whether to yield allegiance to the LORD God OR TO DARKNESS, meaning ignorance, of the LORD God and of God’s Way.
We need to ask ourselves── what made this servant unprofitable? Wherein had this servant failed?
The very answer begins in verse 21 – “’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” And He repeats it in verse 23.
The unprofitable servant was not faithful in carrying out the few duties that were given to him in this life. He had not learned to master his human nature, had not learned how to properly treat others – like a future ruler would – even though he knew better!
Truly, all the unprofitable servant will be able to say to his Lord is, “Lord, I knew You to be a hard Man, reaping where You have not sown, and gathering where You have not scattered seed. And I was afraid and went and hid Your talent in the ground. Look, there You have what is Yours!’ – see verses 24-25.
In other words, the unprofitable servant might think that it is profitable for him to try and proselytize or spiritually influence a young man that in fact the LORD God isn’t even calling out of this present evil age yet. Becoming obsessed and fixated on this one idea.
This unprofitable servant ── as an example ── might be narcissistic. And he lives with an inflated sense of self-importance and an insatiable drive to be liked and to be at the center of attention. Satan will capitalize on these traits and tempt him to compromise his morals and values. This unprofitable servant became careless about his responsibilities as being an ambassador for Christ ── above reproach. And sadly, this unprofitable servant will be judged – “’ You wicked and lazy servant, …’” – vs. 26.
Different Levels of Responsibility
Just like the responsibilities we hold today within the Body of Christ ── as in “He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,” we don’t all hold the same rule or authority. There will be different levels of responsibilities in the kingdom of God. As an example: we will not be rulers of the tribes of Israel (Revelation 21:12), this rulership will go to “the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (See also Matthew 19:28). We will not be the ruler of the reunified House of Israel, that will be the resurrected King David (Jeremiah 30:9). We will not all have the same office. We will not all face the same duties.
Have you considered that our Lord Jesus Christ is speaking to HIS CHURCH – He is speaking to you, brethren!?
Let us notice briefly the letters our Lord Jesus wrote to His Church ── through His servant John ── in the 2nd and 3rd chapters of the Book of Revelation. And, notice at the end of each of the seven churches there is a definite promise for the whole of the Body of Christ.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is saying here, in this Book of prophecy – the Book of Revelation is a Book of prophecy – Notice verse 1 of chapter 1: “The Revelation [the unveiling] of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants – things which must shortly take place.” – talking about the end-time! The Book of Revelation is a Book which was only to be understood in the end-time. And now that we’re in, or rather near, the end-time, it’s starting to be understood. And chapters 2 & 3 – although He’s talking about an earlier group of people, the former. It’s also a prophecy about the latter. About the latter days. This is an end-time prophecy.
Let’s go through them –
“’ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. …’” – now the LORD God said to the prophet Ezekiel, ‘those that will hear, let them hear, and those that refuse let them refuse.’ Once again, we see that principle. “ … ‘To him who OVERCOMES I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.’” – Revelation 2:7.
He talks about another group, Smyrna, verse 10 – “’ Do no fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to THROW SOME OF YOU INTO PRISON, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days [years], 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 shall not be hurt by the second death.’”
In verse 12 He begins speaking to another group ── Pergamos. “ …’ These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword …’” – that’s the very words of Jesus Christ! “’ I know your works [‘I know what you’ve gone through, I know what I have assigned you to be doing in this lifetime’], and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. …’” – in other words, our Lord Jesus knows that His servants dwell on the Earth (where Satan’s throne is) !
“ … ‘And you hold fast to My name [‘you’ve not denied My name’], and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.’”
Our Lord Jesus is saying, in essence, ‘I acknowledge and understand that you ── My faithful servants ── are having to live in a world that is falling apart! You’re in a tough place to be called Christian,’ however … “…’ I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, …’”
And Balaam, to make a long story short, it’s the concept of covetousness or greediness. He is saying, ‘There are some among you that are greedy!’
Verse 15 – again, dictatorial power over the laity! Well, look up the word Nicolaitans, in your Bible study help’s. Wycliffe Bible Dictionary on the name NICOLAS states, “The name, meaning ‘conqueror of the people.’”
It says in Verse 16 – “ ’Repent, [CHANGE - get out of there while you still can] or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.’” – again, He will fight against those unprofitable servants with His very words!
Please let this sink in, brethren!
Verse 17 – “’ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit [is attempting to say] to the churches. …’”
Verse 18 talks about another church group ── Thyatira. “ … ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass …’” – turn back to the first chapter, and you see more of how He’s described.
He says in Verse 19 – “’ I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.’”
In other words, with some of His servants ── they have more patience, faith, and service, than love.
“’ Nevertheless,’” Verse 20 – “…’ I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.’”
Verse 21 – “…’ And I gave her time to repent …’” – ‘I gave her a chance to change.’ “…’ of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.’” – ‘she wouldn’t change her ways.’
Verse 22 – “’ Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, …’” – remember, the word adultery, in the Bible – adultery, whoredom, whoring around – if you look at the whole context, 90-95% of the time it’s not talking about physical sexual practices against the Way of God, most of the time, it’s referring to spiritual adultery. The worship of false gods and goddesses.
Chapter 3:1 – “’ And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has seven Spirits of God and the seven stars …’” – meaning the seven angels looking after those churches. “…’ I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.’” – spiritually dead.
Verse 2 – “’ Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, …’” – strengthen whatever capacity God’s Spirit to be within you. “…’ that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.’”
Verse 3 – “’ Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.’”
Sadly, it has come to my understanding that this man who does have great knowledge of the living word of God; who is a marvelous teacher of the glorious New Covenant of our Lord Jesus, that every chance he gets he degrades and verbally berates the Church leaders from whom he originally ‘received and heard’! And just as sad ── he does not accept criticism, even when it is constructive and well-intentioned. He becomes defensive, reacts angrily, and refuses to accept any blame.
Verse 5 – “’ He who OVERCOMES shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.’”
He talks about another group ── Philadelphia. “ … ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true,’ ‘He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.’” – the key of David refers to Jesus Christ and His authority over His kingdom!
Verse 8 – “’ I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.’”
We are a group that has not denied His name! And we have but a little strength, a pretty small group, but we have kept HIS WORD!
Verse 12 – “’ He who OVERCOMES, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, …’” – like an integral part of the internal leadership of the Kingdom of God. “…’ and he shall go out no more. 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 …’”
And then we come to Laodicea. “… ’These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:’”
Verse 15 – “’ I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.’” – it would be easier for Jesus to know what to do with you.
Verse 16 – “’ So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit [‘I will spew you, I will reject you from My face!’] you out of My mouth.’”
Verse 21 – “’ To him who OVERCOMES I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.’”
And the last part of this WARNING!
Verse 22 – “’ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the [members of the churches of God].’”
Let us notice that the only ones who have the right to these promises are OVERCOMERS! Those who through the glorious power of God, overcome themselves, overcome this world, and overcome the temptations of wicked spirits in high places.
‘A kingdom of kings and priests to our God’
Our Lord Jesus’ parable in Luke 19 is certainly dual. The “ten servants” represent the TEN TRIBES OF ISRAEL. The “citizens” here represent the HOUSE OF JUDAH – who expressly repudiated our Lord Jesus’ announcement and said, ‘We have no king but Caesar’ – John 19:15. But, this parable has a dual meaning ── true Christians are also now bondservants of our Lord Jesus. Some OVERCOME some things – and others OVERCOME many things. Some develop their spiritual gifts more than others. So, in our Lord Jesus’ Millennial Rule, some will be given rule over many cities, while others will have qualified to rule only over a few – or perhaps only one.
Who exactly will rule over the cities in the Millennium? It will not be His prophets or the apostles. And it won’t be the 144,000. The answer is plain.
The responsibility to guide, control, and develop cities on earth during the Millennium will be those who have not been called to other duties. The glorious responsibility ── the office ── will be open to all those who OVERCOME!
Some of us, brethren, will have grown spiritually (even unto death) immensely ── learning how to properly rule God’s Way. Some us not so much. IT DEPENDS ON YOU! It depends on whether you are willing to let the LORD God make you ‘into His image and likeness’ – or whether you are a ‘wicked and lazy servant’ – and you resist His corrections.
Truly, not every disciple called became an apostle and was an OVERCOMER ── Judas Iscariot departed from the faith. And, sadly, not every one of us will succeed. Yet, the LORD God’s promises stand firm. We CAN ── if we OVERCOME ── stand together in the glorious Kingdom of God! □
