Much like the first, this vision will show him “what must take place after these things.” We are once again about to gain a view into things that must take place in the interim between the coming of Jesus in the flesh and His coming again on the clouds.

Looking into this doorlike opening into the spiritual realm, John heard the same trumpet-like voice he had heard in Revelation 1:10. The voice of the Lord Jesus. He is called to come up to the very throne room of God.

We are about to embark on a journey together through the remaining chapters of The Revelation. This is a book that has been the source of a great deal of fear, confusion, and disagreement over the years. Let that not be the case with us. As we travel together through the most perplexing parts of this wonderful and glorious revelation of our lovely Lord Jesus, let’s expect to grow in His grace and in the knowledge of Him. Let’s anticipate knowing more about who He is, His plan for humankind, and how best to understand our current tribulation.

As we have seen in earlier segments, we bear the name of God and of the Lord Jesus. The Revelation also tells us that we will bear the name of the new Jerusalem. This is a curious statement until we read Revelation 21:9–10

From this blessing we are beginning to get a picture of the end of all saints. A glimpse of Life when the Lord has fully consummated the new creation in a new heaven and a new earth populated by new people, who are His spotless bride, clothed in purest white.

New names confer new status. An example in the Old Testament is Abram being given the name Abraham after he believed God and God made a covenant with Him. Similarly in the New Testament we are told that Simon came to be called Peter when he affirmed that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

White stones were sometimes used judicially to indicate a verdict of acquittal, with a black stone for a guilty verdict. A white stone was also sometimes used as a pass for admission to parties or gatherings on special occasions. The life-giving Manna provided to the Israelites by God was white.

We often equate paradise to heaven, and we equate heaven with the place we go after death. This can be problematic because scripture does not seem to portray heaven in that way. Rather, heaven is portrayed as the abode of God. The Revelation is very clear (as are all the scriptures) that God dwells among His people.

From the outset I have urged that we notice the signs and symbols in The Revelation. This book is filled with references and echoes of the scriptures that came before. The Revelator uses the terms “poor”, “blind”, and “naked” to help us understand this message from our Lord.

As the saints of God, we can find ourselves becoming ineffective, lethargic, or distracted. We are called to change our minds and turn our focus to the Lord. We are called to cease viewing ourselves, others, and even our circumstances from a fleshly perspective and change our minds to view these things from a heavenly spiritual perspective.

Many of us are fortunate to live in countries where being thrown into prison for our beliefs is not a concern. Many others live in places where imprisonment is a constant risk. If you are interested in gaining perspective on this point, I recommend that you visit The Voice of the Martyrs at https://www.persecution.com.

It’s not so much about trying to determine which of the seven churches is most like our own. Rather, it’s about hearing the way the Lord Jesus is with His Church. It’s about listening to how intimately He knows those who are His. It’s about heeding the admonitions He gives and noticing the things He considers important. It’s about finding reassurance that He loves His bride, that He is faithful, and that our reward is secure.

Holy Spirit has told us through the Apostle John that God is Love. While He lived on earth, Jesus was often “moved with compassion.” He also called Holy Spirit “the Comforter” and “Helper.” None of these attributes of God is consistent with Him vomiting out His children because they fail to perform at an acceptable level—whatever that would be.

We find this situation throughout the various institutional churches today. There are many believers in such churches, but there are also many who rely upon religious self-effort. This sort of “virtue signaling” has no life in it.

Though man-made organized religion continues trying to force theocratic government and “conversion” from other religions, force and coercion are not the answer to immorality and idolatry.

No one can curse those whom God has blessed. The Lord Jesus gave Himself up for us to present us as His spotless bride. We are blessed of God and no curse is possible.

When we fall into performance patterns instead of depending on Him, our love for others is an expression of the flesh rather than of Christ.

We Do not have an absent, abusive, petty, or neglectful Father God is clear that He knows what is best for us. If we are honest, we know this. The Lord is faithful and trustworthy, He is Love and there is no evil in Him. Knowing all this, we can look forward to His reproof, correction, and discipline.

One thing will be clear in the end. The Lord Jesus wants the very best for His bride. As we read in Ephesians 5:25–27, Christ “loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”

Sardis helps us see that the Lord sees everything as it is. He sees “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” Paradoxically, because this is true, we who are in Christ by faith can take great comfort. How so? Knowing that the Lord God is not faking Himself out, but sees everything as it truly is, we can trust Him when He calls us holy, blameless, and beyond reproach (Colossians 1:22, Philippians 2:15b).