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.
Rev 3:20
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.
DOOR =
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1) a door
a) the vestibule
b) used of any opening like a door, an entrance, way or passage into
c) in a parable or metaphor
1) the door through which sheep go in and out, the
name of him who brings salvation to those who follow
his guidance
2) "an open door" is used of the opportunity of doing something
3) the door of the kingdom of heaven (likened to a palace)denotes the conditions which must be complied with in order to be received into the kingdom of God
The importance of this salutation's use of the word, "Door," is
pretty obvious. He stands knocking at the door. Do we want
to invite him in? Are we willing to obey the true order? Are
we ready for the Lord's coming?
Most of the deeds of the 7 churches, in Asia Minor, were
unsatisfactory. We like to think of them being from a
bygone age, so, they don't affect us. However, the parallel
to our current age, in terms of some major pagan adultery
in our churches, makes these messages just as relevent,
today. Maybe moreso, if we are the Omega church!
The seven churches started out perfectly,
when Paul, Peter, John, and the other Apostles,
including the top 3 Mary's, in Asia Minor.
I can't begin to imagine how powerfully
their connection to heaven was, with
visible manifestations of angels, and
even some of the risen ancients, like
King David. The first Pentecost, after
Christ's crucifixion, blew every other
religion away.
The way Christ's Church began was
powerful, because, it's purpose was
to change the world, and it did that. It
brought JUDAISM to the nations. Or
did it?
What happened? Where's the JUDAISM
of 1rst Century Apostolic Christianity?
The answer is sad. The answer is why
6 of the churches are disappointing to
Christ. Only Philadelphia had the
humility to reject the paganism of
the other churches, and their feasts
to honor pagan things.
Prosperous cities like Ephesus,
Pergamum, thrived due to the
prolific silver craftsmen, artisans,
and textile and dye trades. They were
fabulously rich thanks to their
patronesses, usually Diana or
Cybele.
Bringing in a religion that forbids
graven images, or pagan artifacts
of any kind, was threatening to
undermine the prosperous
capitalism.
It would be EXACTLY like
Christians deciding NOT to
worship a pagan holiday,
calling it by the Lord's
Ineffable Name to further
expand the blasphemy.
Christmas is a measured
time for mainly merchants,
to sell things, the same as the
regions with churches in 100 A.D.
with active idol manufacturing,
especially Dianas and Apollo.
How well the merging of Mary
and Jesus was accomplished, which
kept everyone happy.
So, a compromise was made then,
to keep some of the pagan themes,
to keep alive the mercenary drive
of merchants.
Compromise. Is this a good thing
in our holy doctrine? It never is.
In the final church, Christ tells
the most morally repugnant church,
Laodicea, that he would have preferred
that they were hot or cold.
Christmas is not a time when people
think about Jesus Christ. It can't
be. He isn't about to step into a
fairy tale, yet, the church was
tricked into carrying on this way
for the past 2000 years.
It started in 100 A.D., when the
introduction of the pagan gods
into the Christian meshwork,
eliminated Judaism in Christianity
and replaced it with pagan idols,
ritual days, like Christmas, December
25.
This one thing is egregious, yet,
how many otherwise good churches
and Christian families are doing it.
If you celebrate Christmas, don't
see yourself in the Church of Philly.
If you celebrate Christmas, chances
are you're in the Church of Laodicea,
or the other pagan churches, who
compromised the truth.
The door is open, but, who dares to
go in?
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