The Open Door Church

     The phrase “After this…” (Revelation 7:1a, NIV) indicates that there is a brief interlude after the Lamb opened the Sixth Seal at the end of chapter six.  The phrase ‘After this…’ (Revelation 7:9a, NIV) indicates that there is a second brief interlude after the Lamb opened the Sixth seal prior to the opening of the Seventh Seal which occurs at the beginning of chapter 8 where John wrote, “When he [the Lamb] opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. [this deafening silence was likely due to the what happened during the two brief interludes]” (Revelation 8:1, NIV).

     In Revelation chapter six ‘the Lamb’ opens six of the seven seals on the seven-sealed scroll.  Every time Jesus opens one of the seals on the scroll, He is revealed as the One who is in control of the events on planet Earth as human history unfolds.  After all, the Book of Revelation is actually “The revelation of Jesus Christ…” (Revelation 1:1a, NKJV).

     Some scholars interpret the opening of the first four seals as revealing the atrocities of the Antichrist during the ‘Tribulation Period.’  However, because of what John wrote in the opening verse of the Revelation, I am forced to interpret what John saw when the seals were opened as simply additional aspects of “The revelation of Jesus Christ…” as He acts in the unfolding of human history, much of which is yet future to the time in which we live.

     Revelation chapter five is John’s record of another vision he received from Jesus.  It included ‘The Lamb & the Seven-Sealed Scroll.’  The vision begins with a scene of panic among the angelic community in heaven.  John described the scene when he wrote, “Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne [Jesus—the King of heaven with all of His majestic authority and power as He is portrayed in chapter four] a scroll with writing on both sides [In 96 AD when the Revelation was written, scrolls were normally written on only one side.  This scroll contained so much vital information that it took both sides of the parchment to record it all. It is God’s record of the role ‘the Lamb’ will play in the unfolding of human history, written in advance from 96 AD going forward] and sealed with seven seals. [First-century Roman law required that important legal documents like person’s ‘last will and testament’ be sealed with seven seals. The scrolls containing these documents were tied with seven strings and each string was sealed with wax at the knots to prevent them from being opened prematurely or by anyone not authorized to open the document.]” (Revelation 5:1, NIV).

     Then John wrote, “And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ [Who has the legal authority to break the seals and open the scroll?] But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I [John] wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy [no one with legal authority] to open the scroll or look inside.” (Revelation 5:2-4, NIV).

     Suddenly the angelic panic and John’s grief was ended by an announcement from one of the twenty-four elders. John wrote, “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, [An ancient Old Testament title for their long-awaited Messiah (Genesis 49:9-10; Isaiah 31:4; and Hosea 11:10). In the New Testament He is Jesus, The Lamb of God.] the Root of David, [Another ancient Hebrew title for the Messiah taken from 11:10 and repeated in Revelation 22:16], has triumphed.  He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5, NIV).

     As we will see in next week’s lesson, every time Jesus opens one of the seals on the scroll, He is revealed as the One who is in control of the events on planet Earth as human history unfolds.  After all, the Book of Revelation is actually “The revelation of Jesus Christ…” (Revelation 1:1a, NKJV).

     To understand where we are in our study of the Book of Revelation, we need to go back and review a verse near the end of chapter one where Jesus gave John a three-point outline of the book.  He said, “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” (Revelation 1:19, NIV).  The three-point outline looks like this:

• “What you have seen”—John’s vision of the glorified Christ walking among the churches (Revelation 1:1-18)
• “What is now”—The condition of the seven churches (Revelation 1:20—3:22)
• “What will take place later”—Events that will happen after 96 A.D. when the Revelation was written (Revelation 4:1—22:21)

     At the beginning of Revelation chapter four John is called up to heaven and there is a transition in the narrative from “What is now” (the condition of the seven churches in 96 A.D.) to “What will take place later” (events that will happen after 96 A.D.).  The first two words Revelation chapter four indicate a transition is taking place.  John wrote, “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven…” (Revelation 4:1a, NIV).

     Some scholars interpret “What will take place later” (the third section of Jesus’ three-point outline of Revelation) as events that took place in history after 96 A.D. but before today.  However, the events of this section of the Revelation have not been fulfilled in any literal sense.  They can only be viewed as fulfilled by interpreting them as wildly symbolic.

     One of my personal rules of interpretation is to interpret Scripture literally unless the text says that it is symbolic or an allegory or a parable.  Therefore, I interpret the events described in Revelation chapters 4-22 literally with the exception of any section that states that it is a symbol or an allegory.  I am, therefore, forced to the conclusion that these events have not yet occurred and will occur at a time that is still future to us.  That is how I interpret the events to which Jesus was referring when He said to John, “…Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” (Revelation 4:1c, NIV).

     Jesus instructed John to send the Revelation to seven churches in the Roman province of Asia—western Turkey.  He said, “…Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” (Revelation 1:11b, NIV).

     Jesus then dictated to John a personal note for the ‘angels’ [messengers] to deliver to and read to each of the seven churches.  In this sermon we will examine His ‘note’ to the Church in Laodicea.  Jesus said, “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write…” (Revelation 3:14a, NIV).

     No two of the churches were the same, so they each received a different note.  No two churches have the same set of strengths and weaknesses.  They are made up of radically different people. So, they are radically different churches with different needs—and Jesus dealt with them accordingly.  By the way, He still does the same thing today!

     We read this verse about ‘the book of life’ during last week’s lesson on “The ‘Note’ to the Church in Sardis”—“…I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.” (Revelation 3:5b, NIV).  I told you I would devote today’s sermon to an examination of what the Bible says about ‘the book of life.’  So here we go…

     First of all, we need to review the context of the statement Jesus made to John in the Revelation when He said, “…I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.” (Revelation 3:5b, NIV).  ‘That person’ about whom Jesus declared ‘I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life’ is someone who is ‘victorious’ because they have engaged in kingdom-building ministry rather than getting tangled up in non-kingdom-building activities.  They have ‘finished’ the work God assigned them to complete—a clear indication that they are authentic believers in Jesus.  The majority of the people in the Church in Sardis were not ‘victorious.’  Jesus said about them, “…I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.” (Revelation 3:2b, NIV).

     To those in Sardis who demonstrated the reality of their faith in Jesus by continuing to engage in the kingdom-building activities He had assigned them, Jesus promised, “…I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.” (Revelation 3:5b, NIV).  Their names had obviously been written in ‘the book of life’ and would not be blotted out.  Their names would remain in ‘the book of life’ permanently!

     ‘The book of life’ is mentioned again later in the Revelation when Jesus was describing the final judgment of non-believers.  He said, “…I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.  Another book was opened, which is the book of life…Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:12a…15, NIV).  Obviously, failure to have one’s name recorded in ‘the book of life’ results in being ‘thrown into the lake of fire.’  The implication is that having your name recorded in ‘the book of life’ means that you avoid ‘lake of fire’ and get to go to heaven.