Sh ma, Yisra el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one]

Sh ma, Yisra el! ADONAI Eloheinu, ADONAI echad [Hear, Isra el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one]

Sh'ma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad Baruch Shem k vod malchutto, l olam va ed Hear, O Israel: the LORD is our God The LORD is One. Blessed be the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever.

So where are we, and where do we go from here? Perhaps a slight detour is in order before we pick up our studies

The book of Revelation is full of some very frightening images, describing some incredibly horrific times

We have studied 18 chapters so far, in which we have no doubt been terrified at what is coming on this planet

And we have seen a hideous beast rise from the sea, and another from the land to become the final world ruler and his false prophet

We have heard the prophetic call for the destruction of Babylon

And seen the final plagues poured on the earth

We are also all aware that the signs of the times are upon us, and these days today are the times of the signs.

And we are living in some very scary times

It s one thing to study it and quite another thing to live it. Now what?

What do we need to know in order to survive these times?

CRITICAL REVIEW: Ancient letters with an urgent message for today

Symbolic Age Speaker Praise Problem Counsel Or Warning Promise Nutshell Apostolic Church 30-100 AD He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. Works, labor, patience, non-toleration of evil, tested false teachers, perseverance, hated Nicolaitans Left first love, passion and joy gone Remember from where you have fallen; repent; do first works (heart!) OR ELSE I will come quickly and remove your lampstand Eat of the tree of life in Paradise (of God, with Him), (eternal life in Paradise) No passion for Jesus, agape love missing

Ephesus Directives for Today s World EPHESUS Message Today s Message: Increasingly Important Problem What to Do Lost their first love, passion and joy were gone Remember from where you have fallen; do the first works 1. Keep your passion for God 2. Make Him top priority- FIRST love 3. Increase nearness and communication 4. Trust completely Promise Eat of the tree of life in Paradise 5. Give every part of self to Him

Symbolic Age Speaker Praise Problem Counsel Or Warning Promise Nutshell Persecuted Church (age of Martyrs) 100-312 AD The First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life. Works, perseverance (He knew their suffering, poverty, persecution Synagogue of Satan!) NONE! Don t be afraid, be faithful to death. No fear! Crown of life, not hurt by second death (saved from eternal separation from God) No problems, just hang on with no fear.

Smyrna Directives for Today s World SMYRNA Message Today s Message: Increasingly Important Problem What to Do Promise NONE! Don t be afraid, be faithful to death. No fear! Crown of life, not hurt by second death 1. Don t be afraid 2. Be faithful to Him even in the face of death. 3. Have no fear in any situation. 4. Trust Him completely. 5. Overcome, hang on.

Symbolic Age Speaker Praise Problem Counsel Or Warning Promise Nutshell State Church (Constantine to 1 st Pope) 313-590 AD He who has the sharp two-edged sword. Works, steadfastness, held to faith (He knew where they lived, Satan s throne) False teachers in their midst Repent OR He will fight them (those spreading false teachings, not whole church) with Sword of His mouth Hidden manna to eat, white stone with unique name known only to holder and Jesus (eternal sustenance, acquittal, free pass to heaven, unique love from God) False doctrines, not testing teachers, not remaining separate from world

Pergamos Directives for Today s World PERGAMOS Message Today s Message: Increasingly Important Problem False teachers in their midst 1. Ask for and use spiritual discernment What to Do Promise Repent OR He will fight them those spreading false teachings Hidden manna to eat, white stone with unique name 2. Do not allow false teaching in midst 3. Deal with false teachers as much as able 4. Correct false teaching

Symbolic Age Speaker Praise Problem Counsel Or Warning Promise Nutshell Established Church (1 st Pope to Ref.) 590-1517 AD the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass. More works, love, service, faith Toleration of false teachers who lead others into sin Problem with Jezebels and followers, not entire church. Would not burden them further, but hold fast what they have until He comes. Cast Jezebel on a bed of suffering, and kill her children. Power over the nations, and the morning star (will reign with Him in Millennium) Compromise, toleration of false teachers, not remaining separate

Thyatira Directives for Today s World THYATIRA Message Today s Message: Increasingly Important Problem Toleration of false teachers who lead others into sin 1. Ask for and use spiritual discernment What to Do Promise Hold fast what they have until He comes Power over the nations, and morning star 2. Do not allow false teaching in midst 3. Do not tolerate sin 4. Hold fast to what is true and right 5. No compromise

Symbolic Age Reformation Era 1518-1750 AD Speaker He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars. Praise NONE! (some had not soiled their clothes and they would walk with Him in white) Reputation for being alive, but they were dead. Works Problem Counsel Or Warning Promise Nutshell not complete or perfect before God. Be watchful, strengthen what remains (is about to die!) Remember what you heard, hold fast to it, repent OR ELSE I will come as a thief (suddenly) to take away what remains. White garments, will not blot name from Book of Life, will confess name before Father and angels. (covered/righteousness of Jesus, remain in Book of Life, right to be with God) Complacency, spiritually dead, more interested in material riches

Sardis Directives for Today s World SARDIS Message Today s Message: Increasingly Important Problem What to Do Promise Reputation for being alive, but dead. Works incomplete Be watchful, strengthen what remains; Remember what you heard, hold fast to it, repent White garments, will not blot name from Book of Life, will confess name before Father and angels. 1. Be spiritually alive 2. Be watchful 3. Strengthen the good things 4. Remember and uphold truth 5. Repent from evil

Symbolic Age Missionary Church 1750-1900 Speaker Praise Problem Counsel Or Warning Promise Nutshell 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. Works, have a little strength (influence, ability), kept His word, not denied His Name. Kept command to persevere* (Missionary church) NONE! Will make those of synagogue of Satan come and worship before their feet. Hold fast what you have so no one can take crown. *will keep them from hour of trial coming upon whole world to test those who dwell on the earth Make him a pillar in temple of God, will write on him name of God, name of city of God, New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from God will write on him My new name. (eternally have access to God s place, identified with His city, identified with Jesus) No problems, hold fast, persevere

Philadelphia Directives for Today s World PHILADELPHIA Message Today s Message: Increasingly Important Problem What to Do Promise NONE! Hold fast what you have so no one can take your crown *will keep from hour of trial coming upon whole; Make him a pillar in temple of God, write on him name of God, name New Jerusalem, My new name. 1. Hold fast to what you have (faith, truth, etc.) 2. Don t allow anyone to take your crown 3. Keep doing for Him 4. Persevere

Symbolic Age Apostate Church of Last Days 1900-present + the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God. NONE! Neither hot nor cold - lukewarm. Say they are rich, have need of nothing, but He says they are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Will vomit you out of my mouth! Buy from Me gold refined in fire (that you may be rich) white garments (that you may be clothed), anoint your eyes with eye salve (that you may see) As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous and repent. Open door to Him! Speaker Praise Problem Counsel Or Warning Promise Nutshell Will sit with Me on My throne. (co-ruling Millennial kingdom) Lukewarm, pride, more concerned about material wealth than spiritual wealth

Laodicea Directives for Today s World LAODICEA Message Today s Message: Increasingly Important Problem What to Do Promise Neither hot nor cold - lukewarm. are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. Be zealous and repent. Open door to Him! Will sit with Me on My throne 1. Be hot (sold out) for God zealous! 2. Don t allow apathy 3. Repent of evil and sin 4. Be refined 5. Depend on Him for everything

20 Ways to Survive the Times (the ONLY way!) 1. Make Him top priority- FIRST love 2. Keep your passion for God. Be hot (sold out) for Him zealous! 3. Give every part of self to Him. 4. Trust Him, depend on Him completely. 5. Don t be afraid. No fear in any situation. 6. Be faithful to Him even in face of death. 7. Overcome, hang on, persevere. 8. Ask for and use spiritual discernment. 9. Do not allow false teaching. 10. Do not tolerate sin.

20 Ways to Survive the Times (the ONLY way!) 11. Hold fast to what is true and right, and to what you have (faith, truth). 12. Be spiritually alive. 13. Be watchful. 14. Strengthen the good things. 15. No compromise with the world. 16. Repent from evil, sin. 17. Don t allow anyone to take your crown. 18. Keep doing for Him, not self. 19. Don t allow apathy. 20. Be refined.

And one more thing. ALWAYS REMEMBER THE PROMISES!

Abundant Life The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) Crown of Life Do not 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. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)

Heavenly Home Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:1-3)

A God Who Listens and Answers Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14) Assurance For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (2 Timothy 1:12)

Cleansing You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. (John 15:3) Deliverance and Eternal Reward And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! (2 Timothy 4:18)

Forgiveness and Justification Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And to him He said, See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes. (Zechariah 3:4)

His Guidance and Presence I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16)

Unfailing Certain Hope that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, (Hebrews 6:18-19)

Glory in God s Kingdom Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! (Matthew 13:43)

An Amazing Inheritance Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you (1 Peter 1:3-4)

We can go ahead now. As long as we also remember

May the LORD bless you and keep you י ב ר כ ך יהוה, ו י שׁ מ ר ך Yevarekh-kha Adonai veyishmerekha May the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you י א ר יהוה פּ נ יו א ל י ך, ו יח נּ ךּ Yaʾer Adonai panav elekha viḥunneka May the LORD lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. י שּׂ א יהוה פּ נ יו א ל י ך, ו י שׂ ם ל ך שׁ לוֹם Yissa Adonai panav elekha viyasem lekha shalom.