Seven Types of Churches

[Ricardo 'ReAsOn' Butler]

Seven Church Types

Seven Types of Churches

What exactly should a church that has fruit look like? How do we identify a church that does not have fruit? Take any local church, any congregation that you know and examine it and have a close look. Supposing you were the Lord coming down to have a look at your church, what would you look for? What would you find, and what assessment would you make concerning its fruitfulness?

Well, fortunately the Bible has given us a little bit of a guideline as to the kinds of churches that are out there, and exactly how the Lord views such churches. What am I referring to? I am referring to the book of Revelation, where the apostle John, in the Spirit on the Lord's day, was given a commission from the Lord via the Angel of the Lord, to write to the angels of the seven churches.

What were the seven churches that John was to write to? The eschatologists would tell us that the seven churches refer to seven church ages. They say that John was writing the book of Revelation, which was a book of prophecy and completely about the end times, therefore it is logical to assume that the seven churches that John was referring to were seven different church ages. They were seven different historic periods that the church went through. It starts with the church of Ephesus, which had only then begun to leave its first love, and ends with the final end-times church which is known as the lukewarm Laodicean church. This is going to be the church of the end times where there is going to come the falling away.

Few realize that there is a "church WITHIN the church." When God chooses us FROM AMONG the called, we become separate from their doctrines and sins. We are still "The Church of the Living God," but we are a peculiar people that no longer follows the traditions of men, which the many called who are building their house upon the sand continue to follow. The Bible refers to the "called" as "the Synagogue of Satan" and to the "chosen" as "the Body of Christ." But Jesus Christ calls both groups in the book of Revelation: "The mystery [Gk: 'to shut the mouth, a secret or "mystery" (through the idea of silence imposed by initiation into religious rites)'] of the ... seven golden candlesticks ... the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches [Seven (God’s number of completeness) represent the WHOLE CHURCH OF GOD down through centuries to our very day FROM PENTACOST UNTIL HIS COMING]." (Revelation 1:20).

THE 7 CHURCHES ARE GOD’S CHURCHES
Make no mistake, the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 are the churches of the Living God! They are not pagan churches neither are they Satan’s churches, but they are GOD’S churches! It is none other than Jesus Christ Himself Who,
"...walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks [which are the seven churches]" (Rev. 2:1).
"He that has [been given by God] an [spiritual] ear, let him [spiritually] hear what the Spirit [of GOD] says [is saying] unto the churches" (Rev. 1:7, 11, 17, 29, 2:6, 13, 22).

SEVEN MEANS COMPLETE
The Sabbath or "seventh day" COMPLETES the week. Daniel’s famous prophecy was
"SEVENTY weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish [complete] the transgression, and to make an end [complete] of sins…" (Dan. 9:24).
Seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven plagues complete God’s wrath on mankind. Seven is used over six hundred times in Scriptures. Check if you wish, to see how many times seven shows completeness.
Therefore, how many churches complete THE WHOLE CHURCH OF GOD?
"…write in a book and send it unto the SEVEN churches which are in Asia…" (Rev. 1:11).
Were there not churches (congregations) also in Judea as well? Even in Rome? Why only the seven churches "in ASIA?" Because these seven congregations completed all that Jesus had to say to all congregations, everywhere. This is a COMPLETE revelation for ALL CHURCHES. These seven congregations had within them all of the sins, weaknesses, and shortcomings of all congregations everywhere during ALL TIME. I will make this abundantly and Scripturally clear. But on the positive side, all of the churches had at least a "few names" that were not spiritually defiled, and who will be in the first resurrection as Sons and Daughters of God to bring the rest of the harvest, the great fall harvest into the Kingdom.
These churches that personify in symbol all of God’s church for the past two thousand years, are in fact, the training ground and the proving ground for the elect. Coming out of this carnal system puts one among the called and the chosen and the VERY elect. Paul called it "the HIGH CALLING." (Philippians 3:14).
When you go through the messages to the seven churches, you will see a reiteration of the same problems in all the congregations.
It would take me twenty pages (for more information on that ask me for the paper titled "What Happened to the Church Jesus Built") to reiterate all the similarities of both sins and rewards found in all seven church congregations, which represent the whole church of God throughout all generations. This is not a dissected church divided up into particular or separate dispensations, ages, or eras.

Have you heard this stuff preached? It is nonsense! I do not believe that this is what John was referring to at all. All that people have done is they have taken historical facts, having seen the history, and now gone back and taken these churches and tried to slot them into the different events that have taken place in church history. They try to interpret that each of these churches was a church age, and come to the natural conclusion that the final church is going to be a lukewarm, cold church that the Lord is going to spew out of His mouth.

I do not think Jesus is coming for that kind of church.

I do not think He would bother coming for that kind of church. Jesus is coming for a church that is full of fruit! He is coming to pick the fruit off His trees. He is not coming for the Laodicean church. It has nothing to do with church ages. What the Lord showed John was seven typical churches, and He picked specific churches that existed at that time in specific locations. He picked seven specific local churches. What He did is, He picked seven trees. He said, "I want to show you seven different kinds of trees, and how I view each of those trees, and how I want to deal with them."

John, as an apostle, stood as one who also had prophetic office, and he spoke forth the word to those churches by the Spirit. He spoke it, wrote it and declared it, and he decreed the Word of God to those churches, and he licensed and liberated the angel that was allocated to each church. I am not going to go into a lot of detail on that, but each local church has an angel. Every tree that is planted has at least one angel that is allocated to it. John wrote, and he licensed those angels to do what was necessary in order to bring those trees to a place of fruitfulness.

I would like to go through the seven churches of Revelation, and I am going to give you a few concepts that I saw in those churches. Perhaps it will give you a foundation to build for yourself. You can go and study these and meditate on them and try to visualize them for yourself. Look at some of the descriptions that were given concerning these churches, how the Lord viewed them, and how He said He was going to deal with them.

Church at Ephesus

[Gk: DESIRABLE]

We start with the church at Ephesus. The Lord begins by commending this church and telling them how wonderful they are, how hard they have worked, how strong they are, and how resilient and constant they are. This was a strong church. It was well established and organized. They had things together. They had tested all the false leaders that had come in and found them to be false. If you were to look at this church as a tree, it was a perfect specimen of plant life in the natural. It was perfectly healthy. It had protected itself from every onslaught. It had grown strong and was a tall, stately tree that stood firm against the winds and would not be moved. It was a good-looking tree.

Do you know any churches like that? They are well organized. The leadership are strong and the constitution is sound. The structure of the church is good. Everything is Scriptural. Everything is perfect, in order and well controlled. Nobody can come in and shake that church, because it is established upon a rock. They have a strong structure and a totally Scriptural pattern. They are doing things the right way.

They just have one problem. They do not have any fruit. It is a beautiful tree, just like that avocado tree that I grew up with. You could climb in it and get shade from its branches. But you could not eat avo's from it. The Lord looked at that tree and He complimented all the good things about it, but He said, "Because you're bearing no fruit I'm going to remove you. I am taking you away. I am going to remove your candlestick if you don't start bearing fruit, because the reason I put you here is not to look beautiful, but to bear fruit. If you're not bearing fruit, you are no use at all."

I wonder how many local churches today would stand under that scrutiny.

You say, "But they have the right pattern. They're doing it right. They have the structure all right. It is totally Scriptural. They have the ministry structured and everything in order. They have the finances organized right. They give to the poor. They are a well organized church."

Is there faith, hope and love? The foundational root and fruit is love, and the Lord said, "You've left your first love." If they had left their first love there could not be faith or hope either. It was gone. There was nothing there. The Lord said, "Get back and do the first works and become a fruitful tree again, otherwise I'm going to remove you."

"...(if you do overcome) will I [Jesus] give to eat of the tree of life" (Rev. 2:7).

That’s CHRIST.
"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection and [I am] the LIFE (John 11:25).
The KJV translates "tree" in this verse from the Greek word xulon. Here is Strong’s definition of xulon: "timber (for fuel or material); by impl. a stick, club or tree or wooden art. or substance … xulon, wood, a piece of wood, anything made of wood." The word "tree" does fit what is spoken of in this verse, but when we come to Rev. 22:2, "tree of life" does not seem to fit as well.
"In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life…" (Rev. 22:2).
How do we have one tree of life on BOTH sides of the river?
One translation translates both of these verses as "wood of life." Another has, "log of life." Interestingly, one translation has this footnote, "Wood is the primary significance of zulon, and may here denote, as in Rev. xxi (22)i, an aggregation of dendra, or trees, commonly called a wood, or forest; a xulon of life, occupying a place on both sides of the river."
What a marvelous word picture God has presented to us in these words. Jesus Christ is first and foremost, "The" [singular] Tree of Life. This is the Tree of Life spoken of in the Garden of Eden. That tree grew out of the earth, just as Jesus (the source of life—from His Father) came in the flesh (the "earth") to bring life (immortality—deathlessness, eternal life) to all humanity. Interestingly, the first time xulon is used in Scripture is where Jesus said,
"For if they do these things in a green [living] tree [Gk: xulon—wood] what shall be done in the dry [dead wood]?" (Luke 23:31).
Jesus Christ is the "green living tree." Jesus met His death by being crucified. The "cross" of Christendom was really a post, pole, or upright stake that is fastened or planted in the ground manually—it did not grow from that spot. It is not a living xulon or wood or tree. Jesus died on a DEAD wood or dead tree.
But Jesus is now raised from the dead and is the Live Tree, the Tree of LIFE. We get a "taste" of this life when God gives us of His Holy Spirit. But we receive only the "earnest" or down payment in this life:
"…you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest [down payment] of our inheritance UNTIL [at a later date] the redemption of the purchased possession…" (Eph. 1:13b-14).
At the resurrection we will be changed:
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God [because of that down payment], and it does not yet appear what we shall be: for we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be LIKE HIM, for we shall see Him as He is" (1st John 3:2).
Jesus also said this:
"As Thou [the Father] has given Him [Jesus] power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life [eonian life, which for the believer includes immortality] to as many as Thou has given Him [And Jesus gives this life to ALL FLESH, 'As Thou (the Father) has given Him (Jesus) POWER OVER ALL FLESH']" (John 17:2).
And so, as Jesus has life in Himself, He will give us that same life. And just as Jesus is the Singular "Wood [tree] of life," we too will become the Plural "Wood of Life" spoken of in Rev. 22:2. Remember a "wood" is a gathering of trees as in "woods" or "forest." Where do we read of such a gathering of "living trees?"
"Now when I had returned, behold, at the bank of the river [this is God’s life giving spirit] were very MANY TREES [Heb: 'a tree (from its firmness); hence wood (PLURAL STICKS):-- + carpenter (as in JESUS the carpenter).' Like xulon, wood, or woods or forest] on the one side and on the other [side of the river of life]. Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed. And it shall come to pass, that EVERY THING that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers [God's Spirit] shall come, SHALL LIVE: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish ['And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.' (Mark 1:17); 'And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea (these are people not fish), and all that are in them.' (Revelation 5:13) & 'And He saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues (languages.' (Revelation 17:15)], because these waters shall come thither: for they [since when has waters became 'they' a PRONOUN?] shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh. And it shall come to pass, that the fishers [the disciples of the Lord] shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds [disciples after Jesus], as the fish of the great sea ['Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind.' (Matthew 13:47)], exceeding many. But the miry [muddy] places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt ['For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.' (Mark 9:49)]. And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine ['there the tree (xulon, wood, or woods or forest) of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations']." (Ezekiel 47:7-12).
"And He showed me a pure river of water of life [this is God’s life giving spirit] clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God [the Father has life] and of the Lamb [the Father gives life to Jesus to give to as many as God has given Him]. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river [of life], was there the tree [xulon, wood, or woods or forest] of life, which bare TWELVE [LIKE 12 TRIBES] manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month [TWELVE months]]; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Rev 22:1-2).
Jesus is the source of all life because His Father gave Him life to disseminate to others.
"For as the Father has life in Himself, so has He given to the son to have LIFE IN HIMSELF" (John 5:26).
"And He [Jesus] took the blind man by the hand, and led Him out of the town; and when He had spit on his eyes to HEAL him], and put His hands upon him, He [Jesus] asked him if he saw ought [anything]. And he [the man] looked up, and said, I SEE MEN AS TREES, WALKING. After that He [Jesus] put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and HE WAS RESTORED, and SAW EVERY MAN CLEARLY." (Mark 8:23-25).
So in Revelation 22 we see the river of life flowing from God and Christ, through the middle of the forest of trees of life (that’s US)
"The fruit of the righteous IS A TREE OF LIFE; and he that winneth [Heb: 'is taking'] souls ['wins friends' (Modern Language Bible)] is wise." (Proverbs 11:30),

And we in return "heal the nations" just as Obadiah 1:21 prophesied of the coming of "saviors" (plural) to Mt. Zion (God’s headquarters of government throne) to judge the nations.


The church at Smyrna

[Gk: MYRRH/MEEKNESS]

Let's look at the church at Smyrna. Smyrna was an impoverished church. They were poor. They were struggling. They were battling and having a hard time. They were struggling just to survive. They probably had only a handful in the congregation. The minister was probably holding down a normal job. You know the kind of picture that I am painting? This church was struggling to keep going. They were just barely holding on. They did not have great crowds coming or a large amount of finance pouring in.

It seemed like everybody was against them. Everybody hated them and was criticizing them. Other churches were putting them down and preaching against them from the pulpit. Satan was having a heyday in that church. But they were holding on for all their worth, because they had a vision for the Lord. They wanted to do His work. They wanted to pour forth. They did not have the numbers. They did not care if the finance was not there. They wanted to produce faith, hope and love and that is all that counted. They were hanging on and hanging on and were biting like the bulldog. They would not let go.

Do you know what the Lord said to that church? He said, "Hang in there. Hold on until the storms break. Hang in there until you make it through. I'm going to strengthen you. I'm going to purge you and help you. You're going to make it through. Just hang in there, you are bearing fruit. You are not bearing as much fruit as you would like to, but you're doing the best you can in the circumstances."

Do not give up. It may look like everything is against you, but do not give up. It may look like everybody is opposing you. It may look like perhaps you are doing it wrong. The church down the road is flourishing. Everybody is going there. The finances are pouring in. The ministers are driving beautiful cars there and living in beautiful houses. They have just built a new church building there. They have new pews and carpets and just added an extra addition for a school. The church is growing, and here you are battling along and struggling. Why not just pack it in and join the other people? Why are you so foolish as to carry on battling on your own?

The Lord says, "Don't give up. You hang in there."

Can you see the difference? It is not the numbers. It is not the worldly success. It is the fruit that the Lord is looking for. That is the purpose and the reason that you are there.

"... (if you do overcome) and I [Jesus] will give thee a crown of life ... shall not be hurt of the second death" (Ver. 11).

"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." (James 1:12).
That’s because they now have CHRIST, the "tree of life Who abolishes death."
Those who are being judged NOW, will not go through the lake of fire judgment, or be hurt by the second death.

The Church at Pergamos

[Gk: FORTIFIED/TOWER/CASTLE]

The Lord spoke concerning the church at Pergamos. This was a church that was built right where Satan lived. It was in a place where probably the demon density per square mile was one of the highest in the world. It was called the Seat [Gk: 'THRONE'] of Satan. There are churches today that exist in lands and countries that are dedicated to Satan. There are countries that are not considered Christian, but where other gods are worshipped and where the majority of the population are worshipping demons and are in false doctrines and false religions. Try to start a church in an area like that and you are going to face persecution and opposition like you have never seen. You are going to get opposition in the natural, and you are going to get opposition in the spiritual. You are going to be fought against.

I have been in a church like that. It was the very first church I ever pastored. This church was so bad that some of the senior ministers in the denomination that I had been with could not handle it, and they would crumble and fall. Nobody wanted to go there. So they picked the poor person who was dying to go into the ministry for the first time, the junior who did not have much choice in the matter and they said, "Hey, you want to go into the ministry? We'll send you there."

I was so arrogant and bold as to think, "Oh yeah I'm ready. I told the Lord to give me a problem church. I can handle this one. I've got all the knowledge, I've got all the Word, I've got all the principles. Let me at 'em."

Just stepping into the place where the church was, brought a cloud of darkness and oppression that I have never experienced anywhere in the world that I have been yet. I am sure there must be worse places, but I just have not experienced them yet. There was continual opposition, continual pressure. There was opposition in the natural, from the people and in the spirit. There were financial problems and sickness and disease. We were attacked from every side. And as a young minister entering the ministry for the first time, I nearly died. I could not take it. They had to eventually pull me out of there.

I came to realize the difference one day when we decided to go on a short vacation from that place. We drove out in the car and had pulled out of the city and gone over a mountain pass that took you out of the city. As we crossed over it I said, "We mustn't forget to commit the journey to the Lord." I began to pray a simple little prayer like, "Lord, we ask you to bless us now on our journey. Give us a safe journey." You know, the kind of thing you normally pray when you go on holiday. I started to pray a simple little prayer like that and suddenly I felt a woosh, like the power and glory of God had come down and the heavens had opened. I had not felt an anointing like that in ages.

I said, "Lord, what's going on?"

I tell you what was going on. I had just come out of the atmosphere of the city, that is all. I had come out of that cloud of darkness and gotten into the kind of atmosphere that most people live in and take for granted every day.

It is very difficult to plant a tree in rocky soil, in a desert land and see it grow. It is very difficult when a tree is planted and the sun beats down on it during the day; where the wind blows on it and it is subjected to heavy forces from the elements and it has to grow and survive. That is the kind of tree that the church of Pergamos was.

Then to make things more complicated, when you are in a place like that the people that do eventually come in are of a mixed kind. There were people in that church that were not of God. Some of them were seeking self-gratification. They were following the way of Balaam, the Lord told John. Balaam was the prophet who wanted to use his prophetic power to curse Israel so that he could get rich. They were also following the way of the Nicolaitans. The Nicolaitans were people who were over-exalting and glorifying themselves, who tried to make a name for themselves and put themselves forth as something special.

The Lord had to deal with them, but that tree just needed to be purged. The Lord needed to take out of it, those elements that were preventing it from growing. The Lord did not curse this tree. He did not curse this church. They were trying under extremely difficult circumstances to do the work of the Lord. The Lord said, "I'm going to help you. I'm going to purge and remove from you all of these things that should not be there; all of these elements in your midst that must be taken out, and that are preventing and stunting your growth."

If you are in a church that is in such a place you are going to draw in people that have come out from the world. Not unbelievers, but people who have been into spiritism, the occult, false religions and Eastern religions. These are the kinds of things that you will face if you have a church that is built in an area like that. You will have people coming in claiming to be Christians, but bringing in with them all of their false doctrines, religions like Buddhism and the heritages that they grew up with. You will have to purge it out of them. It is an extremely difficult place to build a church and to have a ministry. You have to be very careful to keep those elements out if you want to produce the fruit. That is what the church at Pergamos was like.

"... (if you do overcome) will I [Jesus] give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Ver. 17).
That’s CHRIST, the bread of life from heaven, (John 6:48 & 58). I believe that even most nominal Christians would be agreeable to the fact that Jesus Christ IS this "hidden manna," and that it certainly is not literal food for the physical body!
But when we come to things like "the lake of fire which is the second death," the shout goes out, "IT’S LITERAL; IT’S LITERAL." Everything in the Book of Revelation is symbolic and spiritual. I will take a little more time on this next reward to overcomers, just to show how much spiritual teaching and understanding there is in every single word of Revelation.
And, "a white stone." That’s CHRIST. How is a "white stone," "Christ?" This "stone" is SPIRITUAL. Of what earthly (or heavenly) value is "a white stone" if it is a "literal white stone?" It is foolishness to think that these symbols and metaphors of Revelation are literal! Of what eternal value is a white stone with a name written in it? First of all, "stone" is not even the proper translation in this verse. I once thought it represented Christ, "the Stone rejected by Israel, that became the "Chief Corner Stone," but that is not the teaching of this verse.
The Greek word here is "psephos" and not "lithos" which is a large stone such as a millstone, tombstone, or building stone. A psephos is not a stone per se, but rather a "pebble." Gee, that sounds even less valuable than a stone. It’s a SYMBOL! It stands for something SPIRITUAL AND LASTING OF UNFATHOMABLE VALUE!
This particular psepos pebble was used in casting a secret ballot. Now notice what a definition of ballot by the American Heritage College Dictionary: ballot n. 6. A small ball [or pebble] once used to register a secret vote. Next notice this amazing definition in Strong’s Greek Lexicon, #5586. psepos, "a pebble (as worn smooth by handling), i.e. (by impl. Of use as a counter or ballot) a verdict (of acquittal) or ticket (of admission)." A BALLOT, a VERDICT OF ACQUITTAL (not guilt) or ticket of ADMISSION (not rejection)! The opposite of this white ball or pebble of acceptance, is to be rejected and turned away by being "BLACK balled."
Maybe this doesn’t excite you, but this little "pebble" is just pregnant with Scriptural and spiritual Truths! Here is an example where the symbols of Revelation shine like giant beacons in the night. No, this is not just some ordinary "stone" promised to the overcomers in the Churches, but a "ballot pebble" of "acquittal and admission" which has "a new name written which no man knows (Rev. 2:17)," which is "My [Christ’s] new name" (Rev. 3:12), and "a name written which no man knew" (Rev. 19:12).
This is a pebble ballot, cast in secret ("The Lord knows them that are His," even if the world doesn’t), to pronounce an acquittal. Acquittal means a judgment of NOT GUILTY! If we are truly, SPIRITUALLY, BAPTIZED into Christ’s death, then we are "…JUSTIFIED from Sin" (Rom. 6:3-7).
And "Freely JUSTIFIED in His grace…" (Rom. 3:24). Justify means, "to declare free of blame; absolve. Theology To free (a human) of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin," The American Heritage College dictionary. That’s ACQUITTAL! Whom ever possesses this white pebble is ACQUITTED OF ALL SINS AND ALL GUILT!
This pebble also signified "admission." An "admission’ is both the permission to enter something, and the price paid for the admission or entrance. Again, Jesus Christ is BOTH! Jesus Christ paid the ultimate penalty for our sins,
"But God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, CHRIST DIED FOR US. Much more then, being now JUSTIFIED by His blood, we shall be SAVED from wrath through Him" (Rom. 5:8-9).
And we can only gain admission and entrance into the kingdom of God through Him. Jesus said, "I am the DOOR…" (John 10:7 & 9), and there is no other. Jesus said to, "Enter ye in at the strait [narrow and cramped] gate…" (Matt. 7:13), and Jesus is the "door" of that gate.
And so this apparently, insignificant little white pebble takes on enormous spiritual value. Our pebble is "white," signifying the purity of both the Giver (Jesus) and the recipient (the overcomer). It is like a spiritual ticket that proves the bearer has been washed clean, forgiven, justified, acquitted of all guilt, and has a paid admission into the Kingdom of God, which Jesus verifies and signifies by His Own written Name! But it is not a literal white pebble with a literal name engraved in it—IT IS A SYMBOL of all of the SPIRITUAL benefits attached to being an "overcomer IN Christ."
"A new name written, which no man knows except he that receives it." [That’s CHRIST, Who] "…had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself … and His name is called The Word of God" (Rev. 19:12-13).
That’s CHRIST, Jesus is "The Word of God" (John 1:1). The world often treats God’s saints as if they were heretics. Only those who possess the Name of Jesus Christ truly "know" what the name is and all that it represents. Not all who speak of the Name, have the name "written" within them. Men’s lips are often far, far from their heart.
I already covered how that "name" is representative of THE PERSON WHO BEARS IT. To believe in THE NAME of Jesus Christ is to believe ALL THAT JESUS IS! And the reason we have a "new" name is because all whom are "IN Christ" are "NEW creatures [new creations]: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW" (2 Cor. 5:17). We not only have a new name, but we become and ARE A NEW NAME as well.

The Church at Thyatira

[Gk: A PERFUME/SACRIFICE OF LABOR]

Then you have the church at Thyatira. They were the church that was full of good things. The Lord gave a whole list of all the fruits. They were full of good fruit - their love, their service, their faithfulness - the Lord listed all of them. But there was one problem. In the church at Thyatira there were also a few rotten branches. There were a few branches that were probably growing a fungus, although most of the tree was pretty good and bearing fruit.

The Lord said, "I'm going to prune you. I'm going to have to do some cutting here. I will have to remove some of the branches."

It is a very similar picture to the last one, except that here we have a tree that is generally flourishing very well, but within it is an element that is bad and rotten. That element was destroying and reducing the amount of fruit that the tree could produce. A pruning needed to take place. God sometimes needs to split a church right down the middle to separate the evil part from the good part. He needs to separate within the church those that mean business with God and are going on for Him and being fruitful, and those that are rotten.

"... (if you do overcome) to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father... And I will give him the morning star. " (Ver. 26-27).
That’s CHRIST, Christ is the power over the nations,
"And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL POWER is given unto Me in heaven and [‘over the nations’] in earth" (Matt. 28:18).
"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (Psalm 2:9).
"And she [the church in the wilderness] brought forth a man child [Jesus and His brothers and sister ONE in Him], who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne." (Revelation 12:5).
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He [Jesus] that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His [Jesus'] eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies ['To him (that overcomes) will I (Jesus) give power over the nations'] which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, [they were] clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it ['The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.' (Ephesians 6:17)] He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:11-16).
"... And (if you do overcome) I will give him the morning star." (ver. 28).
That’s CHRIST.
"I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR" (Rev. 22:16).
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the DAY DAWN [MORNING], and the DAY STAR [Gk: '(specifically) the morning-star '] arise in your hearts" (2nd Peter 1:19).

"Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the DAYSPRING [Gk: 'a RISING of light (like a star), i.e. DAWN (MORNING) (figuratively); implication the east (also in plural):--Dayspring, east, rising'] from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78-79).

The Church at Sardis

[Gk: PRINCE OF JOY]

The Church at Sardis had made a name for themselves. In modern terms they would have been on the main TV Network regularly. Everybody knew about them. They probably had the largest tape ministry of their time. They were producing more books than anybody else. They were sending missionaries and evangelists out. They were known worldwide and were very important. When you mentioned the name Sardis everybody said, "Oh yes, we have heard about them. That's a wonderful church. They are magnificent. You should see their new church building. It is beautiful."

The church looked great. It was beautiful. You came to look at this tree and you saw beautiful flowers on it. You saw beautiful green leaves and lush foliage. You saw all the branches. You saw a tree that the birds would come and land in because it was such a lovely place to nest in. It was a tree where people would want to come and sit in the shade underneath it. It was a lovely tree, except ... you guessed it. There was no fruit.

You cannot produce all that foliage and growth and fruit at the same time. You cannot make a name for yourself, exalt yourself and build a reputation to draw people to yourself and still glorify the Lord, and walk in faith, hope and love. You will be instead like the tower of Babel where the people wanted to build a great big tower to make a name for themselves; to come together and make a great big church that had a good reputation. It is rotten and of no use to the Lord at all.

Do you know what the Lord said to them? He said, "I'm going to come as a thief upon you, and I'm going to take away everything that you are boasting in. I'm going to demolish you and strip you naked. I'm going to take it all away, and then you'll realize what it is that really counts."

"... (if you do overcome) the same shall be clothed in white raiment [Christ’s righteousness in His saints, Rev. 19:9 vs. Phil. 3:9]; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of [the] life [of the Lamb], but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. " (Rev. 3:5).
That’s CHRIST! Jesus Christ IS "The Book of Life!" This is not a literal, physical book with names written on pages of paper. No indeed, this is not merely "the book of life," this is the book OF SOMEONE’S LIFE! Whose life? Let’s read it and believe:
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [Satan, the dragon, the devil, the serpent], whose names are not written in THE BOOK OF THE [‘the’ is in the Greek manuscripts] LIFE OF THE LAMB [THAT’S CHRIST] slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8)!
Your "name" (that’s YOU, your name IS WHO AND WHAT YOU ARE), YOU must be "IN CHRIST," Who IS LIFE, or your name is "not written in the book of life."
Jesus is "The Word of God" (John 1:1). The world often treats God’s saints as if they were heretics. Only those who possess the Name of Jesus Christ truly "know" what the name is and all that it represents. Not all who speak of the Name, have the name "written" within them. Men’s lips are often far, far from their heart.
I already covered how that "name" is representative of THE PERSON WHO BEARS IT. To believe in THE NAME of Jesus Christ is to believe ALL THAT JESUS IS! And the reason we have a "new" name is because all whom are "IN Christ" are "NEW creatures [new creations]: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW" (2 Cor. 5:17). We not only have a new name, but we become and ARE A NEW NAME as well.
Oh how much we lose when translators both translate and interpret wrongly. I realize that this was not intentional, however, it was wrong of them to leave out the article "the" in this verse, as it is IN the Greek manuscripts. It is not merely "the book of life … of the Lamb," but rather, "the book of … the life of the Lamb!" WOW! What a difference a simple three letter article makes in the meaning of this most profound verse! This book is not merely a list of the names of the saints in alphabetical order or by chronological number. The "book of life" is the book of SOMEONE’S life—Jesus Christ’s LIFE!
Not only that, but we are "letters" and "epistles" in that "book of life" written in men's hearts and read by everyone:
"Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, EPISTLES [Gk: 'a written message:--"epistle", letter'] of commendation to you, or LETTERS of commendation from you? YE [ALL OF YOU] ARE our EPISTLE written in our hearts, known and read of all men ['And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb, AND THE WORD OF THEIR (YOUR'S, MINE, ALL SAINTS EVERYWHERE) TESTIMONY; and they loved not their lives unto the death.' (Rev. 12:11)]: forasmuch as ye are MANIFESTLY DECLARED TO BE THE EPISTLE OF CHRIST ministered by us, written not with ink, but [WRITTEN] with the SPIRIT of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables OF THE HEART. And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the NEW Testament; not of the letter [of the Law of Moses, called the Old Testament], but OF THE SPIRIT: for the letter [of the Law of Moses, called the Old Testament] killeth, BUT THE SPIRIT ['For the law of the SPIRIT OF LIFE in Christ Jesus' (Rom 8:2), of the New Testament] GIVETH LIFE." (2nd Corinthians 3:1-6).
Oh that we would have ears to SPIRITUALLY hear:
"Therefore if any man be IN Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).
This is the new, converted, believer’s life "IN Christ." And when God comes to judge the world, we will have no fear of judgment for we are being judged now "IN Christ." Highlight this verse in your Bibles:
"And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and He that dwells in love dwells IN GOD, and GOD IN HIM. Herein is your love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: BECAUSE [get ready; here it comes…] As He [Jesus Christ] IS [right now, this minute IN GOD] SO ARE WE [IN CHRIST, IN GOD] in this world" (1st John 4:16-17).
And just how is that?
We just read it—because we live IN CHRIST, and Christ lives IN US!!! Our names are written in "the book of THE LIFE OF THE LAMB" only if WE TOO LIVE "THE life OF the Lamb," IN THE LAMB! "Abide in Me, and I in you" (John 15:4). I pray for God to give you spiritual eyes to see these grand Truths that have been hid from the blinded eyes of the Church today.
A stern warning: How many does Jesus say through His Spirit, will He "…not blot out his name out of the book of life?" Let’s read it:
"Thou has A FEW names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy" (Rev. 3:4).
Dear readers it is always, just the FEW who will be in Christ in His glory in the first resurrection. All of the rest, ALL of them, will come up in the Second Resurrection, and white throne judgment with its "lake of fire and second death."
I feel it necessary to show you just how sobering our Lord’s statement to the churches really is. Not many escaped the flood that came on the world in Noah’s day because the thoughts of men were only evil continually,
"…while the ark was a preparing, wherein FEW, that is, eight souls were saved…" (1 Pet. 3:20).
Are things better now? NO, Paul said things would get worse AND WORSE. And Jesus Himself said,
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and FEW there be that find it" (Matt. 7:14).
"So the last shall be first, and the first last: and many be called, but FEW chosen" (Matt. 20:16).
"For many [Gk: 'full many (a lot of, lots of, numerous, loads of, countless), i.e. immense (huge, vast, enormous, massive, giant, mammoth, colossal, gigantic):--very great, the MAJORITY']
are called [Gk: 'invited (bidden, attracted), i.e. appointed, or (SPECIFICALLY) a SAINT:--called (identified, termed, labeled)'],
but FEW [Gk: 'puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value):--+ few (a small number of, hardly any, little, not many, only some, a small amount of, the MINORITY), (a) little, + short, small']
are chosen [Gk: 'select (chosen, picked, decided on, top-quality, first rate); implication favorite (preferred, much loved, beloved, most wanted, desired, chosen):--chosen (selected, chosen, GOD'S elected, special), elect (chosen by ballot, selected by ballot, voted for, decided on)']" (Matt. 22:14).

The Church at Philadelphia

[Gk: FRATERNAL AFFECTION/BROTHERLY LOVE]

This was not the Philadelphia that is in America. It was the perfect church, the one that God was pleased with. The Lord says only one negative thing about the church at Philadelphia. That they had the synagogue of Satan with false Christians gathering in it. But, here is a picture of God's kind of church. Wait for it! He says, "You're small and you're weak."

DEFINING "CHURCH"
Just what is a "church?" Strong’s Greek Dictionary, #1577. ekklesia, a calling out. (1b) Ekklesia, from ek, "out of," and klesis, "a calling…" So the church is those whom God has CALLED OUT to be His "called out ones," hence, Jesus said,
"So the last shall be first, and the first shall be last [sorry, don’t have time to explain this unique statement of our Lord]: for many be called, but few chosen." I will take the time to explain this second statement, however.
Notice that the "called" and the "chosen" cannot be the same group, as one is "many" and the other is "few." God has given us a general statement as to whom He has called and whom He has not called. We already know the number of those called is "many." Now we will see the two general classifications of those called:
THE "CALLED" AND THE "NOT CALLED"
"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many [some, but not many] wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
But God has chosen the foolish things [many translations do not insert the word "things" in these verses] of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And the base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not, to bring to nought [nothing] things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence" (1 Cor. 1:26-29).
So we see that God calls MOSTLY those who are: weak, base, despised, nothings! Are we to believe that God is going to build a SPIRITUAL ARMY of Sons and Daughters by which He will conquer and SAVE THE WORLD?
Hard to believe, isn’t it? I think we can all agree that there is a great deal of work to be done with and to these "nothings of the world" whom God is calling to such a formidable, once-in-an-eternity task!
But of the "many called," we are told, "few are chosen" (Matt. 20:16). Why is that? God has intended it to be such. We are given the parable of the "sower of seed" (Look out for my paper titled "Which Church Are You In (The Parable of the Sower)" where much of the seed fell by the side of the tilled soil, and the birds ate it; some had no depth and withered in the sun; still more fell among thorns and were choked, but some fell upon good soil and produced much fruit. Many seed are sown, but few seed produce good fruit. "Seed" we see everywhere in the Church; "fruit" of God’s spirit is more rare. These few have the added designation of:
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Rev. 17:14).
These are the "very elect" who cannot be deceived any longer by the Great Whore, "Mystery Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots, and the Abominations of the earth."
One more important verse regarding our calling that I will cite out of the Concordant Literal New Testament because I believe they translate the Greek aorist tense properly, whereas the King James uses the past tense:
"Now we are aware that GOD [it is unfortunate that the King James leaves out "God" even though it is in the manuscripts. Most translations do put "God" in this opening phrase. Things don’t just ‘work’ together without GOD doing the ‘working’] is working all together for the good of those who are loving God, who are [being] called according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren. Now whom He designates beforehand, these He calls [not ‘called’ as all are NOT YET called, it is the aorist tense] also, and whom He calls, these He justifies, also; now whom He justifies, these He glorifies also" (Rom. 8:28-30).
Now, pay attention: All which God foreknew, He then designates beforehand (He hand-picks them, if you will). And therefore, since He has already designated them beforehand, when they are born in whatever generation God designates; He then calls them. Now it is true that God calls MANY OTHERS whom He has NOT designated to be "conformed to the image of His Son" AT THE TIME that each generation appears in history.
There are many more "called" in each generation than are actually, "chosen" to be conformed to the image of His Son at that time.
All that are not chosen will be in the second resurrection/white throne judgment/lake of fire. These will go the "broad way into destruction" from which they will await judgment at the great white throne. But, those which God foreknows and designates beforehand, He definitely does call, but these designated ones GO ON to be JUSTIFIED AND GLORIFIED. They are not just the "called," but the "called AND CHOSEN" which will go on to glorification in service with Christ, as the manifested Sons and Daughters of God, in the Kingdom of God, to bring the rest of heaven and earth to SALVATION!
When Jesus says that,
"MANY will say unto Me in that day, Lord, Lord… Then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:22-23),
He is not speaking of a minority but a majority. The "many" NEVER means the minority!
We will see it conclusively proved from God’s Word that the majority in the Church today are going the "broad way," and not the "straight and narrow way." And I am not just preaching to the choir when I say that only a "FEW" will be in the first resurrection and rule and reign with Christ, I am speaking to all the church and to myself as well. I know these aren’t the "soft" words that tickle people’s ears, but what I am telling you is a "hard saying" of the Scripture that is absolutely true. Jesus Christ Himself said that "THE MANY" must "DEPART from Me." Jesus doesn’t "know" the many, in a spiritual relationship, because they are too carnal to be spiritual.
ARE YOU "CALLED AND CHOSEN" OR JUST "CALLED?"
Let me first state that there is an order in the process of being called to Sonship. First you are called, and then you are chosen from among the called. And we have already learned that the "chosen" are also the "few." Quite frankly, not unlike a casting call. Many are called to come to the casting rehearsal, but only a relative few will be chosen for the actual performance. Which are you? I will not be your personal judge; however, as we progress in this series, you will be confronted with dozens of Scriptures by which you can JUDGE YOURSELF by the aid of God’s Spirit.
A FEW DEFINITIONS
"Synagogue" [Greek: sunagoge] means "an assemblage of people, a gathering place for the Jews"
"Church" [Greek: ekklesia] means "a calling out."
"Called" [Greek: kletos] means "invited." The word called is found over six hundred times in Scripture, but the word kletos appears only about a dozen times in Scriptures and always refers to those whom God has invited.
"Chosen" [Greek: eklektos] means "select, chosen out; by implication favorite."
Translated "chosen" sixteen times and "elect" seven times.
Can we not easily see the progression in how God uses these words?
God first GATHERS all His people—there was a synagogue in every city. (The COMMUNITY to the CROWD)
He then CALLS OUT a people (a church) from that huge gathering, and many others from among the Gentiles. (The CROWD to the CONGREGATION)
He then INVITES many of the called out ones (from the Church) to be His True Followers. (The CONGREGATION to the COMMITTED)
But in the end only those whom God SELECTS OUT of the INVITED, of the CALLED OUT, from the GATHERING of the whole ASSEMBLY will be in the First Resurrection to reign with Christ in the Kingdom of God. (The COMMITTED to the CORE)
And thus we start with a huge number and end up with but a "FEW"! "For MANY are called [‘invited’ from the ‘called out’ church], but FEW are chosen" to reign with Christ as Judges, Priests, Lords, and Kings. (Matt. 22:14). And these Judges, Priests, Lords, and Kings are also Saviours sent by God and Christ to SAVE THE REST OF THE WORLD. (Obadiah 1:21). (The CORE is sent to save the COMMUNITY)
"But ReAsOn, are you telling us that if we should be chosen from among the invited ones in the called out church, that we are no longer a member of the Church?"
I was hoping some one would ask that question. For most of Church history, clergymen have been trying to materialize away things that are spiritual. And then in their spiritual ignorance, they accuse God’s servants of spiritualizing away things that are supposedly literal and physical. Never mind the fact that it is impossible to "spiritualize away" material things. Material things pass away on their own, whereas spiritual things never pass away.

It was not a strong church. It was not a great, big magnificent place.

He said, "You've continued to grow in spite of all the opposition." It was a tree that had faced a lot of pressure from the elements. It was not strong, but it was growing. It was persevering and increasing at a steady pace. It was under attack from all the false churches and the cults in the area. They were all out to destroy this church. You can read in Revelation about all the different false religions and cults that were out to get the church at Philadelphia. They were putting it down. They were criticizing it and speaking against the leaders. Do you know a church like that?

You say, "I want to have a successful church that the Lord would consider the ultimate church."

That is what it will probably look like. You will look like a church that has a lot of opposition. You will look like a church that has a lot of people preaching against you, writing books against you and opposing you. They will want nothing to do with you. They will be trying to find weaknesses and faults in you to put you down in order to expose you and humiliate you.

But the Lord says, "I'm going to vindicate you." The Lord was going to cause all the big names to come and bow down at their feet and acknowledge that they had the truth. You hang in there and be faithful. You are producing the fruit. I don't care if you are not big. I don't care if you are not strong. I don't care if you are not so wonderful. The church the Lord is looking for is a church that perseveres and continues to bear fruit.

The Lord encourages the church at Philadelphia to press on and to hold onto what they have, that no man would steal it from them. He says, "Hang on. Persevere, and I'll give you the crown of life."

"... (if you do over come) will I [Jesus] make a pillar [a position of great spiritual responsibility] in the temple of My God, and he shall go no more out ..." (3:12a).
That’s CHRIST,
"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone; In Whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD" (Eph. 2:20-21).
Christ is our Temple for we live in Him as HIS BODY, and we are the temple of God’s Holy Spirit that lives and dwells IN US, and Christ IS that Spirit—"abide in Me, and I in you."
And "…he shall go no more out"
That’s CHRIST.
We are IN Christ, we are the Body of Christ, Christ is our temple, our house, where we dwell "IN Christ."
We abide and dwell in Christ and Christ abides and dwells and lives HIS LIFE in us, so that we will "go no more out," till at the consummations of all the ages, "God may be ALL in All" (1 Cor. 15:28).
"And I will write upon him the NAME OF MY GOD, and the NAME OF THE CITY of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God: and I will write upon him MY NEW NAME." (3:12b).
That’s CHRIST! These are honors and rewards bestowed upon us by Christ. The 144,000 (12 x 12, complete foundational kingdom of God’s government for the new world) are given the Father’s name in their foreheads (Rev. 14:1 & 22:4). Not a tattoo on the forehead skin, but inside their foreheads, in their hearts and minds.
"And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron's [God's priests] forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD." (Exodus 28:36-38).

"And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel." (Revelation 7:1-4).

"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb [Christ] stood on the mount Zion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads." (Revelation 14:1).

"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him: and they shall see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads." (Revelation 22:3-4).

"This is the land which ye shall divide by lot unto the tribes of Israel for inheritance, and these are their portions, saith the Lord GOD. And these are the goings out of the city on the north side, four thousand and five hundred measures. And the gates of the city shall be after the names of the tribes of Israel ... It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there [Jehovah-Shammah, The Saviour IS THERE]." (Ezekiel 48:29-31 & 35).

"And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name." (Isaiah 62:2).

"And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof." (Ezekiel 9:4).

New Jerusalem is the heavenly Jerusalem spoken of in Heb. 12:22-23, where "the general assembly and church of the firstborn [Christ and His anointed body of believers], which are written in heaven" is found. It is from New Jerusalem and heavenly Mt. Zion that the government of Christ will proceed in bringing Salvation to the Earth and the Universe (Isaiah 2:2). I will write upon him My new name. This is the same new name that we discussed in the Church of Pergamos.
"A new name written, which no man knows except he that receives it." [That’s CHRIST, Who] "…had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself … and His name is called The Word of God" (Rev. 19:12-13).
That’s CHRIST, Jesus is "The Word of God" (John 1:1). The world often treats God’s saints as if they were heretics. Only those who possess the Name of Jesus Christ truly "know" what the name is and all that it represents. Not all who speak of the Name, have the name "written" within them. Men’s lips are often far, far from their heart.
I already covered how that "name" is representative of THE PERSON WHO BEARS IT. To believe in THE NAME of Jesus Christ is to believe ALL THAT JESUS IS! And the reason we have a "new" name is because all whom are "IN Christ" are
"NEW creatures [new creations]: old things are passed away; behold, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW" (2 Cor. 5:17).
We not only have a new name, but we become and ARE A NEW NAME as well.

The Church at Laodicea

[Gk: JUST PEOPLE/BOUND TOGETHER POPULACE]

So we come finally to the church at Laodicea. The church at Laodicea was a wealthy church. They had everything that you could think of in the way of finance, temporal things, equipment, buildings and resources. They had every natural resource. They probably owned their own Satellite and had their own Television Station. They were a big church and had lots of money.

Well, that is not much use really. What is the point of having all that growth and all those resources? Folks come to the tree to get fruit. You may have all the wealth and finances in the world. There are a lot of people who have a problem with churches that major on finances. Many believe that God is going to destroy the prosperity movement and He is going to demolish these churches that overemphasize wealth, prosperity and finance.

He says to this church,

"Behold I stand at the door and knock. If any man will hear My voice and open I will come in and fellowship with him." (Revelation 3:20).

He says to this church,

"You are lukewarm. I have to spew you out of My mouth, but I don't want to! I wish you were hot or cold, but lukewarm is no use." (Revelation 3:15-16).

The Lord appeals to this church. They have a resource that can be used so mightily and so powerfully for the Kingdom of God, but they are using it for their own glory. They have become self-sufficient. They are not relying on the Lord and are not using this resource that God has given. They are not using His wonderful financial and prosperity blessing for the extension of the Kingdom of God. They are using it for the extension of themselves. That was the failure. It was not the wealth that was the failure, but it was their self-sufficiency, their wrong motivation and their wrong use of that wealth.

This is like the tree where the husbandman said,

"Don't destroy it. Give it another year. Let me dig around it. Let me fertilize it. Let me nurture it. Let me get this tree to bear fruit. It's a good tree. Can't you see, it's grown well and strong? All it lacks is the fruit." (Luke 13:8-9).

There is hope for such a church. Most of us would just want to slaughter that church, largely because we are envious of them because they have so much money.

Others want to join the church so that they can get in on the money.

"... (if you do overcome) will I [Jesus] grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne."
And, of course, that’s CHRIST also. Sitting with Christ in His throne—this is the ultimate in rewards for the overcomer. This means that we share Christ’s Priesthood, Lordship, and Kingship over all the universe!
"And SAVIOURS [plural] shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S" (Obadiah 1:21).
"Saviors"—that’s US, if we are "overcomers." We will be saviors ("as He is, so are WE in the world") with our Lord from heavenly Mt Zion and New Jerusalem!

So here, in the seven churches of Revelation, we have a picture of the different kinds of churches that can exist.