Spared
Posted on April 8th, 2026 by RedeemedAnd unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them ...
- Revelation 2:8-9 (KJV)
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open:
“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.
- Revelation 3:7-8 (NLT)
The book of Revelation is a mirror for the Churches to reflect and adjust accordingly. It speaks also to the present day Churches as well.
A close sturdy of each of the letters to the Churches in Asia and the situations the Lord was speaking to remind us that the Word of God is fresh all the time.
Reading through the letters it is crystal clear that we are warned also to be sober or we risk the wrath of God.
Yes, we face so much persecution that we wonder if and when we will have some respite - when shall we have some peace as we so much desire, but in all God is fateful, the strength to carry on comes only from Him.
The Lord commended most of the Churches for their works, faith and love but also had rebuke for five of them. They were warned to turn a new leave or face His judgement.
Some of them tolerated all manner of doctrines and teachings, others were lukewarm, and some others had departed from their first love. They were now cold.
Jesus Christ came to warn them to change through the letters written by John the Apostle, showing them their true state so they could have a change of heart and amend their ways.
Before judgement falls, there are several warnings left unheeded, ignored and made light of.
Of the seven Churches, the Church at Smyrna and Philadephia were the only Churches without a rebuke. The Lord told them to hold on fast to what they have.
A look at these Churches show the intense persecution they had gone through on account of the name of Jesus. They were struggling and despite their little strength, they had held on and had refused to deny the name of the Lord. For this, Jesus told them they will be rewarded.
For the Church in Smyrna, persecution had come even from places not imagined - within the midst of them.
Jesus encouraged them to stay faithful even to the end and they would not be harmed by the second death.
The Church in Philadephia had similar experiences of suffering for the sake of the name of Jesus.
Possibly they had lost much on account of the name of the Lord but Jesus came to reassure them that all power is in His hands. He opens and no one closes and closes and no one opens.
He said “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close..."
It is reassuring that the Lord sees us in our pains even as the letters to the Churches came as encouragement to let them know that they were not alone.
Jesus's promise to this Church was not just an open door but something every believer prays for and would not want to miss and yet not many are prepared for.
Jesus said, “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world.
- Revelation 3:10
The taking away or the rapture of the Church is an event that will happen before the great tribulation.
Obedience to God’s command to persevere and stay faithful to Him is the ticket to been spared the trouble that awaits the world during this period.
Interestingly, this trouble spoken of according to Jesus is not just for the Jesus's followers but to all who belong to this world!
The implications of this statement of Jesus is that, anyone left behind and not spared of the sorrow that will come upon all that are in the world has not obeyed the command of Jesus and so has chosen to be of this world. This is very scary indeed.
Just like in the time of Noah, men choose to go their own way, do their own thing but at the end the Word of God stood the test of time. For the rain came and everyone outside the Ark was swept away.
Popular opinion does not mean its right, only the Word of God stands at the end.
Jesus has warned us before time, those spared this moment that will overtake all mankind will be those who chose to obey His commands not those who follow the Popular opinions or the trends of the times.
It is better to walk on the narrow and lonely path than to follow the flood that sweeps away, where there is no return.
The Word of God will stand, irrespective of what we chose to believe. Whatever we decides to believe or not believe cannot alter the Word of God. It is therefore to our gain that we search these things out and make informed decisions that would be beneficial to our well beings at the end.
God bless.
Peace!
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