Here Jesus Christ congratulates this group on their labor and perseverance. They had the patience to endure over all the years of waiting for Christ's return. They knew their Bible, and could not bear those who were evil. They recognized those who were pretentious and puffed up, and they were not lead astray by them. They wanted no part of them.

Revelation 2:3 and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name's sake hast labored and hast not fainted.

What a compliment. Jesus comments on their strong points in that they worked and persevered through an abundance of trials. At this time, we have fought to stay with right teaching despite the break up of the parent church, calendar groups and the many false teachings that are out there today. Through all of this the church continues on.

The thing Christ has against this era is exceedingly important. John mentioned it today.

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless, I have something against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Jack Bulharowski gave a fine sermonette regarding this subject, and brought out that the church at Ephesus worked so hard technically, and were so diligent to stay faithful to the doctrines over a long period of time, that somehow the love for the brethren waxed cold for each other.

This, of course, reflected the fact that they had lost their love for God the Father and Jesus Christ. I know that when we look back to when we were first called, our love for God was great. We were excited about everything that God said. What food can I eat? We all read labels. "Is that animal fat?" we would ask

Each month we faithfully made out our tithe check making sure we gave God His tithe first, and then we paid the bills. We worked to keep the Sabbath as holy as we could and we asked questions about what we could do on the Sabbath? We asked all of these questions. We loved God, and it was so important to us to carefully please God in all that we did. We had a sermonette today on how children give their parents gifts—they love their parents and they wanted to give them something. We wanted to give God ourselves and to love Him. We were so conscience of God, that we thought of Him in every facet of our life. In the early days the ministry were asked questions like "What kind of car should I buy?" Anything the minister said was supposed to be good, and that was not always the case, but we wanted to please God, and somehow the minister was the answer to all these technical questions.

At that time there was an excitement in our lives over our calling and all that God was doing, and all that He would do to heal this world and bring about the wonderful World Tomorrow. It was an exciting time.

But over the years have we become tired and worn down? Have we become technical, factual, and focused on prophecy? In doing so, lost or diminished, the most important aspect of our calling, our humble, tender love for God? Maybe we have unconsciously let down on the commands of God, that early on in our calling, we so very much wanted to keep.

This is a serious question that each of us has to honestly answer in the privacy of his own thoughts, and this is the season to do it.

Revelation 2:5-7 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent and do the works as at first; or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, unless thou repent. But this thou hast: that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.'

Revelations 2:8-11 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write: 'These things saith the First and the Last, who was dead and is alive: I know thy works and tribulation and poverty (but thou art rich), and I know the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried, and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of Life. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt by the second death.'

Again, Jesus shows that He closely monitors what is going on in the church. He sees Smyrna's priorities, and faithfulness to their calling. He sees that they are standing firm in the faith, and the poverty that resulted from that, by those religions of the synagogues of Satan. He tells them not to fear, though some will be cast into prison to be tried. They are encouraged to be faithful unto death, and their reward will be a crown of life.

As this applies to us today, we too are to have our priorities straight. For us who have been given the truth, we are to obey it, despite all who come against us. Even though persecution may come upon us we are to stand fast.

It is good to note here, that the attitude and the works that this church possessed caused Jesus not to find any fault with it. It is the only church thus listed among the seven churches.

He concludes by saying, "He that overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death", as they will be a part of the first resurrection.

Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated by all men for My name's sake, but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Revelation 2:12-17 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, 'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."

Here, Jesus describes Himself as the one who has a two edged sword, to divide the truth from the lies. The church is infested with men with wrong doctrines and lies, trying to destroy the faith of God's true people.

The good work of this church in Pergamos was that they carried God's name faithfully and proudly in the midst of dwelling in Satan's seat. It was quite a job, where sin and the malice of Satan was prevalent everywhere. They held to God's name even in the face of martyrdom.

He then states, that we should consider the compromise made, and not allow ourselves to follow their example. If we do pull away from Satan's influences, then we will receive the hidden manna or truth that is set aside for the children of God.

It is interesting to note here, also, that a white stone was given: the tessera stone. This stone had great significance. It might be likened today to a blank cheque, except it was on a stone. It has your name on it, and it had a gift attached to that stone. Some of these stones could be given to align families together, for example the Reid family with the Allen family. We are brothers, and this stone would be handed down from generation to generation. It could be given to sports figures that came out of the arena. The stone was an I.O.U. or a cheque in a sense.

Here, it is stated that such a stone will be given to us, with a new name which no man will know except the one that receives it, and perhaps our office will be on there too.

So we learned here, that we must truly avoid compromising at all costs. We must stay on the right track.

Revelation 2: 18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write: 'These things saith the Son of God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass:

This is the longest message to the churches. Jesus again starts out by letting the church know by referring to his eyes, like unto a flame of fire, that He completely and fully sees all that is going on in the church as a whole, and each member individually.

Revelation 2:19 I know thy works, and charity and service, and faith and thy patience, and thy works, and the last to be more than the first.

He starts off by mentioning their good works, such as their charity, or love toward others, especially of the household of faith. Their service, mainly of the ministry who ceaselessly worked to serve the brethren. Their faith, which caused the above works to be produced .Their patience and endurance through all the trials, and their growing fruitfulness. Ephesus lost their first love, but it would seem Thyatira was growing in their love. But still there was danger, and God held something against them.

Revelation 2:20-23 Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He that searcheth the souls and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.