In the book of Revelation, our Lord told John, "Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” Rev 1:11 John then wrote what was revealed to him concerning these seven churches (each their own church type). Moreover, five of these church types (Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea) each had something that the Lord said He had against them. However, this was not the case with the other two church types (Smyrna and Philadelphia). In fact, if you read the following two passages in context it is clear John was writing to those who have placed their full trust in Christ and turned away from this sinful world and all of its practices. These are the saints that will enjoy eternity with the Lord forevermore:
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life. I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death." Rev 2:8-11
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. For you have only a little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name. Look at those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead. I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I love you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Rev 3:7-13
Consequently, based on these prophetic messages it is clear that not all who claim to know Christ will spend eternity with Him in His kingdom of heaven. In the case of the other five churches, the Lord had this to say against them (Rev 2 & 3):
Ephesus (seeds that never rooted) - "You have abandoned your first love. Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."
Pergamum (worldly pagan beliefs) - "But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth."
Thyatira - (false prophets and heretics) "But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling. Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds."
Sardis - (unsaved churchgoers who reject the true gospel) "I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead. Wake up and strengthen what remains, which was about to die; for I have found your deeds incomplete in the sight of My God. Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you."
Laodicea - (worldly minded churchgoers who are lost in their sins) "I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth! You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent."
Hence, there are many who have built for themselves earthly kingdom's (the local church system) in the name of Christ falsely believing they are Christians. However, without turning away from this world with all of its passions, desires, and practices they remain dead in their sins. Jesus said, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches," but these religious minded churchgoers refuse to listen because they like their lives the way they are and do not wish to change their status quo. Unless these make-believers repent, and do so quickly, they will suffer a wrath they are not prepared for. They have been fooled to believe a lie cleverly designed by the adversary. Satan is the father of all lies, and this is the greatest lie of all, for one to believe they possess eternal life, and yet they do not. Awaken before it is too late!
"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, who died and returned to life. I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death." Rev 2:8-11
"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the One who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. For you have only a little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name. Look at those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews but are liars instead. I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and they will know that I love you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Rev 3:7-13
Consequently, based on these prophetic messages it is clear that not all who claim to know Christ will spend eternity with Him in His kingdom of heaven. In the case of the other five churches, the Lord had this to say against them (Rev 2 & 3):
Ephesus (seeds that never rooted) - "You have abandoned your first love. Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."
Pergamum (worldly pagan beliefs) - "But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality. In the same way, some of you also hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth."
Thyatira - (false prophets and heretics) "But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants to be sexually immoral and to eat food sacrificed to idols. Even though I have given her time to repent of her immorality, she is unwilling. Behold, I will cast her onto a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. Then I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the One who searches minds and hearts, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds."
Sardis - (unsaved churchgoers who reject the true gospel) "I know your deeds; you have a reputation for being alive, yet you are dead. Wake up and strengthen what remains, which was about to die; for I have found your deeds incomplete in the sight of My God. Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you."
Laodicea - (worldly minded churchgoers who are lost in their sins) "I know your deeds; you are neither cold nor hot. How I wish you were one or the other! So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth! You say, ‘I am rich; I have grown wealthy and need nothing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, white garments so that you may be clothed and your shameful nakedness not exposed, and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent."
Hence, there are many who have built for themselves earthly kingdom's (the local church system) in the name of Christ falsely believing they are Christians. However, without turning away from this world with all of its passions, desires, and practices they remain dead in their sins. Jesus said, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches," but these religious minded churchgoers refuse to listen because they like their lives the way they are and do not wish to change their status quo. Unless these make-believers repent, and do so quickly, they will suffer a wrath they are not prepared for. They have been fooled to believe a lie cleverly designed by the adversary. Satan is the father of all lies, and this is the greatest lie of all, for one to believe they possess eternal life, and yet they do not. Awaken before it is too late!
