Revelation 3:17-19

¹⁷ For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

·         Sounds like the mega churches of today doesn’t it? But the Truth is, there where mega churches hundreds of years ago as well. Look in Europe at all of the old buildings that housed them. But in these huge elaborate buildings we so often only see the works of men. We see a bunch of manmade laws that attempt to cause us to be righteous. The blind come in blind and they leave blind. The dead are not raised to life. The deaf do not hear. And as in the times of old, they want money in the Name of God! The love of money is always the root of evil, Luke 16:14. 

¹⁸ Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.

·         Even in this retched church there is still a call to salvation and I believe that many will be chosen out of it to become part of the church of Philadelphia that Jesus personally keeps! I have been involved in these massive dead churches, and I have seen our Father birth babies in them left and right. I see our Father use these churches in spite of themselves and have them proclaim just enough Truth that will set the people free. I have seen our Father do wonderful things, even in dreadful places, even when the motives of the leaders may not be pure.

·         Notice how Jesus tells people to buy gold that is refined in the fire. When Peter had a guy ask if he could buy the Holy Spirit, Peter cursed him.

·         But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Acts 8:20

·         Salvation is a free gift, Jesus was speaking in a parable here and the worldly leaders who thought they were rich would try to buy salvation through giving or tithing. This is done all of the time today. And if during the end times men will truly be self centered and arrogant they will certainly believe that they can buy salvation with money.

¹⁹ Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].

·         Jesus loves everybody. He also convicts them and He convinces them. Jesus is very successful. So no matter how bad a church may look, Jesus is more than a Conqueror. Even those of the synagogue of satan will come and learn the Truth from us, Revelation 3:9.