He Who Has An Ear

What Are You Listening To?

Many times the bible uses the phrase or its equivalent, “He who has an ear”.  This phrase is used in the letter to every church. It simply means whoever is willing and able to hear the truth.

The Spirit of truth and the spirit of error are at work in mankind.  Some listen to one and many listen to the other.  Our world often defines these spirits as right and wrong, good, and bad, and light and dark.

Repeatedly I have said that God wants us with Him when this life is over.  That is what this life is all about.  God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to do what no one else could.  The Suffering Servant gave His life willingly so that you and I could live with Him forever.  But who is listening to His message?

The antichrist has filled the world with his propaganda.  The rhetoric of the deceptive spirit has even infiltrated God’s church.

Decades ago, I first read this verse and many times since, “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24

I always wondered how God’s people could be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ, but here it is.  Good people have begun to believe bad things and God’s church has been compromised.  I will not criticize anyone, because I believe each person begins in their heart from the place of love for others.  But when the church begins to look and sound like the world, we have a problem.

This is why God sent His servant, John, to write to the churches.

There are 7 churches, John, gave God’s message to.  Each one had a different problem to overcome, but to those who did overcome, God gave a gift.  I believe that all the problems each church faced we should be on guard for.  The good news is that all the gifts to the churches will be given to those who overcome.

For the purpose of simplicity and discussion, I have compiled some of the main points of John’s message to the churches.  Let us look at the things that bother God and the gifts He has given to those who will listen to His message and believe in His Son, Jesus Christ.

This is by no means complete.  I have included the full text below and would encourage you to read it because there is so much more than I can summarize here.  It is a fruitful reading and you will be better for it.

Each point is a message to a church.

I Have this Against You

The First Church

“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” Revelation 2:4

Jesus Christ is the beginning and end of our life.  He is our first love.

The Second Church

“Do not fear what you suffer.  Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10

Suffering is unfortunately a part of this life.  But it will not last forever.  God is preparing us for a time of healing, restoration, and life that will outlast any sorrow in this mortal life.

The Third Church

“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.” Revelation 2:14-15

What do you believe and what do you teach?  Now is a good time to come before the Lord to be sure your heart is in the right place.

The Fourth Church

“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.” Revelation 2:20

Sexual sin is pervasive in the church.  We have somehow gotten the idea that God will overlook our sin because we are going to church.  Sin is sin and we need to be blunt about it.

The Fifth Church

“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.” Revelation 3:1

What we believe is a matter of life and death.  When the final bell of our life tolls, it is one or the other.

The Sixth Church

“You have kept My command to persevere.  Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Revelation 3:10-11

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness!  Cling to Him!!  If you fall into sin, then get back up and ask His forgiveness.  He is faithful and just to forgive.

The Seventh Church

“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:16-17

Resist the temptation to make money your God.  I would suggest having the attitude about money that is shared in the book of Proverbs.

“Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches—Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the LORD?  Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.” Proverbs 30:8-9

To Him Who Overcomes

The First Church

“To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7

You are an overcomer!  Hold on my brothers and sisters!!  The road may seem long at times but it will be behind us in the blink of an eye!  True life is ahead.

The Second Church

“He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation 2:11

The second death is the lake of fire and brimstone.  What will it take to hear God’s message?  Stop now and seek Jesus Christ.  There is so much depending on it.

The Third Church

“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.” Revelation 2:17

God will give you a new name.  It will be your treasure alone and forever.

The Fourth Church

“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.” Revelation 2:26-28

Those who endure to the end, will reign with Him as kings and priests.

The Fifth Church

“He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” Revelation 3:5

You will be announced before God the Father, like a college graduation, only higher, much higher.

The Sixth Church

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.” Revelation 3:12

You will never suffer again.  God will redeem all those times you said, “God, why don’t you do something!”  Those sufferings will become a distant memory that you will never bring back to remember.

The Seventh Church

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Revelation 3:21

When this life is over, for those who believe in Jesus Christ and what He has done, who keep Jesus as their first love, seeking daily for His guidance in their lives, they will become royalty.  They will be at the top with Jesus Christ.  Forever.

So, what are you listening to? Do you have an ear to hear?

What the Bible Says

The First Church - The Loveless Church

​“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary.  Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.  But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.’

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:1-7

The Second Church - The Persecuted Church

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until 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. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” Revelation 2:8-11

The Third Church - The Compromising Church

“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.” Revelation 2:12-17

The Fourth Church - The Corrupt Church

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,

‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

“Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—

as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the morning star.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:18-29

The Fifth Church - The Dead Church

​“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.’

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:1-6

The Sixth Church - The Faithful Church

“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.’

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:7-13

The Seventh Church - The Lukewarm Church

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.’

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22