Sabbath: The Church Militant
Read for This Week’s Study: Rev. 2:1-7, Hos. 2:13, Rev. 2:8-17, Rev. 2:18-3:6, Isa. 60:14, Rev. 3:14-22.
Memory Text: “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” (Revelation 3:20, NKJV).
Image © Lars Justinen Goodsalt.com
John was the last of 12 apostles to die. As well as writing the Gospel and the epistles that bear his name, he also wrote Revelation, which contributes much to our understanding of the great controversy. For now, though, we shall concentrate only on his description of the seven churches. We shall study them from the perspective of the original recipients, in order to enable us to glean as much from his words as possible.
One thing that stands out is that Jesus personalizes His approach to each church. They all have different needs, and He meets them all.
One challenge is that these churches are shown to be struggling with their identity, just as we are today. Are their members clearly lining up with Jesus and His calling to them toward witnessing to a dying world, or are they straddling both sides, trying to look like Christians but then privately being more comfortable with the powers of darkness? Though we see ourselves as the last of these churches, it will be clear that however different the circumstances, in many ways we face some of the same challenges that the churches faced through the ages.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 19.
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We need to be thirsty for the Word of God
The great controversy is trully a stark reality. While we live our lives at times we tend to lose focus on God and are drawn into matters of humanity. Here, we see the first Adam and the second Adam in conflict. Unless we come to an understanding, and this can only be brought to fruition through the Holy Spirit, that the first Adam should be dependent on the second for his power to serve his Creator, then we shall continue to be lukewarm; pretending to be christians while at the same time continue to be comfortable with worldliness!
O LORD GOD, help us from henceforth until You return.
In Mattew 4: 17 Christ calls all mankind to repent and turn to Him. In Revelations 3: 20 context Jesus' call is to the Laodicean Church to repent from its lukewarmness; apathy; having the form of godliness but denying its power by faithlessness; claiming that God Almighty lives but our outward expressions negate such proclamation, to repent and return to the Lord. Clearly as a body corporate the latter day church has lost its first love and is no longer fizzing with zeal for the completion of its work. We no longer study the Word as intensely as was the case in the days of William Miller and others. Our condition has deteriorated to such an extent that its made Jesus "sick" to the point of causing Him to want to vomit us out of His mouth if we do not change. We can no longer live a duplicitous life. We must choose whether in the continuing great controversy we remain on God's side or choose the devil. We can not afford to claim to be His followers and yet conform to this world. We can not afford to conduct the holy business of the church like the world does it. The scheming, conniving and character assassinations before elective sessions have become commonplace in God's church. These are actions that are prevalent in the world but said to say are now evident in the Church of God. Saints, this is making God "sick" and unless we refrain from such repugnant behaviour Christ will vomit us out of His mouth!!
Anyone know what the author means by "Militant" in the lesson title?
A church militant, which supposed to be engaged in a constant warfare against its enemies; thus distinguished from the church triumphant, or in Heaven.
The Church Militant, the Christian church on Earth (that's why 7 churches were mentioned), which is supposed to be engaged in a constant warfare against enemies; thus distinguished from the church triumphant, or in Heaven.
This term is both corporate and individual. As a church, our responsibility is to claim the truths found in God's word. What Truth? that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son...Stemming from that we are called to lift up the name of name of Jesus. The battle is already WON! There's nothing I or the church can do to change this. Jesus's sacrifice was complete! Amen for that, therefore, we are now to live in this knowing according to His righteous calling for our individual lives. People will know we are His by the way we conduct our lives on a daily basis with our spouse, children, neighbors, business partners, church members and even our political constituents. Let's not live pointing fingers and finding faults, instead let's love unconditionally in spite or our shortcomings. God bless you, as you and I walk together to honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
As the military have the duty and mandate to secure the boundaries of a given nation as well as offer security to its citizens as well, the same way we are God chosen army mandated with safe guarding the word of God against satan.In order to attain total victory,we must put on the full amour of God in Ephesians 6:10-17.The word we are protecting and spiritual fight we are fighting is not ours, it is Gods.That's why we need to have full dependency on christ Jesus.
Secondly, as military whose commander is God, we have a full responsibility to safe guard Gods' interest here on earth as well as secure our spiritual and salvation boundaries from satan in order not to be cast to hell along with him.
In our spiritual war fare we have a role to play in order to attain eternity, because Jesus set forth examples, for He defeated sin, which we must also emulated as Gods children created in his own image.
So my friend Bob just know that salvation comes with a cost as the apostle Paul did.
‘A militant is someone who is engaged in a war or who acts aggressively for their cause. ‘Now when it comes to a Church Militant it means as a Church we need to defend ourselves and our faith. This means standing up for the truth (1 Corinthians 16:13) and for the Salvation of souls. We do not do it aggressively, we should be ‘prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But we do this with gentleness and respect.’ (1 Peter 3:15).It is a battle but, ‘The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds’ (2 Corinthians 10:4).We put on the FULL ARMOUR of God (Ephesians 6:10-18).
Matthew 11:12 "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force."
The Spirit of Prophecy explains that "the violence here meant is a holy earnestness", and, "this violence takes in the whole heart". (1Bible Comments p.1096)
I suggest that the idea of "militancy" is employed in the same sense that Jesus uses the word "violence". And yet for a people now characterized by Laodicean lukewarmness (i.e wavering half-heartedness,) it is not easy for us to push forward with the humble, Christlike, zeal that is needed to bring an end.
I believe our work needs to be an "aggressive" work.
Was Jesus militant?
If so, what weapons did he use?
As the introduction has out lined, what we need is not just to focus and be contented that we're members in the last or remnant church. As we're studying or going through this week's lesson, let's take a pause and examine or look at each and every need(s) of the Seven churches and we shall find that they fit us clearly. Maybe you can ask a questtion to say why are we studying the history of churches that has goneby. Well, qoute the word 'history' in the question. I want to share with you what someone has already put it that 'we study history not to be clever in another time but to be wise always', in this case as we're studying the history of the seven churches,this statemant above is going to impact our spiritual life.
What needed is to adhere to the voice which is calling,Revelation 3:20,the voice of God through Jesus Christ.
Aubtrey I think you may have touched on what I see as the message for all the churches in Rev1:19,20. We are a diverse civilization and one size does not fit all. We find all of the faults of humanity that are charged against God, as a warning and desire for repentance. Yes they were selected as symbolic representatives to each church, but they were for a collective purpose, to fit each of us.
Meaning of Militant:
1.combative
2.aggressively active in support of a cause
3.engaged in warfare
i think the 3rd definition fits well the weeks lesson title.
‘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” (Revelation 3:20).From the memory text of today’s message we see something amazing. I used to think that this verse was meant for people who are not saved, up until I realised that this scripture is actually written to the Church in Laodicea. What does that tell us? Firstly we need to check the characteristics of this Church. This made me realise that at times we might be in the house of God and yet God Himself is not even in the Church, He is at the door knocking asking to enter in ‘His house’. How ironic? What is it that makes God not be in that Church and yet we think He is with us inside the Church. (Revelations 3:15-20) explains in detail what was happening then that was not right before the eyes of God. God loves the Church and we also should cherish it as well and do what delights God ,otherwise we end up having a ‘social gathering ‘calling it Church and yet God is outside knocking for Him to be able to come to us and change the way things are. He cannot stand seeing people do as they want in the Church (Matthew 21:12).We need to be earnest before God and repent. We might think that this message was meant for the Church in Laodicea but are we not seeing this happening in the Churches of today? God knows our deeds and does not desire that we have a lukewarm relationship with Him. Light and darkness cannot stay at the same place at the same time. Last week’s lesson was from ‘Darkness to Light’ so as we are now in the Light, let us walk in the light always. ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him. (1 Kings 18:21)
Seventh-day Adventist Church defines the terms in the following ways, "While in this world the church is a militant church, daily engaged in the battles of its Lord, and in warfare against satanic agencies. Its members are in constant conflict with the world, the flesh, and the powers of evil (Rom. 7:15-23; Gal. 5:17; 1 Peter 5:8, 9; 1 John 5:4; cf. 1 John 4:4). If this side of the Lord's return the church is the militant church, the church of the New Jerusalem is the triumphant church. It is made up of faithful disciples and conquerors in this worldly battle. They have exchanged the sword for a palm of victory (Rev 7:9) and the cross for a crown (2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Peter 5:4). The battle is over, the mission accomplished (Matt. 25:21, 23) and the redeemed, invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb (Rev. 19:9), eat and drink at Christ's table in His kingdom (Luke 22:28-30) and reign with Him for ever and ever (Rev 22:5)."[3] Thus, the Seventh-day Adventist view is unique in that the church is the Church Militant until the general resurrection at the end of the present age. The church becomes the Church Triumphant only after the second coming of Christ.