Saved but Cursed
Revelation 3:14-22

Many saved Americans think that it is the Laodicean Age and that the 'Rapture' must happen soon. The problem is that they use this as an excuse to not do the 'Great Commission'.  They claim that people refuse to respond so there is no need to try and win them to the gospel.  In addition, they believe the lie that they are getting a mansion simply because they are saved and that any further rewards will be so small that they do not justify any effort to serve God now.  And if that isn't enough, they believe that there will be no punishment at the judgment seat of Christ.  Many are liked the saved people that we read about in 2Thessalonians 3:11 whom Paul called busybodies because they expected to be supported by the church while they refused to work.  There we are told to admonish people who will not work.  In particular, we are to admonish saved people who do not work in God's kingdom.

The reason to mention these people is not to criticize them but to warn against following their doctrinal error.  They blame the Age for their own failure to do the 'Great Commission' instead of realizing that their failure is what causes the Age.  When John wrote Revelation, these signs were true for the church of the Laodiceans, so were the signs for the other churches happening at the same time.  The people, in this church, at the time that John wrote Revelation, thought Their signs were true for everyone at that time.  This was happening even while what John wrote to other churches happened at the same time.

When England turned their backs on God and went from sending out missionaries to apostasy, the churches claimed that it was the 'Loadicean Age' age at that time.  Therefore, we can look in history and see different places where people thought that it was the 'Loadicean Age'.  The point is that many times in history Satan has convinced God's people to blame the age for their lack of producing results.  With this excuse, they stopped working in God's kingdom.  What we believe about the general age in history will not be accepted as an excuse for stopping working in God's kingdom.  If anything, it should motivate us to work harder.  Satan will use anything to get God's people to believe a lie and to stop working for God's kingdom.  With that, we need to look closer at the doctrinal error believed by many Americans.  This is not to criticize them but to avoid the same error

Many Americans are like the Jews in the days of Jesus.  They see their material blessings as evidence that they are right with God.  They fail to realize that their physical blessings are the result of God blessing the spiritual work of prior generations.  Likewise, many people look at their lack of physical blessings in this world and fail to realize that they are also living with the results of prior generations.  Many people want to go to America for the physical blessings that they have now instead of looking at what God will do in the future to America.  Your children and grandchildren will not thank you for taking them into and area that will receive the judgment of God during their lifetime

Instead of looking at physical blessings that people have now we need to look at the promises of God and act on those promises.  If we are truly spiritual then we need to focus on the spiritual instead of on the physical.  A candle brings great light into the darkest room but adds little light to our work under full sun.  Likewise, the light that God tells us to bring to the world will have the greatest effect in places which have never heard the Gospel while we will have little effect in America where there are many churches preaching many doctrines which all claim to be Biblical

Saved people become spiritually blind when they are so busy looking at the physical that they never look at the spiritual and never truly consider spiritual matters other than surface thoughts during religious activities.  Think about this question.  Do you sing the songs without thinking about the words? As we sing songs that say send me, have you truly made that the prayer of your heart? If you are where God wants you, are you preparing your children to expect to go into the regions beyond or are you teaching them to want to stay around you in your old age? Look at our reference in Revelation and realize what Jesus said to these people personally.  In Revelation 3:17 we read Because thou sayest.  The word thou means 'you personally'.  We will not be judged for the age but for what we personally do.  In addition, the word sayest means 'what you keep on keeping on saying'.  This is the lifestyle saying to justify the way that people live.  Next, Jesus says I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.  Do you start every day with a prayer for God to supply all of your needs that day? If not, regardless of what you claim, your lifestyle says that you don't need anything from God

Next, Revelation 3:17 says: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.  These people did not realize their true spiritual condition because they were blinded by their physical condition.  Further, the lies from Satan convinced then that they were going to Heaven to live in a mansion and experience eternal bliss with only the possibility of a minor loss at the judgment seat of Christ.  Since they considered that loss to be negligible, they chose to ignore it.  That is, they were so convinced of their own future that they believed that the Bible lied when it promised that our eternal future is directly dependent upon what we do for God's kingdom while we are in this life

People are spiritually poor when they are so busy pursuing the physical that they don't take time to do what the Bible says will add to their Heavenly account.  They are spiritually naked when they never allow Jesus Christ to work through their life so that He can give them His righteousness after working through their life.  They are wretched, and miserable because that is how we all are in our sinful natural state.  That is also the promised state for saved people who never stop their sinning.  This state will last for more than 1,000 years until after the great white throne judgment.  We only become different when we allow Jesus Christ to change us as we mature spiritually.  Our condition for the first 1,000 years are dependent upon our allowing Him to do this while we are in this life

The only true conclusion is that what was written to this church can be true for individual saved people, or even a large group of saved people such as a church or region or culture

One of the evidences that save people are spiritually blind is when they acknowledge the evidences of people not getting saved and of saved people not spiritually maturing even while refusing to see personal guilt for not trying correcting the problem around them.  They have lots of excuses when asked what they personally are doing to win the lost and to help the saved to mature spiritually.  They claim things like 'God didn't call me' when asked why they personally are not going on mission trips and becoming trained to be a missionary so that God could call them if God wanted to do so.  We are told, several places, that God calls all saved to become saints.  One of the lies from devils is that all saved are Biblical Christians and saints simply because they made a profession

In Revelation 3:16, we see Jesus Christ call these people lukewarm and promises to spue thee out of my mouth when they get to the judgment seat of Christ.  If they are saved then they can not be cold.  Therefore, the only other option, for avoiding this judgment, is for them to become hot.  This leads to the question of 'Why would saved people refuse to become hot?' The answer is that they have believed doctrine from devils.  They believe that they will get the promises of God without fulfilling the requirements to get those promises and they believe that they will avoid the punishment of God even while living in disobedience to God

The first evidence of this is people who claim that the judgment seat of Christ is a 'bema seat'.  They criticize other religious for being hypocrites who preach one thing while living another.  They criticize other religions and religious people for using the 'original languages' to pervert the KJV-1611 and write their own bibles.  Yet this change is the same thing only on a smaller scale

People who preach the doctrine of a 'bema seat' call the literal Bible a lie.  They claim 'there are rewards and loss of rewards but no punishment'.

1. However, the literal meaning of judgment includes the possibility of punishment.
2. Next, 2Corinthians 5:10 literally says For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. This sentence literally says that some saved people who are in heaven at the judgment seat of Christ will receive BAD as a direct result of the things done in his body.
3. Next, our reference in Revelation said that Jesus Christ would spue people who were lukewarm and this doctrine of a 'bema seat' is used to excuse people being lukewarm.  This doctrine from devils will not change the judgment by Jesus Christ.
4. Next, the next verse, 2Corinthians 5:11, starts with Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord.  The therefore means that the terror of the Lord is a direct result of the judgment seat of Christ.  This is only given to saved people who are in Heaven. Not all saved people will receive this, as will be explained.  But lukewarm people can expect to receive this and it is not removed for more than 1,000 years.
5. The semi-colon in our sentence tells us that Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men is the First Step of this sentence.  This Step means that people persuade men in order to avoid receiving the terror of the Lord at the judgment seat of Christ.  We persuade men by doing 'the Great Commission'.  Doing 'the Great Commission' changes us from being spiritually lukewarm to being spiritually hot and gets us a different judgment according to our reference in Revelation.
6. Next, our sentence in 2Corinthians 5:11 says but we are made manifest unto God.  This is the Second Step and is a result of the First Step which required us to do 'the Great Commission'.  The word manifest means 'revealed in every possible way'.  God sees who truly does 'the Great Commission' and records it as evidence for when we appear at the judgment seat of Christ.
7. Next, 2Corinthians 5:11 has a Third Step which says and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.  The consciences of other saved people will let them know who is truly doing 'the Great Commission'. They will feel guilty, and feel the need to make excuses, if they are not also doing 'the Great Commission'.  However, saved people who are truly doing 'the Great Commission' will be encouraged by knowing that they are not alone.  So, when you are around people like pastor Nono, do you want to hide and maker excuses for not doing 'the Great Commission' or do you want to encourage him by letting him know how Jesus Christ is working through your life?

Our next consideration is the parallel parables about the talents, in Matthew 25:14-30, and the pounds in Luke 19:12-27.  These parables explain how people in heaven can be poor like our reference in Revelation says.

1. In Luke we are told that a pound was given to 10 servants.  Three of them returned the pound when their Lord returned.  Luke 19:27 says: But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. Therefore, they wen to hell and the first three went to Heaven.  Of those three, we read in Luke 19:16-19 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. So, those two receive a crown because they were made rulers over cities.  However, the last servant returned no profit and was called thou wicked servant.  Then Luke 19:24 says: Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. In addition, Luke 19:26 says For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. This literally means that people who return a spiritual profit to God will receive greater rewards at the judgment seat of Christ and saved people who do not return a profile will lose even what they had in this world and will be 'eternal paupers'.  They do NOT get a mansion.
2. Matthew 26:11 and John 12:8 tell us ye have the poor always with you and eternity is part of always.  There will be eternal paupers who are saved but do not return a profit to God by doing 'the Great Commission'.
3. Next, we need to look at the parallel parable in Matthew 25:14-30.  Here we are told that the Lord gave talents to His servants. We all receive spiritual gifts when we get saved and God expects us to us those spiritual gifts to return a profit to Him.
4. Notice that says Matthew 25:19-23 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. The two who returned a profit were told Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  Since they were made rulers, they receive a crown.  However, the third servant returned no profit.  Matthew 25:26-28 says His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, 'Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. Therefore, he also was an eternal pauper.
5. However, our parable goes on and tells us more.  First, Matthew 25:29 gives us the same principal of judgment as Luke 19:26 did.
6. Next, Matthew 25:30 says And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Notice that this is not outside darkness, which would be Hell like many people claim.  The word outer means 'more to the outside'.  Revelation 21:23 says: And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.  If you have one light in the center of a large area, those closest to the light can see the best while those farthest from the light are in relative darkness and have the greatest trouble seeing.  These are the people whom our reference in Revelation called blind and wretched, and miserable.  God does not wipe away all tears from their eyes until after the great white throne judgment which is more than 1,000 years after the judgment seat of Christ, which is the source of the tears.
7. Next, look at Isaiah 66:23-24 which says: And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. His is telling us that we will see people burning in Hell.  We can not do that while we are in this life.  We will not do so after the great white throne judgment when God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.  However, we are responsible for our own descendants to the third and fourth generation.  If we do not do 'the Great Commission' then we will see the blood of lost people on our hands while we see then burning in Hell.  We can not have the love of God in our heart and not have tears while watching people burn in Hell because we failed to witness to them.  Further, since there are 50 sabbaths in addition to Saturday, we will have these tears an average of almost twice a week for more than 1,000 years.

If we return to our original reference in Revelation, we saw that the lukewarm saved people were personally (thou art) wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked and that they were this way because they personally (thou) sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.  We also saw that they thought this because they were looking at the physical instead of at the spiritual.  We also saw that they were spiritually blind because they were looking at the physical and because they were far from Jesus, Who is our spiritual light.  We saw that they were wretched, and miserable because they were heading for 1,000 years of tears.  We saw that they were poor because they refused to do what the Bible says will add to their Heavenly account.  They were too busy pursuing the physical riches to take time for spiritual riches.  This leaves us the word naked

Matthew 22 has a familiar parable which we do not have time to explore completely.  This is the parable where the king said Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. This is our salvation.  While that is an important lesson, we need to look at the last part of this parable, which I can't remember hearing anyone preach on.  Matthew 22:11-14 says And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.

1. Please notice the phrase cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  We already dealt with this phrase.  This is where saved people who do not give God a prophet are cast.
2. Notice that He was in heaven but did not have a wedding garment.  Now look at Revelation 19:7-8 which says; Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints..
3. We have no righteousness of our own.  However, Philippians 3:8-11 says that we can receive righteousness'which is through the faith of Christ when we let Him live and work through our life.
4. Yes, everyone in Heaven has a white robe, but that is an under-robe.  Any saved person who never let the faith of Christ work through their life does not have the wedding garment.  Matched with want we saw elsewhere; these people are in Heaven but they are naked because they do not have the wedding garment.  They probably will not be allowed to attend the wedding feast of the Lamb.  In addition, since these people never received a crown, they probably will not be allowed to return for the 1,000-year reign of Christ since the saved who return will be ruling and reigning and, without a crown, they will not reign.

The bottom line is that God will curse all saved who refuse to obey His command to do 'the Great Commission'.  Such people will not receive the rewards which they expect and will have over 1,000 years of tears

We saw the blessings for those people who do 'the Great Commission'.  We just saw the curse for saved people who refuse to do 'the Great Commission'.  The lesson which is left is how non-preachers can do 'the Great Commission', especially when related to missions work and training others to be soul-winners, which gives us the greatest reward and provide the greatest protection from 1,000 years of tears.

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