Be Watchful and Strengthen the Things Which Remain - Part 1061

Jesus said, "I stand at the door and knock; if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him and sup with him and he with Me." (Revelation 3:20)

My question for today is this. Why has the good news gospel of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ become so complicated, and full of religious, legalistic expectations? Could it be that man-made religion has complicated the simplicity of the gospel, adding to the gospel rather than encouraging believers to seek Jesus -- the Author and Finisher of our faith with all their heart, soul, mind and strength? (Hebrews 12:12)

Jesus warned against the churches in the book of Revelation. "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate. "Repent", or else I will come unto thee quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth." (Revelation 2:14-15)

Then He said, "To those who overcome, Jesus will give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." (Revelation 2:17)

Think about this for a moment. Overcome what? Could it be those who "overcome" the false doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, and to them that hold to the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes -- which He hates? Is it possible that the promise is given to those who hold to the heritage of Jesus -- the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, the Prince of the kings of the earth, the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending -- "which is, and which was, and which is to come -- the Almighty" and not the false doctrines of modern day religion who push the King of kings aside. (Revelation 1:8, 11; 4:8; 11:17; Isaiah 9:6; 41:4)

Remember, the entire book of Revelation is "the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto Him to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified [it] by His angel unto His servant John; who bare record of the Word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that He saw." (Revelation 1:1-3)

What did He say? "Blessed [is] he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein; for the time [is] at hand." (Revelation 1:1-3)

Not another prophecy as modern day religious leaders would have you believe -- who regularly promote their soothsayer prophetic word over uninformed believers -- but blessed are they that read and hear the very Word of God and His prophecy. I read somewhere that the early church read the entire book of Revelation to the multitudes at every meeting. Whether they did or didn't isn't so much the point but rather, that we as members of the body of Christ -- through Jesus by faith are not reading His Word. Sadly, we are not seeking Him in our day to day as we are instructed.

Jesus told both to the multitude and  His disciples, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat ..." (Matthew 23:1-2)

"O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things, But I say unto you, "That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." (Matthew 12:33-37)

Jesus said, "Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you. Depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23)

Jesus counsels us "to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich, and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayst see." (Revelation 3:18)

In other words, man-made religion serves only to distract us from the good news gospel of Jesus Christ. But we have a higher calling in the King of kings and Lord of lords. Stand in the offering plate.