What are we supposed to be doing at the end of the age as we see the day approach?
2 “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; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Do not bear those who are evil. Reject them. Test those who claim to be apostles and find out which ones are liars. Persevere, have patience, labor the Lord's name, don't become weary. Finally, above all love the Lord. Religious people are self righteous, judgemental and have left the one who saved them from their sins. Don't take that path.
9 “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. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.
This is simple, don't fear the things you are about to suffer.
13 “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. 14 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. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent
This is what you are about to suffer. You will be surrounded by Satan's minions sent out from his throne. Hold fast the Lord's name, don't deny the Faith, even as you see those around you being martyred. Also, do not put up with Balaam but expose him. He teaches people to eat things sacrificed to idols (an idol is anything that you would sacrifice for other than God.) and he teaches to commit sexual immorality. If you see that taking place at your church, leave. Also the doctrine of the Nicolaitans is that the Clergy are above the laity. Every one of us will have to appear before the Lord for the things we have done. We will not be able to blame the pastor.
19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. 20 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. 21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent
Works, love, service, faith and patience, all things we should be full of at the end of days. However, this doesn't mean that we allow Jezebel to teach. Sexual immorality is not something to wink at. It doesn't matter if it is heterosexual, homosexual, or whatever. Also we don't sacrifice to idols. If they have Kanye West performing at your church, time to leave. If they have a Superbowl party, time to leave.
“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.
Be watchful. Pay attention to the signs, pay attention to the prophecies, pay attention to the apostasy. Remember how the Protestant revolution began, how Martin Luther and many of the others worked through the key doctrines of the Bible. That is how we received, this is how we need to watch and go through these prophecies.
8 “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. 9 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. 10 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.
We have an open door for the gospel here in the US. We can study the word, share the word, teach the word, preach the word, and no one can shut this door on us. Therefore keep the Lord's word that we are His witnesses and don't deny His name. Keep the Lord's commandment to persevere. If you do all that then you have already been tested and no need to stay for the hour of trial that will test all those who have not done all that.
5 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 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— 18 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. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent
It is very straightforward on how to help a Christian whose love has grown cold, and also it is very easy to share with a Christian who is hot for the Lord. But if you have become lukewarm it induces vomit. You aren't hot, not interested in anything anyone else is sharing and you aren't cold, not offended. Instead you are boastful about how rich you are and how you need nothing. What you need to be doing is buying gold refined in the fire, paying the price for white garments, and eye salve to anoint your eyes.