Letters to the Churches

Rev. 2

 

John began his letters to the churches in Rev. 2. Each church had a different description of Jesus as well as their own strengths, weaknesses, and rewards.

 

Ephesus

 Jesus: The words of Him who hold the seven starts in His right hand, who walk among the seven golden lamp stands. [The seven stars as the angels of the seven churches and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches.]

Strengths: I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for My name's sake, and you have not grown weary...Yes this you have, you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Weakness: But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.

Consequence: If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Reward:To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

 

Amazing to me is the fact that they toil, endure, hate evil and false doctrine, have not grown weary, and yet have abandoned their first love. How can this be? Had all the spiritual activity been reduced to a formula? Had they just been going through the motions? Is their problem their motivations?

Are they not living out of love for Jesus? What are my motivations for what I do? Is my love as strong and as vital as it was at the beginning?

 

Smyrna

Jesus: The words of the first and last, who died and came to life. (Resurrection power)

Strengths: I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation.

Reward: Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.

 

Suffering and persecution make for a strong church. (No weaknesses mentioned.) Perhaps, fear would be an issue, but really the letter is more encouraging, more of a pep talk for what is to come. They are going to suffer and die; no doubt following in the footsteps of Jesus who suffered and died.

 

 

Pergamum

Jesus: The words of Him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Strengths: I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Weaknesses: But I have a few things against you; you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might ear food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Consequence: Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Reward: To the one who conquers I will give some hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.

 

This church seems to be remiss in obeying the Word. Jesus comes as the logos, the two-edged sword and wars against them with the sword of His mouth. Still even though they held fast allegiance to His name and didn't deny Him, they watered down His words allowing false doctrines and licence under the guise of freedom in Christ to take over. It appears as if they have followed the course of the world (food sacrificed to idols and immorality). Instead of idol food, He has manna for them, a white stone (washed clean and pure) with a new name on it. Certainly, in our culture, the church is paralleling the world in purity. It as if they have abandoned their standard and are now focused on keeping a respectable distance from the world, a distance that allows for impurity and immorality.

 

 

Thyatira

Jesus: The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze... that I am He who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Strengths: I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

Weaknesses: But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed idols. I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.





Consequence: Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am He who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

To the rest of you: Those who do not hold this teaching and who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you, I says I do not lay on you any other burden. Only hold fast what you have until I come.

Reward: The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give Him the morning start.

 

The church is now divided, some going into the deep things of Satan and some holding fast. It's hard to believe that some began with love, faith, service, and endurance, and then have gone  an entire wrong way. They were seduced by Satan in the guise of sexual immorality and eating the food of idols. These were the same to issues as the last church, but the intensity and passion for them has increased to the point that only a fearful expectation of judgment awaits them. Their evil practices have even brought judgment on their children. I have this same Jesus who searches the mind, heart, and soul (Heb. 4:12). This situation reminds me of Heb. 10...For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries....What is in my heart? Is it wholly His, or am I tasting of the idol food and dabbling in the immoral? Am I living like the temple of the Holy Spirit and the indwelling Jesus are within me?

 

Father,

My heart questions when I read these letter. Teach me, show me, and give me a repentant heart. Give me Your strength and power to live like You want me to. Help me endure to the end holding fast to my first love and Your faithful words.

In the name of Jesus,

Amen