REVELATION CHAPTER 3: Seven Letters from Jesus Part #2:
QUESTION: What significance does what Jesus wrote to these churches in the first century have to our lives today?
The Church in Sardis
“1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ’These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "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. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3:1-6).
City/Church: Sardis, a city of arrogant, over-confident people.
Commendation: Some of the believers have kept the faith (v.4).
Condemnation: They thought they were alive, but were actually a dead church.
Command: Be watchful, strength the things that remain, hold fast, repent.
Covenant Promise: Clothed in white garments (righteousness), name in the Book of Life.
The Church in Philadelphia
“7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ’These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens": 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. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3:7-13).
City/Church: Philadelphia (means brotherly love).
Commendation: They have kept God’s Word, and have not denied His name.
Condemnation: NONE. (Philadelphia was another lampstand – shining brightly for Jesus)
Command: Hold fast to what you have.
Covenant Promise: A pillar in God’s house (permanent), the name of God.
• Verse 9: “I have loved you.” The love of Jesus is a recurring theme in Revelation!
• Verse 11: Jesus reminds us that He is coming soon!
The Church in Laodicea
“14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ’These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 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. 20 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. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 3:14-22).
City/Church: Laodicea, situated in a neighbourhood of hot springs.
Commendation: NONE. (The one church that Jesus had nothing good to say about!)
Condemnation: They were lukewarm, and therefore, they were in the vomit zone. Jesus said they were, “Wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked.”
Command: Buy refined gold, white garments, and eye salve. Jesus said, “I stand at the door and knock. Let me in!”
Covenant Promise: To sit on His throne with Him.
CLOSING COMMENTS ABOUT THE SEVEN LETTERS:
“The sevenfold condition of these churches actually existed at that time. It exists today. It had existed during the entire intervening period. It has become abundantly evident that the one great question is this, are these churches faithful to their charge? In other words, are they lampstands, light-bearers?” (William Hendriksen).
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16).
HOW TO APPLY THESE LETTERS TO YOUR LIFE:
I. As you’re reading through these letters, look to see if there is any area in your life where you need to make some changes. (Have you left your first love, are you lukewarm, have you compromised with evil, etc?)
II. If Jesus was to write a letter to you:
1. What would He want to reveal to you about Himself?
2. What would He commend you for – what you’re doing right?
3. What would He tell you that you need to change?
4. What promise would He remind you of?
UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF REVELATION – SYMBOLISM IN NUMBERS:
In the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit often used numbers symbolically.
More than any other book in the Bible, this is especially true of the Book of Revelation.
1. GOD: One represents singularity or unity. “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord.” (Deut. 6.4); “There is one God.” (1 Tim. 2.5).
2. JESUS: Two represents Jesus, the Second Person of the Godhead. It can also represent the BIBLE – the two testaments, or the two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12). It can also represent WITNESS – Jesus sent the disciples out two by two.
3. TRINITY: Three represents the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (see. Matt. 28:19). Three is also a number of RESURRECTION. Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day.
4. THE WORLD. Four is often used to describe the world: Four winds (Rev. 4:1), four ‘corners’ – north, south, east, west (Num. 2), four kingdoms (see Daniel 2 & 7).
5. LAW. The first five books of the Old Testament are called the Law of God.
6. MAN or SATAN. Six represents man because he was created on the sixth day. In Revelation, the number 666 is the number of the beast.
7. PERFECTION. On the seventh day, God rested from his perfect, completed creation.
Seven is used in over 30 verses in the book of Revelation. Sample:
1) Rev. 1:4 - seven Spirits
2) Rev. 1:11 - seven churches
3) Rev. 1:12 - seven lampstands
4) Rev. 1:16 - seven stars
5) Rev. 1:20 - seven churches and seven angels
6) Rev. 4:5 - seven lampstands before the throne = seven spirits of God.
7) Rev. 5:1 - seven seals on the scroll
8) Rev. 5:6 - seven eyes and seven horns on the Lamb
9) Rev. 8:2 - seven angels & seven trumpets
10) Rev. 10:3 - seven thunders
11) Rev. 15:7 - seven bowls of the wrath of God
12) Rev. 15:8 - seven plagues
Many interpreters see the Book of Revelation as being divided into seven parallel sections:*
1. Rev. 1-3 - Christ in the midst of the seven golden lampstands
2. Rev. 4-7 - The book with the seven seals
3. Rev. 8-11 - The seven trumpets of judgment
4. Rev. 12-14 - The woman and the Man-child persecuted by the dragon
5. Rev. 15-16 - The seven bowls of wrath
6. Rev. 17-19 - The fall of the great harlot and of the beasts.
7. Rev. 20-22 - The judgment upon Satan followed by the new Heaven and new Earth.
*Bibliography: More Than Conquerors by William Hendriksen.
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
