Revelation’s Form Letter
Rev. 2:1-3:22
Sept. 21, 2008 FBC, Chester Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction
A Opening story
B There are seven letters to seven different churches in Asia Minor (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, & Laodecia).
1 They make up 1/5 of the book of Revelation.
a A good student of God’s word learns to give attention to what God emphasizes.
b Some scholars see these churches as dispensations (periods) of time that reflect the history of the church age.
aa Some see it as only for those churches
bb Something for all of us
cc Me? YES-I can see all, each separately
2 “Let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches...”
a Let’s pray & look at the form letter of Revelation.
aa Address
bb Issue
cc Solution
b Pray
I Ephesus: The apostolic church age (30-100 AD)
A The first generation of believers had begun to fade away, & some of their passion with them.
1 This doctrine was very straight, solid like a gun barrel, but their love/ passion was gone.
a Love for God & Christ, for each other, & for the lost was gone.
b They were loyal, but had lost their love.
2 I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance , and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 ’But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 ’Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. Rev 2:2-5 (NASB)
B They were told to remember to repent
1 Church, as we see some of our favorite saints go home, it’s imperative we inherit their passion, love for the Kingdom.
a The way to become a dear saint is by the year
b Not seniority, but legacy
2 If not, we’ll run the risk of having a candlestick removed
a The church at Ephesus today is a Muslim mosque
b Doctrine is important, but so is passion for the Lord!
II Smyrna: The Martyr church (100-313 AD)
A The church/Christians were ruthlessly persecuted under Roman emperors (Domitian made it a capital offense not to sacrifice once a year to him).
1 The church did fine under persecution (always has because it runs hypocrites off).
a Loved God, faithful to Him, hated by the world, persecuted, loved God even more
b This is proven time & again (Russia, China, Iraq)
c Smyrna was loyal, and they would be tested
2 I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 ’Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Rev 2:9-10 (NASB)
B They were told to remember that they were not home yet.
1 The moment your human nature is touched by God, you enter a new dimension.
a Supernatural, walking in a new anointing, power, realm, & the demons responded...
b We know that, but when we suffer we either: 1) forget 2) don’t believe
2 When the enemy starts trouble, remember you are rich & not yet home!
III Pergamum: The age of the state church (313 AD to the end)
A In 313 AD, Constantine, with the Edict of Milian, gave religious freedom to the Christian, & adopted Christianity as the favored religion of the Roman Empire.
1 This edict ended 2 ½ centuries of Christian persecution.
a This begins the process that will merge the church to the Roman state.
b Heathen priests became Christian priests-heathen temples, churches, holidays/feasts.
c The church married the political system of Rome (adultery! She is Jesus’ bride)
2 ’I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 ’But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. 15 ’So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Rev 2:13-15 (NASB)
B They were told to remember that they’re already taken.
1 Pergamum had at least 3 major temples in her city limits (Zeus, Asklepois, Emperor)
a They were being falsely encouraged to go to feasts, orgies, etc. & you can still join the church
b They loved the Lord, but they lacked more passion
2 Christians were under great pressure to “conform or be rejected”
a We’ve been commanded to “not conform”
b Please remember that you’re spoken for, already taken, even when the governement, friends, family try to get you to compromise.
Things really go south for the church. Why? 1) More people than not are falling into error 2) The external persecution turns into internal compromise (transitional sentence).
IV Thyatira: the church that is the state (590 AD to the end)
A The Vatican is a church, and is also a state
1 Vatican City, inside of Rome, is its very own nation.
a Army, sovereign, great political power, Inquisition confiscated land if you didn’t do as the church said.
b The central figure marking this era is Gregory the Great
c What the “church” said was the truth, without error, infallible
d Some even began to exalt Mary (the queen of heaven) above the Son.
2 ’But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 ’I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. 25 ’Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. Rev 2:20-21, 25 (NASB)
B They were told to hold on tight (hold fast) until the trumpet blows.
1 Some believe this Jezebel is the whore of Babylon in Revelation 17, interesting the rapture doesn’t bother her.
2 Not all buy into it, & they’re told to hold on!
a You’ve got the strength, grace is new everyday
b Power of Pentecost operates in you!
V Sardis: the Reformation church (16th century to the end)
A The emergence of denominationalism (Luther, Wesley, Ulrich Zwingli)
1 Denominations have only been around for the last 400 or so years.
a They had the appearance of being alive, but DEAD
b They lived in the glory days of yesteryear, has-been, rest on the laurels of the past (emphasis on creeds, system of theology than the word...dead).
2 To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ’I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 ’Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. Rev 3:1-2 (NASB)
B They were told to keep their relationship with God over religion.
1 When we are more concerned about curing society’s problems than changing people’s hearts with the Gospel...spirit of Sardis.
a How much we saved over how many got saved...spirit of Sardis
b Style of worship over spiritual reality...spirit of Sardis
2 We overcome the spirit of Sardis by keeping God first over religion
VI Philadelphia: the age of the missionary church (18th century to the end)
A This age begins with William Carey (father of the Modern Missionary Movement) as a missionary to India.
1 In the last 200 years, the Gospel has been shared, made available to humankind unlike any other time in history.
a Philadelphia was located on a key commerce & trade route to the Orient (open gates)
b And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 8 ’I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Rev 3:7-8 (NASB)
B They were told to not just keep the faith, but to share it.
1 William Temple said, “The church exists primarily for those who never go to it.” (Whitetail Classic, Trunk or Treat, HGHF, VBS, inflatables).
2 Jesus died for you, but He also died for the folks outside the gate.
3 ’Because you have kept the word of My perseverance , I also will keep you from the hour of testing , that hour which is about to come upon the whole world , to test those who dwell on the earth. Rev 3:10 (NASB) Some see this as a text for rapture prior to tribulation.
VII Laodecia: the complacent/apostate church for the last days
A This church has the distinction of being the only church that Jesus didn’t have a single good word about.
1 They were arguably to most wealthy, largest, most prominent.
a Big & rich (not the group!)
b Apparently, size doesn’t matter to God! (Noses or nickels)
c We’ve got a 20-mile river of spirituality, but it’s only 3 inches deep
d A church without good doctrine/love/service...had religion
2 To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this: 15 ’I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 ’So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 ’Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 ’Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; 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 will dine with him, and he with Me. Rev 3:14-20 (NASB)
B They were told to keep the fires of revival burning.
1 False/unregenerated churches could care less about being hot/revival.
a They’ve joined, show up...enough. 1,000 members! Where are they at?
b They’re away from God! No one’s further from the truth that the one who makes as idle profession, but never experiences genuine, saving faith (no one is harder to reach for Christ than a false Christian).
2 We don’t simply need revival, we need revolution!
a The bride without passion/enthusiasm is like Vesuvius without fire, Niagara without water.
b Keep the fires of revival burning!
Conclusion
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
