If we look closely at some rather unique music compositions, we’ll find interesting things about two gifted and well known composers – Beethoven and Haydn. Sometimes we need to look closely behind the scenes to understand the full story. We can do just that in music, and we can do just that as we look at seven churches in seven different locations found in the prophetic book of Revelation. As we look closer we’ll find some interesting, unique things.
This classic composition, Beethoven’s 5th symphony starts out in a way that is familiar to us all and is something rather unique as well. The repeated rhythm of “dit dit dit dah” is actually the letter “V” in Morse code. At the time, Beethoven's country, Germany, was at war. Beethoven wanted to communicate victory through this song to show his patriotism.
Joseph Haydn was begging the king to let his musicians have a break to visit their families. The king told him that there were many future parties for them to entertain. So, Hayden replied with a symphony named the “Farewell Symphony.” When the completed symphony was performed and as each movement progressed, a musician would pack up and leave until the end when there were none left to play. The embarrassed king only saw the musicians after their vacation.
The Apostle John wrote the inspired prophetic book of Revelation. This book describes the end times when Jesus Christ will return once again to earth. In the book entitled “Escape the Coming Night,” pastor, teacher and author David Jeremiah writes; “Take a poll among Christians who read their Bibles faithfully, and I can guarantee at least one consistent result: Very few Christians, even those who believe ‘all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable’…. (2 Timothy 3:16), spend much time reading and studying the Book of Revelation. Revelation is a form of Biblical literature called ‘apocalyptic’ meaning it uses symbols and imagery to reveal the secret purposes of God for the present and the future. Apocalypse means Revelation.”
As we take a closer look at the seven churches listed in the Book of Revelation, we can easily find a correlation to the 21st century church today. The text is from Revelation, chapter 1 verses 8 – 11:
“I AM the Alpha and the Omega” (beginning and the end) says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” I john, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos (in modern day Turkey) because of the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, (Sunday) and I heard behind me a loud voice (God) like the sound of a trumpet saying; “Write in a book what you see and send it to the seven churches: To Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”
These are the stories and descriptions of the seven churches. Pastor, author and teacher John MacArthur writes; “Although these seven churches were actual, historical churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey), they represent the types of churches that exist throughout the church age. What Jesus Christ says to these seven churches is relevant in all times.” And according to David Jeremiah, “In his vision, John sees the seven churches in a circle, and in the midst of that circle, he sees Jesus Christ. If we look at a map of the actual seven churches, we will see that they are located in a circle in the order listed in Revelation 1:11. Taken in the order addressed, this circle is suggestive of the entire cycle of church history.”
Church at Ephesus – Dynamic, dedicated, disciplined, discerning and a determined church. But it was a church that had lost its love for Jesus Christ. The Ephesians’ passion and fervor for Christ had become cold and mechanical. Their doctrinal and moral purity, their undiminished zeal for the truth and their disciplined service were no substitute for the love for Christ they had forsaken. The closest church to the island of Patmos was the church that the Apostle John had pastored in Ephesus. It was while John was living in Ephesus that he was taken captive and was made an exile on this island. Charles Spurgeon, an English Baptist Preacher writes; “Pray God to send a few men with what the Americans call ‘grit’ in them; men who, when they know a thing to be right, will not turn away, or turn aside, or stop; men who will persevere all the more because there are difficulties to meet or foes to encounter; who stand all the more true to their Master, because they are opposed; who the more they are thrust into the fire, the hotter they become; who just like the bow, the further the string is drawn, the more powerfully it sends forth its arrows, and so the more they are trodden upon, the more mighty will they become in the cause of truth against error.”
Church at Smyrna – The church that suffered persecution. Smyrna means “myrrh” the substance used for perfume and often for anointing a dead body for aromatic purposes. We recognize “myrrh” in Jesus’ life. The three kings from the East brought treasures including gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. We know little about the founding of the church in Smyrna, but we know they suffered great persecution for the cause of Christ. Smyrna was considered the most beautiful city the Greeks ever built. But the church was completely overlooked by the city because it was thought to be insignificant. A street in Smyrna was called the “street of the Gods” lined with temples to Greek and Roman Gods, beautifully ornate buildings. The Christians met in the plainest of places – homes, outdoors, wherever they could find a place to gather. The Pastor of the church in Smyrna was Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John himself. Polycarp was one of many Christians who was tortured and then thrown to the beasts by the Romans. Both Jews and Romans participated in his killing. He was burned at the stake. Given the opportunity to deny Christ, instead he welcomed the flames that consumed him counting it an honor to die for the One who died for him.
Church at Pergamum – A compromising church. David Jeremiah writes; “The sin of Pergamum was the toleration of evil. Worldly standards had crept into their fellowship. Today, it’s the same spirit within the church which makes it difficult to distinguish between the actions of Christians and the lifestyles of non-Christians.
When those who call themselves Christians cheat in business or lower their moral standards to suit the situation (situational ethics) they fit into the Pergamum mentality.” I once read this powerful statement; “Sin is a monster of such awful mean, that to be hated needs but to be seen, But seen to oft, familiar with face, we first endure, then pity, then embrace.”
Church at Thyatira –The church at Thyatira was a laboring church, a loving church, a loyal church, a longsuffering church, and a church that was maturing, progressing and growing. But the church at Thyatira became corrupted by allowing immorality to penetrate the church. Thyatira was located half way between Pergamum and Sardis; this city had been under Roman rule for almost 3 centuries. Immorality destroys a church. Immorality doesn’t just happen overnight. It creeps in slowly. I like to think of a billboard along the roadside. It looks relatively small from a distance, but up close it is huge. Standard billboards alongside freeways measure 14 feet tall and 48 feet wide. Picture a billboard that is completely white. It is your job to turn it to solid black and you have a black marking pen to do the job. Starting at the upper left corner you begin. Little by little and line by line, the billboard starts to become black. And finally, the last little bit on the lower right corner is finished. Now the billboard is solid black. It turned from white to black over time. It wasn’t instant, it didn’t happen overnight. The same is true with sin. All it needs is a foothold and over time we can turn from white to black. This is true with the church at Thyatira.
Church at Sardis – a dead church. Sardis was situated on a natural acropolis rising 1500 feet above the valley floor. The church at Sardis was denounced for its outward profession and its inward deadness. Why was the church at Sardis known as a dead church? It slowly died over time and needed once again to become vigorous, victorious and vibrant. It needed to become alive again. How does a church die? We may rule out death from an outside enemy. History shows it’s almost impossible to kill a church externally. The church at Sardis did not die from persecution, persecution usually makes the church grow and get stronger. The church didn’t try to kill itself that just doesn’t happen. There was not conscious break with Christ; they didn’t take a vote to bury their church. And the church wasn’t abandoned by God; there was still a remnant there. God was still willing for the church to once again be alive and grow if the people were. William Ramsay writes; “A church is in danger of death when it begins to worship its own past, when it’s more concerned with forms than with life, when it loves systems more than it loves Jesus Christ, when it’s more concerned with material than spiritual things.”
The church at Philadelphia – the faithful church, the church of brotherly love. How do we measure success? By the size of membership or the size of the building? No, but by the faithfulness of its people. The Greek word “Philadelphia” or “brotherly love” is a compound word made up of “Phileo” which means “to love” and “Adelphos” which means “brother.” Phileo is not the sacrificial love represented by the love of God for sinners as conveyed by the word “Agape.” Instead it is a warm, emotional term, a family kind of love shared among members of a family. We express “Philadelphia” after receiving God’s “Agape.” So what was wrong with this church? Nothing in God’s eyes. The church at Philadelphia had an open door welcoming anyone who was seeking God. It was a church with little strength. This is not negative but positive. Because it had little strength, the church couldn’t exist on its own, but had to gain strength from God. The church kept the Word of God and didn’t deny the Lord. Perhaps every church today has representatives of all the Revelation churches in it. Hopefully there are more “Philadelphia-type Christians than any other – people who love the Lord and want to serve God. Where there are Philadelphian Christians we will find those things for which the members of that church were commissioned. Our churches today should be a mirror image of the church at Philadelphia.
The church at Laodicea – A comprising, conceited, Christless church. The best description of the church at Laodicea is that it was known as the lukewarm church – neither hot nor cold. This is in reference to the water situation in Laodicea. There were hot mineral springs in nearby Hierapolis and cold water springs in nearby Colosse, and there were pipes and aqueducts built to transport the water from both places to Laodicea. By the time the water got to Laodicea, the hot mineral water had cooled down and the cold spring water had warmed up, so all they got was water that was neither hot nor cold- but lukewarm. This church best describes the 21st century church in America. Laodicea became the wealthiest, most important commercial center in the region. There are pointed words from Jesus Christ regarding this church in chapter 3 verses 15 - 16; “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold or hot; I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm and neither cold or hot, I will spit you out of my mouth.” Just like the dirty, tepid water of Laodicea, these self-deceived hypocrites sickened Jesus Christ. It is easy for us as Christians to sit in the middle, neither on one side or the other. God wants us to definitively take a stand for Him, in any situation or circumstance. A lukewarm Christian is not useful to God. John Stott writes; “The Laodicean church was a halfhearted church. Perhaps none of the seven letters to the seven churches is more appropriate to the 21st century church than this. It describes vividly the respectable, sentimental, nominal, skin-deep religion which is so widespread among us today. Our Christianity is flabby and anemic. We appear to have taken a lukewarm bath of religion.”
What best describes our church today? Is it a church which has lost its love for Christ? Or a church suffering persecution? Is it a compromising church that tolerates evil? Perhaps it is a church that has allowed immorality to creep in. A church that is dead on the inside? Or are the church and its members just lukewarm in thoughts and actions? Or are we a church filled with brotherly love, faithfulness and a love for God through Jesus Christ? Which church best describes our own church? Which attributes best describes each of us?
The Apostle Luke writes; “And when the believers had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the Word of God with boldness!” (Acts 4:31.) I pray that we would be bold in our belief as the Holy Spirit envelops us. “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.” (Philippians 4:13.) Amen.
