The Seven Churches
Revelation, Part 3, Revelation 2:1-3:21
Introduction
- I want to cover all seven churches today … why? Why preach all of this?
- IMP: It’s too important to break this up and have folks miss it …
- Over-arching theme: 2 Tim 4:2 says “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”
-- We ought to be able to give an answer …
-- We must be able to give hope to the future and why we believe …
- Letters to the churches: It is God's report card of where they (we) are!
- This is the most important chapters because it talks TO the church
-- Chap 2 and 3 are words for right now and things to be on the lookout for
-- IMP: We must avoid the pitfalls of where the Lord is not pleased with us
- I want you to note the lamp stands: this is a bearer of light, not the source
-- It is a platform for light to be placed on; the source of the light is Jesus
- Pray
Ω Point 1 - Church of Ephesus
Read Chapter 2:1-7
- They work hard; they tested false apostles (prophets)
- They have endured hardships in Jesus name; they have not grown weary
- This church has stood up to conflict and has been faithful to Christ
- Sounds like a solid church? Watch the complaint God has against them
- They have forgotten their first love!! (They have forgotten God!)
-- Ephesus means “darling or maiden of choice” – it’s an affectionate term
-- Joel 2:12-13 says “"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.”
- APP: They need to see how far they have fallen
-- They are told to repent and return to worshipping God … otherwise; the church will be destroyed (by removing the lamp stand that represents them)
- Hate practices – Love people … church doctrine
-- You can not approve of how someone lives, but still love them fully
-- Connecting people to Jesus and each other is our motto: love the sinner
- Read verse 7 again:
-- Reward awaits (to eat from the tree of life)
-- APP: Those that stay the course, can expect to eat from this tree forever
Ω Point 2 - Church of Smyrna
Read Chapter 2: 8-11
- Smyrna’s root word “Smurna” which in Hebrew translates to “myrrh”
-- Myrrh was given as a present as a symbol of suffering, or death (Magi)
-- Gold meant royalty & frankincense was deity; but myrrh means suffering
-- At the second coming, you will note that myrrh is not presented to Jesus
- There are slanderers among them, but Jesus knows who they are
-- They claim to be faithful to God’s law (and the Jews) but are not
-- These are part of the synagogue of Satan; father of lies; the great deceiver
-- John 8:44 says, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
- Those that are part of this church are slandering liars against Jews
-- Must understood this: very early in church history we became anti-Semitic
-- We lost our Jewish roots as established in the Old Testament
-- IMP: Those that would oppose the Jews today are part of this church
- It is time to STOP saying we love Israel, but ignoring our Jewish neighbors -- BIG APP: This is what the church of Smyrna is guilty of!
- There is encouragement for this church more than condemnation
-- Verse 11 again: a reward waits (the second death will not come to you)
Ω - Be faithful unto death, and they will receive a crown: Crown is a reward
-- There are 5 crowns discussed in the Bible as reward (not salvation)
1. Crown of Life (those who suffered for His sake) – James 1:12
2. Crown of Righteousness (those who loved His appearing) – 2 Tim 4:8
3. Crown of Glory (those who fed the lambs, sheep, or flock) – 1 Peter 5:4
4. Crown Incorruptible (those who press on steadfast) – 1 Corinthians 9:25
5. Crown of Rejoicing (those who win souls) – 1 Thess 2:19
- Which crown will you get? Those are the only crowns available!!
-- HUGE: Smyrna is one of the two churches that have no condemnation
Ω Point 3 - Church of Pergamum
Read Chapter 2: 12-17
- Satan has his throne in their church and they hold to teaching of Balaam
-- Balaam was a prophet greedy for gold.
-- Balaam taught being married to the world - 2 Pet 2:15
-- Balaam hired by the enemies of the people of God to curse - Num 22:12
-- Balaam took the way of Cain, and lived in filth after he did this
-- He perished along with the rest of God’s enemies - Josh 13:22
- This church is told to do one thing: Repent!
- v17: Hidden manna (Psalm 78:24-25 says “he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven. Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.”)
-- It also says that they would receive a white stone
-- The white stone is symbolic of when jurors of this time would vote
-- A black stone indicated guilt and a white stone indicated innocence
-- Promised that if they were faithful to God they receive a white stone
- You see, this church remained true to God’s Son in the face of Satan
-- Shows extreme internal conflict in their practices; cannot serve 2 masters!
-- Luke 16:13 says, “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”
Ω Point 4 - Church of Thyatira
Read Chapter 2:18-29
- IMP: Jesus knows your service!
-- Jesus loves the church so much that he cannot take His eyes off it
-- Doing more than you used to – this shows growth (are we growing?)
- IMP: A church that is not doing new things has decided it wants to die!
- But, what does the Lord hold against them? They tolerate sin!
- The chief sin of this church is that they failed to rise up and call Jezebel out
-- They failed to show her for what she is
-- They fail to remove her from being able to teach in the church
- IMP: What the Lord is saying here about committing adultery (fornication) is literal – but it also means to have intimacy with a false god instead of the one True God.
- Time has been given for her to repent … time for YOU to repent as well
-- God will strike down all those that lay down with her: including children
- Something to note: those who repent will not go through the Tribulation
-- Jezebel is brought up again in Rev 17 as the woman who is devoured
-- It is important to note that those who side with her will see the tough times
- This is the warning Jesus is giving the church
-- For those that avoid Satan’s teaching (and are faithful to Christ)
-- They need to continue being faithful until Jesus’ return
-- Those faithful persons shall rule with Jesus forever
>> STRETCH <<
Ω “Worthless” Video
Ω Point 5 - Church of Sardis
Read Chapter 3:1-6
They have a reputation of being alive – they look awake – but they are dead
-- This is a church that looks OK but the members are dead … Spiritually
-- The members are not done serving the Lord (re-read verse 2)
-- IMP: BTW … WE are NOT done either! (Complacency is dangerous!)
-- If they continue to sleep – they WILL miss the Lord’s return
-- Re: Parable of the 10 virgins: Jesus will come like a thief in the night
- Church has SOME members that are faithful, but not all who say they are
-- The faithful ones are those holding the Gospel doctrine
-- These faithful ones are … the remnant!!
- The faithful’s names will never be blotted out of the book of life
-- Matthew 10:32-33 says, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.”
-- Luke 12:8-9 says, “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.”
- IMP: This is the promise of eternal salvation:
-- If you have it you will never be removed from the Book of Life
-- Jesus will speak of you and intercede for you with His Father
- I want you to see something interesting about this church:
-- They are not troubled with heresy. They are not being attacked.
-- They are not at war with the devil. Why? Because they are dead!
-- A dead church is just that – D-E-A-D!
-- A church that is alive will always be under spiritual attack.
-- There’s always something coming against a church that is prospering
- Not butting heads with the devil? Maybe its b/c you’re running with him!
Ω Point 6 - Church of Philadelphia
Read Chapter 3:7-13
- Jesus holds the keys of David – direct reference to His lineage again
- Jesus said He knows the church
-- It is because He holds the churches in His hand
-- There is a chance to repent and turn away
- This church has an open door that no man can shut – b/c God has opened it
- Even though this church is tired, they continued to fight and remain faithful
-- This is a tremendous encouragement to us; today; and it’s relevant!
-- Why should a church continue to fight? Romans 14:11: “… every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.”
- Re-read verse 10 – Promise that this church would NOT see the tribulation!
-- This is the church that we want to align ourselves with
- They are to hold fast so that NO ONE will remove their crown
-- They are encouraged to finish the race; to be faithful and serve Christ
- IMP: To be made a pillar means that you will never leave the sanctity and protection of the temple of God – they will be sanctified in God’s eyes forever, and be made a permanent place in God’s house.
- This church will be SEALED with the name of God written on them!
-- Since that name is the name above all other names, to be sealed with the name of God is sacred!
- This church will have a place in the New Jerusalem of Chapter 21
-- They will have eternal security in the house of God (we want this)
Ω Point 7 - Church of Laodicea
Read Chapter 3:14-22
- v14: These are the words of ‘the amen’
-- Amen means I agree … and this is agreement with the Creator
-- This church is neither hot or cold – they are not faithful or disobedient
- Jesus wished they were one or the other so He could deal with them
-- Instead, they are so wishy-washy that they are going to be spewed out
-- They will be revolting and hated for what they stand for
- They are a proud and boastful church – proud of themselves only!
-- IMP: God is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34) - anyone who would seek to puff themselves will fail
- This church has used God’s name and provision to boast for themselves
-- VERY IMP: It all is God’s to begin with, and this church is using God to exalt themselves – dangerous territory!!
- They have attempted to cover themselves up with great clothes
-- However, in reality they are just filthy in sin
- Jesus still loves this church and says that He disciplines those He loves
-- This church needs to be disciplined and repent (turn away)
- Revelation 3:20 – This door, is the door of the heart
-- It is the gateway to you, just as the door to our church is how you come in
-- Jesus comes in through the door of your heart; to reside and live with you
- Anyone who enters a house without being invited is a thief
-- Jesus is not going to lie, cheat, and steal His way into your house
-- Jesus stands and knocks, but He is waiting for YOU to open the door
- APP: To the faithful man, to the faithful woman, to the faithful witness:
-- Jesus will allow them to sit with Him on his right side (place of honor)
- Jesus sits on His Father’s right hand side – we can sit on His right side
- Note the last word (v22): “churches”
-- This is the LAST time it is mentioned in this entire book
- This writing will END the church age
Ω Big Ideas
- 7 churches … all receiving encouraging instruction
- So, what does this mean for us? I need you to pray for our church!
-- 1. To pray that these things would come to light if they existed here
-- 2. To pray that sin would be exposed and dealt with in a loving way so that we could be pure in God’s eyes
- There is a time coming where our church will be sifted
-- As a fellow believer I want to be able to say we will hold up in the coming challenges!
- Now most importantly:
-- When the challenges come, will we stand up to God’s scrutiny?
-- Not the world’s scrutiny, because this world will pass away
-- But, will we measure up to God’s standards and doctrine?
- I believe that it is no coincidence that YOU are here today and this message is a warning to churches that have failed to live up to God’s standards.
- The challenge is … How will we respond?
- Pray
