Letters To the Churches
– Revelation Two –
The letters to the seven churches are very similar in the way they
are designed. The letter is addressed to a certain church, like
Ephesus or
Smyrna. The letters include
some introductory statements about Jesus like, "These things saith he that holdeth the seven
stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of
the seven golden candlesticks."
The letters also
contained a statement concerning the spiritual condition of the church like,
"I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy
patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried
them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And
hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured,
and hast not fainted." After the
condition of the church is stated Jesus gave His verdict of the situation like,
"Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy
first love."
Each of the letters
contained a command from Jesus to the church like, "Remember therefore
from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works." In most
of the letters there were statements of commendation like, "But this thou
hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."
Each letter closed
with an exhortation to all Christians, "He that hath an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit saith unto the churches." There
was also a promised reward to all that would obey, "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is
in the midst of the paradise of God." A careful study of these seven
letters is of great benefit to children of God.
Letter to the
church of
Ephesus – Revelation 2:1-7: The angle of the
church is the messenger or preacher who would deliver the message. Paul had
live and worked in
Ephesus for three years. (Acts
20:31)
Ephesus was the city where Aquilla, Priscilla, and Apollos
labored. (Acts 18:24-28) It was a city where Timothy had labored. (I Timothy
1:3) This was a place of great privilege. They had heard great preaching.
Ephesus was also a stronghold
of Satan. The
temple of
Diana and other pagan
temples were located there. (Acts
19:28) In a city where God's
authority was not respected Jesus described Himself as one with great power,
"These things saith he that holdeth
the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the
midst of the seven golden candlesticks." The sobering truth is that Jesus
looked at His church in
Ephesus and knew what was
going on with them. He knew that they needed to repent! He also knew of all the
good the church had done. "I know thy works, and thy labour,
and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou
hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not..."
The church at
Ephesus was a working church
that was doctrinally pure. However, they had left their love for God or for the
brethren. God called on this church to "Remember" and
"Repent" and promised great blessings if they did. He said, "To
him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of
life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."
Letter to the church in
Smyrna – Revelation 2:8-11: In that day
Smyrna was a beautiful and
proud city. It was a center of learning and culture. To this church Jesus
described Himself as, "the first and the last, which was dead, and is
alive." What a joy it is to be reminded that we serve the risen Lord.
Smyrna was a very rich city,
but because of persecution the Christians were very poor. Jesus knew the abuse
these Christians endured at the hands of others. He expressed His thoughts
concerning these brethren in the words, "but thou art rich." They
lived in poverty, but they were truly rich.
God wanted the
church at
Smyrna to stand strong under
the tests that would come. He said, "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into
prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou
faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Revelation
2:10) Jesus has no rebuke for these brethren, but He does have the promise of a
crown.
Letter to the
church in Pergamos – Revelation 2:12-17: Pergamos
was a noted Roman city. It was a center for culture and education. It had one
of the great libraries of the ancient world. Jesus described Himself to this
church as "He which hath the sharp sword with two edges." This sounds
very much like Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful,
and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to
the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a
discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Jesus knew that
these brethren lived in a place of terrible persecution yet they had not denied
the Lord. There "Antipas" was described as "my faithful martyr."
He is one of the great anonymous heroes of the Bible. There are many who just
live, serve, and died quietly for the Lord who are truly heroes!
Even though their
situation was very difficult it did not excuse the fact that they had tolerated
some false teachers. Jesus said, "I have a few things against thee,
because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock
before the children of
Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou also them that
hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I
hate."
The promise to
these brethren was, "To him that overcometh will
I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the
stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving
he that receiveth it."
Letter
to the church in Thyatira – Revelation 2:18-29: Thyatira was the
smallest of all the cities to whom letters were written. Jesus said of them,
"I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience,
and thy works; and the last to be more than the first."
Despite all the
good in this church they had allowed one that Jesus identified with the title
"Jezebel" to bring corruption to some. She was an immoral and ungodly
influence on others. Her sins had been tolerated. It is sad but sin is often
tolerated in the church even today.
Perhaps the
greatest challenge Jesus gave was simply this, "hold fast till I
come."
The gospel is God's
great news that Jesus died for sinners. Jesus said, "He that believeth and
is baptized shall be saved." (Mark
16:16). Faith and trust in
Christ's death for our sins must include baptism into His death. Will you
accept God's wonderful news that Jesus died for your sins and be baptized into
Christ to put on Christ so that all your sins will be forgiven in His death?