REVELATION 2 3 The Epistles to the 7 Churches May 2012
Introduction Christ sent a message to each of the seven churches in Asia Minor Order of the churches was geographic Why are these 7 letters in Revelation? To deliver a message and exhortation to 7 local churches in the 1 st Century Facing persecution Needing encouragement To deliver a message and exhortation to all churches during the church age (just like other epistles) Situations in the 7 local churches are similar to what the church faces today The messages were intended to apply until the very end of the church age Imminent return of Christ is mentioned to the last 4 churches Discusses the coming of the Great Tribulation that will come upon the whole world 1
The 7 Churches of Asia Minor Asia Minor is modern western Turkey Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea 2
7 Churches of Revelation 3
The Letter to the Church of Ephesus Revelation 2:1 7 4
Outline for the Epistles To the angel of the city Description of the city Description of the church Description of Christ Commendation Rebuke Exhortation Application 5
To the Angel of... Each letter is addressed to the angel of the church of Who is the angel? View 1: the elder or pastor of the church angel can mean messenger John was addressing the pastor of each church in order for them to deliver this message to their congregation View 2: an actual angel ἄγγελος is found 188 times in the New Testament» Greater than 180 times it refers to a supernatural being Angel is used 67 times in Revelation» In none of the uses does pastor naturally flow If elders or pastors were actually meant, why didn t John use the word elder» elder is used 12 times in Revelation 6
To the Angel of... Angels were assigned to the churches for their guidance and watchful care Hebrews 1:14, Ephesians 3:10, I Peter 1:12 Somehow they are transmitted through their angels Permanent fixture of the church even as the pastors, teachers, and members change over time We cannot communicate with them Angels are protecting and ministering As a source of encouragement to the church The letters are addressed to the Churches (all of Jesus churches plural) (7) Members Ministers 7
Home of the Roman Governor and the largest city in the province of Asia Minor Major metropolitan city with approximately 300,000 to 500,000 inhabitants Free city with self governing Had a Roman amphitheater with sat 25,000 Acoustical design that eliminated the need for microphones Had a great library Center of trade and business Greatest seaport in Asia Minor until the harbor silted up Ephesus Description of the City 8
Ephesus Pagan city with idolatry and immorality Contained one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world: the temple of Artemis (Diana) (Acts 19:23-41 Multi-breasted colossal statue to the goddess of sex and fertility worshipped with thousands of priestesses who were temple prostitutes Sale of items for worship provided important source of income for the city Ephesus Description of the City 9
Ephesus Description of the Church Christian heritage Gospel introduced by Paul s close friends and partners in the ministry, Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:18 19) in their home Paul briefly visited during the end of his 2 nd Missionary Journey Apollos later joined as preacher and debator (Acts 18:24 26) Paul spent 3 years in Ephesus during his 3 rd Missionary Journey (Acts 20:31) Preached the gospel and baptized John the Baptist s followers (Acts 19:5) Many turned from their pagan magical practices to Christ (Acts 19) Timothy served as pastor (I Timothy 1:3) and received two letters (I & II Timothy) Two of Paul s followers, Onesiphorus (II Timothy 1:16, 18) and Tychicus (II Timothy 4:12) served in Ephesus The Apostle John spent the last decades of his life in Ephesus with Mary Wrote I, II, and III John here Arrested at Ephesus and sent to Patmos where he wrote Revelation Most prominent church of the seven Mother church and base from which the other six churches were formed (Acts 19:10) 10
Ephesus Description of Christ (2:1) The One who holds the 7 stars in His right hand is Jesus (Revelation 1:12 20) The One who died and lives forevermore (18) 7 stars = 7 angels to the 7 churches (1:20) Picture of the power and authority of Christ as He scrutinizes, examines, assesses, and evaluates the churches The One who walks in the midst of the 7 golden lampstands 7 lampstands = 7 churches (1:20) Picture of the closeness of Christ to the churches Christ is is the the One One in in authority over the the church and and the the One One who intimately knows the the church 11
Ephesus Commendation (2 3, 6) Faithful to Christ in their Good works Labor to the point of exhaustion (diligent workers) Perseverance and patience in suffering Refused to tolerate evil men Sensitive to sin did not give the devil an opportunity (Ephesians 4:27) Tested those who said they were apostles (Acts 20:28 31) Found them to be liars An apostle had to be an eyewitness to Christ His baptism through resurrection (Acts 1:15 26) His resurrected state (I Corinthians 9:1 2) In the writings of the early church fathers (Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Barnabas, and the Shepherd of Hermes) they did not recognize any apostles except those associated with the New Testament Persevered with patience Worked tirelessly for Christ 12
Ephesus Commendation (2 3, 6) Hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans Little is known for sure about the Nicolaitans, except that it was part of a heresy in the early church (2:15) Nicolaitans allowed compromise (immorality and wickedness) under the pretense of Christian liberty They attempted an ethical compromise with heathenism (Irenaeus) Lived lives with unrestrained indulgence 13
Ephesus Rebuke (4) You have left your first love For the Lord Jesus Christ Ephesians 6:24 For fellow believers Ephesians 1:15 16 In the Greek, the order of verse 4 is Your first love you have left Order of the words makes this leaving of love emphatic The Ephesian church were 2 nd generation believers whose love had cooled off Maintained their orthodoxy for the wrong reasons Jesus said that you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37 40 The supreme characteristic of a Christian is love for Jesus and God Love should be the priority of our lives» He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me (Matthew 10:37 38) 14
Ephesus Rebuke (4) The church maintained their doctrinal orthodoxy and continued to serve Christ but their service had degenerated into mechanical orthodoxy Loss of love for Christ opens the door to spiritual apathy, indifference to others, love for the world, compromise with evil Deadly spiritual cancer was growing 15
Ephesus Exhortation (5 7) 3 step process for recovery 1. Remember (keep on remembering) how you used to love Christ (all out love) Recognize the seriousness of the lapse 2. Repent (change your attitude) Repent of your sin, the failure to love God with one s heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30) 3. Return to the first works you formerly had I John 5:2 3: Love God, love His children, and keep His commandments Recover or else I will come to you quickly (suddenly) and remove you as my church 16
Ephesus Exhortation (5 7) Apparently, the Ephesian church did respond positively Church later hosted an important church council in 431 (First Council of Ephesus was the third ecumenical council of the early Christian Church, at the Church of Mary) for the purpose of taking authoritative action concerning the doctrine of the person of Christ: Christ was the perfect union of two complete natures in one person Church lasted until the 5 th century Ephesus has been virtually without inhabitants since the 14 th century 17
Ephesus Exhortation with a Promise (5 7) To Ephesus and to all the churches (present day included) To those who overcome The overcomer is the one who by faith believes that Jesus is the Son of God and is born of God. He has overcome the world. I John 5:4-5 The church will continue (5) They will eat from the Tree of Life This tree was originally in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9) Adam had access to this tree before he had fallen God kept him from the Tree after he had sinned The heavenly Tree of Life (Revelation 22:2, 14, and 19) will last throughout all eternity» The Tree of Life is eternal life» Paradise of God is heaven This is a promise to all believers (22:2, 14) 18
We have lost our first love when... Application 1. When my delight in the Lord is no longer as great as my delight in someone else, I have lost my first love. 2. When my soul does not long for times of rich fellowship in God s Word or in prayer, I have lost my first love. 3. When my thoughts during leisure moments do not reflect upon the Lord, I have lost my first love. 4. When I claim to be only human and easily give in to those things I know displease the Lord, I have lost my first love. 5. When I do not willingly and cheerfully give to God s work or to the needs of others, I have lost my first love. 6. When I cease to treat every Christian brother as I would the Lord, I have lost my first love. 7. When I view the commands of Christ as restrictions to my happiness rather than expressions of His love, I have lost my first love. 8. When I inwardly strive for the acclaim of this world rather than the approval of the Lord, I have lost my first love. 9. When I fail to make Christ or His words known because I fear rejection, I have lost my first love. 10. When I refuse to give up an activity which I know is offending a weaker brother, I have lost my first love. 11. When I become complacent to sinful conditions around me, I have lost my first love. 12. When I am unable to forgive another for offending me, I have lost my first love. 19
Ephesus Application Doctrinal orthodoxy and outward service cannot make up for a cold heart Our good works do not make up for our lack of love Remember, repent, and return to loving God As we defend orthodoxy, remember what attitude we should have: LOVE Love for Christ and love for others 20
Ephesus Application What does God desire (Mark 7:6 7)? A heart in tune with God Not being honored with people s lips when their heart is far from Him Renew Make time with God a priority Take risks of faith together Where Jesus leads, I will go What can I do for Jesus Be ready to share the gospel A Message to our church The Father smiles when He He hears the the people of of God speaking well well of of His His Son! Luis Palau 21
Backup Charts
Introduction There appears to be some correlation between the letters to the 7 churches and the movement of church history Scripture does not expressly authorize this interpretation The churches all existed at the same time during the time of John These churches represent all true churches at the same time PROPHETIC HISTORY OF THE CHURCH IN REVELATION 2 & 3 Verse Church Era Date (AD) 2:1-7 Ephesus Apostolic 33-64 2:8-11 Smyrna Period of Persecution 64-313 2:12-17 Pergamum Official Patronage 313-606 2:18-29 Thyatira Middle Ages 606-1520 3:1-6 Sardis Protestant Reformation 1520-1750 3:7-13 Philadelphia Missionary 1750-1900 3:14-22 Laodicea Modern 1900-2XXX 23
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The Letters to the Seven Churches Church Christ Commendation Rebuke Exhortation Promise Ephesus (2:1-7) Neglected Priorities Smyrna (2:8-11) Persecution Pergamos (2:12-17) Compromise Thyatira (2:18-29) Immorality Sardis (3:1-6) Apathy Philadelphia (3:7-13) Security Laodicea (3:14-22) Luk ewarm John Walvoord, Revelation Holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands The first and the last, who died and came to life again Has the sharp, doubleedged sword The Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished brass Holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars Holy and true, holds the key of David The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Ruler of God's creation Deeds, hard work, perseverance. Does not tolerate wicked men. Endures hardships. Hates the practices of the Nicolaitans Suffers persecution and poverty Remains true to Christ; does not renounce her faith Deeds, love, faith, service, perseverance, doing more than at first Has forsaken her first love People there hold the teachings of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans Tolerates Jezebel with her immorality and idolatry Remember; repent; do the things you did at first Do not be afraid. Be faithful, even to the point of death Repent Repent, hold on to what you have Deeds; reputation of being alive Dead Wake up! Strengthen what remains. Remember what you received, obey it, repent Deeds, keeps Christ's word and does not deny His name, endures patiently Lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. Wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked Hold on to what you have Buy from Christ refined gold, white clothes, and eye salve. Be earnest, and repent Will eat from the tree of life Will receive a crown of life; will not be hurt by the second death Will receive hidden manna and a white stone with a new name on it Will have authority over the nations; the morning star Will be dressed in white; will be acknowledged before My Father and His angels Those who overcome will be pillars in the temple; the name of God, of the New Jerusalem, and of Christ's new name, will be written on them Overcomers will eat with Christ; will rule with Christ 25
Ephesus Commendation (2 3, 6) Hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans Nicolaitans comes from the Greek words meaning to conquer and people A group that sought to dominate rather than serve people Little is known for sure about the Nicolaitans, except that it was part of a heresy in the early church (2:15) Possibility #1 Teachers may have claimed inspiration for their teaching (2:20), referring to themselves as apostles (2:2) or prophets (2:20) and seeking disciples Possibility #2 Could also have had Gnostic tendencies» Dualism: what is done to the body has no bearing on the soul» Only Gnostics knew the secret knowledge for salvation. They believed they knew what the deep things (being) of Satan (2:24) were and that they could then prevent themselves from being overcome by sin 26
Ephesus Commendation (2 3, 6) Hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans Little is known for sure about the Nicolaitans, except that it was part of a heresy in the early church (2:15) Possibility #3 Nicolaitans led people into immorality and wickedness Linked to Nicolas, one of the 7 men appointed to oversee the distribution of food in Acts 6. Nicolas was a false believer who became an apostate but retained influence in the church because of his credentials Related to the incident of Balaam of the Old Testament (Numbers 25:1 2, 31:16)» Irenaeus (2 nd century Church Father) said that the Nicolaitans were without restraint in their indulgence of the flesh and practiced fornication and the eating of foods sacrificed to idols. Eating of food sacrificed to idols Both immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols were prohibited in the Apostolic Decree for Gentiles (Acts 15:20, 28 29, 21:25) Evil deeds done all in the name of Christian liberty Nicolaitans allowed compromise under the pretense of Christian liberty They attempted an ethical compromise with heathenism Lived lives with unrestrained indulgence 27
Conclusion The letters to the 7 churches are relevant to the problems that the church faces today Losing our first love (2:4) Being afraid of suffering (2:10) Doctrinal defection (2:14 15) Moral departure (2:20) Spiritual deadness (3:1 2) Not holding fast (3:11) Lukewarmness (3:15 16) These letters are God s final words of exhortation and warning to the church today Hear, listen, repent, return, and obey! All Christians are overcomers, faithful to Christ Jesus Christ loves and and cares for for His His churches 28