Week 6 - The History of the Church

Monday Scripture Reading: Matt. 13:1-50; Eph. 3:9-10; Col. 2:2; Rev. 1:8-11 I turned to see the voice that spoke with me; and when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands. (Revelation 1:12) The Mystery of Christ is the Church The topic this week is The History of the Church. We will cover it beginning from the relationship between the seven parables of Matthew 13 and the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. The parables of Matthew 13 show the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, which are directly related to the church. What is described in Revelation concerning the condition of each of the seven churches reveals prophetically what was to happen to the church historically from the age of the apostles to the second coming of the Lord Jesus. The church is the mystery of Christ (Eph. 3:3-4, 9-10), and Christ is the mystery of God (Col. 2:2). This was revealed in Matthew 16:16-18. The Lord led His disciples to Caesarea Philippi and asked them who the people said He was (v. 13). They then answered saying what some said and what others said. Since this answer didn t satisfy Him, Jesus redirected the question to them: But you, who do you say that I am? (v. 15). Peter answered Him, You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God (v. 16). The revelation Peter had did not come from himself, from his flesh, but the Father who is in the heavens revealed it to him. Jesus then continued, And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens (vv. 18-19a). Therefore, the mystery of Christ is the church, which has the keys of the kingdom of the heavens. In order to know the kingdom, we need to know the church. As we mentioned above, the seven parables concerning the kingdom of the heavens cited in Matthew 13 can be applied to the seven churches in Revelation. The Lord used the name and the condition of these churches in Asia Minor to explain the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens and to describe the history of the church in these last two thousand years. In Revelation 1:10-11 we read, I was in spirit on the Lord's Day and heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, saying, What you see write in a scroll and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamos and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea. When the apostle John turned to see who was speaking with him, he saw seven golden lampstands, which represented the seven churches of Asia (vv. 12, 20). Immediately the Lord asked John to write to the messenger of each church: Ephesus (v. 1), Smyrna (v. 8), Pergamos (v. 12), Thyatira (v. 18), Sardis (3:1), Philadelphia (v. 7) and Laodicea (v. 14). There weren t only seven churches in Asia Minor, there were others such as the church in Colossae. But these seven were chosen to describe and explain the seven mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens and also the history of the church. This week therefore we are going to relate the first mystery to the first church, the church in Ephesus; the second mystery to the church in Smyrna; the third to the church in Pergamos; the fourth to the church in Thyatira; the fifth to the church in Sardis; the sixth to the church in Philadelphia; and the seventh to the church in Laodicea. Turning to see. What is the key for us to know the mysteries of the kingdom? PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM - The Normal Church Life 1

Tuesday Scripture Reading: Job 14:9; Jer. 17:8; Ezek. 36:26; Matt. 13:1-23; Phil. 4:6-7 But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name. (John 20:31) The Parable of the Sower Ephesus The first mystery is the parable of the sower and is related to the church in Ephesus, which represents the condition of the church from the apostolic period until the end of the first century (Matt. 13:1-23; cf. Rev. 2:1-7). In this parable the seed that was sown fell into four kinds of soil, which represent four conditions of our heart: beside the way, rocky soil, soil with thorns and the good earth. In the first situation, some seed fell beside the way onto hard earth. The birds came and devoured them (Matt. 13:4). This indicates that the earth of our heart needs to be softened so that the word can penetrate it (Ezek. 36:26). In the second situation, part of the seed fell on rocky soil, where there was little earth. This kind of soil shows us that if the rocks are not removed, the roots cannot grow deeply. In a normal situation, in order for a plant to sprout it sends out roots in search of water (Jer. 17:8). In this parable, therefore, since there is little soil, it sprouts rapidly so its leaves can draw moisture from the air (Job. 14:9). Since the soil is rocky, it isn t able to develop its roots, so when the heat of the sun comes, the plant dries up. In the third situation, part of the seed fell among the thorns, which grew and choked it. These thorns represent the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches, which choke the seed. We shouldn t put our confidence in the earthly things or be anxious. Rather, we should cast all our anxiety on the Lord (1 Pet. 5:7). Finally, in the fourth situation, the seed fell on the good earth and produced a hundred, sixty and thirty fold. In our experience, by softening the earth, removing the rocks and burning the thorns, our heart becomes the good earth that can bear fruit. In the church in Ephesus, represented by the parable of the sower, we also have four situations. The first of them, beside the way, can be related to the beginning of the church in Ephesus. When Paul preached to the Ephesians, they didn t receive the word as life. Therefore, this word wasn t able to get into them, just like the seed that was sown and fell beside the way. The reason was that they were in the realm of their soul, only taking the word to discuss instead of to enjoy (Acts. 19:8-9; cf. 1 Tim. 1:3-4; 6:3-4). Consequently, the birds came and snatched the word out of their heart. In the second situation, the earth had many rocks, indicating a church that was living in the realm of opinions. Because of the gravel in the heart of the saints in Ephesus, even Timothy, who was sent to help the church, was weakened (2 Tim. 1:6-7). As a result of the soulish realm that was reigning in the church in Ephesus, the word of life that Paul sowed didn t find a favorable environment to grow, and it eventually dried up. In the third situation, the seed was choked by the thorns, which represent the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches (Matt. 13:22). When we are in our soul-life, the cares of the world make us anxious, but whoever is in the spirit doesn t become anxious (Phil. 4:6-7). Paul also tried to help them concerning the danger of falling into the deceitfulness of riches. In the fellowship he had with the elders of the church in Ephesus in Miletus, among several matters dealt with he reminded them of the Lord Jesus words: It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35b). Based on these words, we can see that the church in Ephesus had difficulty giving, offering (1 Tim. 6:9-10, 17-19). The fourth situation is related to the good earth, which took place after the apostle John, according to history, came out of exile on the island of Patmos and went to serve in the church in Ephesus. Although the church there had received much help for three years from Paul (Acts 20:31), who surely conveyed to them the words of God s New Testament economy, they didn t absorb them. Instead, these healthy teachings became doctrines for discussion (1 Tim. 1:4). Considering this picture, John s primary attitude in restoring the church in Ephesus was to bring the church into the Spirit and life, emphasizing the Lord s name and His word (John 1:12; 20:30-31; John 1:1; 1 John 1:1-2). So when the church in Ephesus began to call on the name of the Lord and take the word of God with prayer (Eph. 6:17-18; Heb. 4:12) after the example of the seed that fell into the good earth, it produced much fruit to the point of the church sending brothers to cooperate in other regions and develop the work of the spread (3 John 3-7). The church in Ephesus was helped to return to a desirable condition, according to the meaning of its name. Emphasize the Lord s name and word. What made Ephesus the good earth? PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM - The Normal Church Life 2

Wednesday Scripture Reading: Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43; John 19:39-40; Acts 7:59 Do not fear the things that you are about to suffer...be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10) The Parable of the Tares and the Wheat Smyrna The second mystery is the parable of the tares and the wheat and is related to the church in Smyrna, which represents the condition of the church under the persecution of the Roman Empire between the end of the first century and the beginning of the fourth (Matt. 13:24-30, 36:43; cf. Rev. 2:8-11). Smyrna signifies myrrh, an aromatic spice with a very bitter flavor used in the preparation of the body for burial (John 19:39-40). Myrrh, therefore, is related to suffering. The church in Smyrna is the continuation of the church in Ephesus, that is, after it became desirable. She passed through much suffering under the persecution of the Roman Empire because she called on the Name and read and prayed the word. This happened because the enemy, being frustrated, came to attack her. A similar situation happened at the beginning of the church in Jerusalem. As soon as it was raised up, the brothers and sisters were calling on the name of the Lord (Acts. 2:21; 7:59). Then the Jewish religion used people like Saul to persecute those who called on the name of the Lord (9:14, 21). Because of this situation, the church in Jerusalem stopped calling on the Lord. But it was not like this with the church in Smyrna. She was the continuation of the church in Ephesus, and the saints continued to call on the Name and pray-read the Lord s word, even unto death. It doesn t matter how much we are persecuted; we must continue to call on the name of the Lord, because in the spirit we receive life. According to history, the church in Smyrna passed through ten great persecutions during this time (Rev. 2:10). During this period many saints died, but the church continued to be living and steadfast. Their stand was due to the Name they were calling on and the word they were reading and praying. Because they exercised their spirit by calling and pray-reading, the saints remained faithful and struggled to advance, in spite of the actions of the enemy who sowed tares in the midst of the wheat. Revelation 2:13 records the death of Antipas. Even though his name is mentioned in the letter to Pergamos, everything indicates that he was a contemporary of Smyrna because it is dealing with a martyr of the church. The name Antipas means against all. The Bible calls him the faithful witness. The church was calling on the name of the Lord and pray-reading the word while he was living. The Lord encouraged the church in Smyrna to not fear the things that she had to suffer. She should be faithful unto death in order to receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10). The Parable of the Mustard Seed Pergamos The third mystery is related to the parable of the mustard seed, represented by the church in Pergamos (Matt. 13:31-32; Rev. 2:12-17). The word Pergamos signifies marriage, union, or high tower, and corresponds to the condition of the church from the beginning of the fourth century until the sixteenth. At the time of the church in Smyrna, the strategy the enemy used to destroy it was persecution. During the period of Pergamos, however, false Christians came in and were lifted up by the Roman emperor, Constantine, who began to give them benefits and privileges. This attitude gave entrance into the church to many self-seeking people. In other words, his intention was to exalt the Christians and put them in a high tower. The church in Smyrna was not so numerous, but after the emperor Constantine began to exalt the Christians during the time of Pergamos, it rapidly increased in number. In the parable in Matthew, the small mustard seed that should have become an herb, became a great tree in which many birds roosted. These birds represent Satan (cf. Matt. 13:4, 19). When the church joins the world or politics, Satan comes to roost, that is, establish his throne and produce an abnormal growth in the church (Rev. 2:13). Persecution produces normal growth. What happened to the church after the death of Antipas? PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM - The Normal Church Life 3

Thursday Scripture Reading: Matt. 13:33; 16:11-12; Rev. 2:18-19 Truly, truly, I say to you, Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12:24) The Parable of the Leaven Thyatira The fourth mystery is the parable of the leaven and is related to the church in Thyatira, which represents the condition of the church at the end of the sixth century (Matt. 13:33; cf. Rev. 2:18-29). Thyatira means unceasing sacrifice. The mystery of the parable of the woman who took leaven and hid it in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened is opened by the church in Thyatira. This leaven doesn t refer to the leaven of bread but to the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Matt. 16:11-12). In the New Testament we live in the spirit. The word we receive from God is the truth and we must practice it. When we don t practice the words that we hear, they end up becoming doctrine and mere teaching. In Revelation 2:18, 20 we read, And to the messenger of the church in Thyatira write: These things says the Son of God, He who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like shining bronze. But I have something against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, she who calls herself a prophetess and teaches and leads My slaves astray to commit fornication and to eat idol sacrifices. Jezebel represents the woman who took leaven and hid it in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened. At the time of the church in Pergamos, the politics of the Roman Empire were prevailing. Later, at the time of the church in Thyatira, the Roman religion began to prevail, chiefly through the Papal system. Everything began to be decided, not by God s word, but by this woman, by this system that had its own teaching, its leaven, that caused mixture and confusion. The subtlety of this system is that the leaven of its own teaching is put into three measures of meal, which typify the Triune God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Thyatira has the word, but it is mixed with leaven. It has a name not the name of the Lord but of this prophetess. According to history, the Catholic Church adopted the teaching of this woman and replaced the name of Jesus with the name of Mary. The Papal system and the traditions of the Roman church were valued more than the Lord s word. As a reaction against this, the Lord raised up Martin Luther. At that time only the clergy had access to the Bible. As Luther was studying the Bible, he read that justification is by faith and not by works. Through him this important truth was recovered, and the Bible became public. Moreover, at this same time the printing press was invented and the Bible became accessible to all the Christians. Treasure the word of God. What does leaven refer to in this parable? PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM - The Normal Church Life 4

Friday Scripture Reading: Matt. 13:44-46; John 10:7; 1 Cor. 3:12; Col. 1:18 And finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Matthew 13:46) The Treasure Sardis The fifth mystery is the parable of the hidden treasure and is related to the church in Sardis, which represents the condition of the church from the beginning of the sixteenth century (Matt. 13:44; cf. Rev. 3:1-6). Sardis signifies restoration, but its restoration was not complete. The church in Sardis came out of the Roman Catholic Church, that is, it came out of Thyatira. The same thing that happened in the parable of the treasure also happened to the church in Sardis. The treasure hidden in the field, even after it was found by a certain man, remained hidden. Although the church in Sardis had found the kingdom, they didn t practice it. This treasure, composed of gold, silver and precious stones, is the material used to build the church, which is the kingdom of the heavens (1 Cor. 3:12). The Lord said to them, I know your works, that you have a name that you are living, and yet you are dead (Rev. 3:1). They had a name of restoration, but they didn t do the work of restoration. The treasure had been discovered and a high price was paid to buy it, but it still continued to be hidden in the field. The church in Sardis only has the knowledge of the kingdom. Through the Bible they found a very precious treasure the kingdom but they didn t build the church with it. Instead, they left it hidden in the field. We will only have the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens when the church is built. The Pearl Philadelphia The sixth mystery is the parable of the one who does business and seeks for fine pearls and is related to the church in Philadelphia (Matt. 13:45-46; cf. Rev. 3:7-13). Philadelphia signifies brotherly love. In Matthew 13:45-46 we read, Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a merchant seeking fine pearls; and finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Christ and the church are typified by this parable. Christ is the Head, and the church is His Body (Col. 1:18). When this man discovered a pearl of great value, which is Christ, he paid everything to get it. On one hand, the pearl refers to Christ, because in the New Jerusalem the twelve gates are twelve pearls (Rev. 21:21; cf. John 10:7). On the other, Christ is like an oyster through which we become the many pearls. Just as an oyster suffers when a grain of sand comes into it, Christ suffered to the point of giving His own life while we were still sinners. Like an oyster, He didn t cast us out, but is forming, protecting and surrounding us day by day. The longer we remain in Christ, the more Christ we will have and the greater the pearl will be. This picture is very similar to the auditorium at the Estancia Arvore da Vida, which is in the shape of an oyster and which represents Christ. Inside this great oyster, we represent the pearls that remain in Christ and receive life through the word in order to grow as much as possible. In the parable of Matthew 13, the merchant sold all that he had to buy the pearl because it was a pearl of great value. Great is the mystery of godliness: God manifested in the flesh. On one hand, this pearl is Christ, and on the other, it is we who are surrounded by Christ and expressing Him. So we have the reality of this great mystery: Christ and the church! Dig up the treasure and remain in Christ What is the difference between the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl? PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM - The Normal Church Life 5

Saturday Scripture Reading: Matt. 13:47-50; Rev. 3:11, 14-22 Hold fast what you have that no one take your crown. (Revelation 3:11b) The Parable of the Net Laodicea The seventh mystery is the parable of the net and is related to the church in Laodicea (Matt. 13:47-50; cf. Rev. 3:14-22). Laodicea signifies the opinion of the common people. In Matthew 13:47-48 we read, Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like a net cast into the sea and gathering from every species, which, when it was filled, they brought onto the shore, and sat down and collected the good into vessels; but the foul they cast out. This refers to the church in Laodicea, which thinks it understands everything. Even though what it contains is equal to a few fish, it is very satisfied: I am wealthy and have become rich and have need of nothing (Rev. 3:17a). But the Lord told her, [You] do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked (v. 17b). The Lord placed us in the church so that we would also pass through these seven stages. Just like the situation of the church in Ephesus at the beginning, sometimes we begin with a very hard heart toward the Lord. Then we start to receive the word, but since there are many rocks we aren t able to grow. After we take the rocks out there are still thorns growing and they choke us. However, through the Spirit and through the help of the ministry of the apostle John, we have been helped to call on the name of the Lord and pray-read His word. In this way we began to live more in the spirit. Hallelujah! We became the good earth where more fruits of the Spirit are produced. The last four churches cited in Revelation will remain until the Lord s second coming: the church in Thyatira Catholicism; the church in Sardis the recovery in name only; the church in Philadelphia the Lord s recovery; and the church in Laodicea the proud recovery, with no practice. The church in Philadelphia, which means brotherly love, is constituted of all those who call on the name of the Lord and read and pray His word. This church already has its crown. The Lord tells it, I come quickly. Hold fast what you have that no one take your crown (Rev. 3:11). Those who are in Philadelphia must continue in the spirit. If we don t hold fast to what we have, we may fall into the situation of Laodicea: proud, closed and lukewarm, with no reaction to the word of God. The commission given to the church in Philadelphia was: Hold fast what you have that no one take your crown! The seven mysteries are explained by the seven churches. What care should we take in order to not fall into the condition of Laodicea? PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM - The Normal Church Life 6

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Week 6 - The History of the Church Sunday Scripture Reading: Matt. 13:11, 16-17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 3:13) Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea Thanks to the Lord, the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens have been unveiled by the churches in Revelation. We are blessed to practice what the Lord has revealed to us through the Spirit. And He answered and said to them, Because to you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of the heavens, but to them it has not been given...but blessed are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men have desired to perceive the things that you see, and have not perceived them, and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them (Matt. 13:11, 16-17). May we apply the revelation of these mysteries to our living so that we may have the reality of the kingdom of the heavens today. May it never happen that the relationship of the parables with the churches in Revelation become merely beautiful messages. From the conclusion of each letter to the churches cited in Revelation 2 and 3, we can make a distinction between two groups from a historical and prophetic point of view: the first is composed of the first three churches, whose prophecies have already taken place, and the second is composed of the last four, which will remain until Christ s second coming. At the conclusion of the first three letters to the churches, firstly it is said, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, and afterwards, To him who overcomes (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17); whereas in the last four this order is reversed (2:26, 29; 3:5-6, 12-13, 21-22). In other words, through history we can verify that the prophecies of the churches in Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamos were fulfilled, but the prophecies of the churches in Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea are being fulfilled. These churches will remain until the Lord s return. Who will be able to pass through God s judgment when it comes? The church in Thyatira will not be able to bear this judgment because it put leaven into the three measures of meal and replaced the name of the Lord with another name. The Lord s name and His word were replaced by the name and teachings of Jezebel, which will not be able to pass through the Lord s judgment. The church in Sardis, because of only having the name of recovery yet being dead, will not be able to enter into the manifestation of the kingdom of the heavens. All the knowledge of the truth they obtained was not put into practice. They were very divided because of doctrinal questions and strong opinions. When the Lord comes to judge them, they will be full of opinions and their soul-life. How are they going to pass through God s judgments if they remain like this? Since the church in Philadelphia already has the crown of life (cf. Rev. 2:10 Philadelphia follows the line of Smyrna), the Lord warns them to keep their crown. However, the Lord says to the church in Laodicea, I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire that you may be rich, and white garments that you may be clothed and that the shame of your nakedness may not be manifested, and eyesalve to anoint your eyes that you may see (Rev. 3:18). If she doesn t repent, she also will not have the way to pass through the judgment. Only by living in the spirit through calling on the name of the Lord and pray-reading His word will we be kept from falling into the situation of Laodicea. In Laodicea they know all the truths, but they are proud, poor, blind and naked. The different situations of the seven churches in Revelation explain to us the mysteries of the seven parables in Matthew 13 and help us to see where we are and to choose where we want to be. Keep the crown. Where are you and what is your choice? Additional Reading Enrich your reading of the Daily Food by simultaneously reading the books suggested below: The Orthodoxy of the Church Chapter 9 Watchman Nee Life-Study of Revelation Messages 10-16 Witness Lee PREACHING THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM - The Normal Church Life 7