The Dead, The Faithful, the Sickening

To Sardis: An assembly with a false reputation.  They think they are a living body of Christ, but Jesus pronounced them dead.  Christians among them are still alive, but without repentance, He is coming with unexpected judgment.  Those whose garments are unsoiled will receive their reward.
Promise: To the overcomer – white robes, a name in the Book of Life & their name confessed by Christ (cf. Mat. 10:32).

To Philadelphia: An assembly with an open door that no man could shut. Neither humanity nor spiritual beings can overcome the purposes and actions of God.  This church is going through the wringer.  More persecution is coming, but the faithful have a crown awaiting.
Promise: To the overcomer – become a pillar in the Temple of God & names written on him.

To Laodicea: An assembly that makes God sick.  Apathy reigns in this church.  Prosperity physically, and wretchedness spiritually.  They have an eye affliction; they are blind, deceived by wealth and oblivious to the truth.  Christ is rebuking them, will they repent? He is knocking, will they open?
Promise: To the overcomer – a seat with Christ on the throne for the overcomer like Him.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Next week: The Throne Room of God.

The Double-Edged Sword Comes Forth

A double-edged sword is a description given to the speaking of the word of God from the mouth of Jesus Christ (“The First and the Last …he who lives, and was dead, and… am alive forevermore” – 1:17-18). When Jesus speaks, there will be a separation, an action–an attack against all that is unholy, and protection for all that is holy.  He will speak to the messengers (angels) of the churches, and His words will divide, instruct, rebuke, correct, admonish, and commend.

To Ephesus: An “assembly” (church) that labored, endured, and couldn’t stand evil just like their Heavenly Father.  They held to sound doctrine and true apostolic authority.  They had fought without giving up… but, they had lost the most important thing, the reason for doing it all.  Their first love–the Father.  They needed to repent, to return to the first works of Christianity, to return to the love of God (but not cease their other labors.)
Promise: To the overcomer – eternal food (cf. John 4:10, 13).

To Smyrna: An assembly of the poor, but rich in spiritual things. The “poor church” is defenseless, but God defends them. The “poor church” will suffer, but God will not fail to notice their persecution. The “poor church” will be thrown in prison, and some will die, but God has their reward waiting.
Promise: To the overcomer – no second death (cf. 1:18; 2:8).

To Pergamos: An assembly dwelling in the stronghold of Satan, in the bowels of persecution, who had already lost one Christian to death. They were holding fast the name of Christ, and the faith of Christ, but sin was in their presence, and they weren’t dealing with it. The one who has the sharp two-edged sword was giving them time to repent before He declared war on them.
Promise: To the overcomer – manna to eat (food that never runs out), and a white stone with a new name.

To Thyatira: An assembly described by love, service, faith, and endurance, but they were allowing a teacher to promote sexual immorality and idolatry.  Jesus warns them that He has already given Jezebel all the time she would get, her time is up.  He searches hearts and minds and rewards each person for their works.  But to those who were still faithful, He places no further burden but to stay strong.
Promise: To the overcomer – rule together with Christ, and the morning star.

Next week: The Dead, The Faithful, the Sickening.

The New Testament book entitled “The Apocalypse (disclosure, manifestation, revelation) of Jesus Christ.”  John will record the visions God reveals to him as commanded.  These are matters of spiritual and physical significance, but events that “must shortly take place…for the time was near.”

He writes to the seven churches of Asia Minor but does not originate the letter.  It is from “The One Who Is and Who Was and Who Is To Come,” from the seven Spirits, and from Jesus Christ.  The Godhead is present, and the Godhead has a message for the church.

At the beginning of Revelation, there are a few statements about Christ that matter to the rest of the letter.  Faithful witness: His witness is true, and it is reliable in good times and bad.  Firstborn from the dead: the one who has been through Death, through Hades (the grave), and is alive again as the victor.  Ruler over the kings of the earth: the church is going endure persecution from the kings of this planet, but Jesus is ultimately in charge.

John reassures the Christians he is their companion in trouble, in the Kingdom, and the endurance of Jesus Christ (i.e., cost of faithfulness).  He describes the beginning of the vision, the command to write, and the voice coming from inside the midst of the churches (or accurately, their spiritual representation as lampstands).

This moment is opportune to point out that John uses “figures” to represent concepts, people, places, things, etc. in the book of Revelation.  Sometimes these figures are easy to understand, sometimes not.  Do not fear; often the context will explain plainly enough for us to grasp John’s point.

John beholds Christ, and His representation is genuinely magnificent. His appearance, head, hair, clothing, eyes, feet, voice — everything about Christ impressed John.  Jesus is holding seven stars, and He will reveal a mystery about them, they are the messengers (angels) of the churches (the lampstands).

John is so impressed by Christ in the vision, he falls as dead, but Jesus comforts him by saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”

Next week: The sharp double-edged sword comes forth from Jesus’ mouth.