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Weekly Message | January 25th, 2009
Passage: Revelations 2:1-3:22
Key Verse(s): 2:10
From December 29, 2008 to January 19, 2009 I visited India (Indian leaders conference), Germany (European Directors Conference) and Turkey (CIS Directors Conference). Particularly, the visits to the sites of the seven churches recorded in the book of Revelation made me to think about the meaning of the church and Christian life. This message is a review of these seven churches with my short comment.
First, the words of Christ to the seven churches (1-2). We just read two chapters from the book of Revelation. The author of this book is John. John’s main work was to take care of Mary, the mother of Jesus, according to Jesus’ command in his death (John 19:26, 27). So for the first 30-40 years he remained quietly in the background while God was using Peter and Paul for pioneer early churches throughout the world (Look at Table 1). When he came out to Ephesus, the Christians were spread out throughout the world—particularly in Asia Minor (i.e., currently in Turkey). So he first wrote 1, 2 and 3 John to discuss serious issues in the church—need to affirm the love of God and purity of the church. Then, he was arrested put in the land of Patmos as a prisoner. There he received God’s revelation and wrote this book of revelation. Here, he delivers God’s messages to the seven churches first.
Look at verse 1: “The angel of the church in Ephesus write: these are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.” Here, God speaks to the churches. Like a bright star each church shines in the unbelieving world. Lampstand suggests that God offers the light through each church to the world.
These are God’s messages to the seven churches—in Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea. To the suffering churches John wrote this letter for encouragement and direction. (See Table 2 and 3). In this message I will share some primary teachings that are common to all these seven churches. God speaks to his churches. Churches are more than individuals. A church is a gathering of his people. As we read this message, we accept this as God’s message for us together.
Second, God’s challenges to the churches. By this time, the churches were no longer small house churches. Rather, they formed a sizable community in each region. They were visible in the world. They were actively engaged in this world. Therefore, they were impacting the world while they received the influences of the world. The challenges of these seven churches were basically the same: truth and faithfulness. The challenges were how they should truthfully present the messages of Christ in this world and at the same time faithfully maintain the integrity as God’s people. Truthfulness and faithfulness—these are the main challenges of today’s churches as well.
To the Church in Ephesus God said, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are to, and have found them false. 3 You have preserved and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary.”(2,3). This is once the most powerful church. They worked hard, engaged in labor of love, and tried to maintain their integrity. They also persevered to bear the name of Christ. Here is the evidence of how these 2nd generation church tried to be truthful and faithful at the same time.
To the Church in Smyrna, God said, “I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”(2:9-11). In the early church, some Jewish people caused problems in the church. While the early church tried to form a community, the sizable Jewish community had already formed formidable influence in many cities. They opposed to the rising of these Christian churches who claimed to possess God’s truths. They were quite divisive in their influences. So God called them as “a synagogue of Satan”.
To the Church in Pergamum God said, “3I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” Pergamum was a center of business in the region. Business people there formed a strong association through which they received financing support. At the big business days people gathered in the temple and celebrated with drinking and parties that involved heavy sexual immorality. To survive in the business environment Christians involved in their practices. This is what is referred to the practices of Balaam.
To the Church in Thyatira God said, “19I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.” This is about the wrong kind of leadership of women. In that time many temples had women prophetesses. They came into the church and occupied the leadership in the church. The church of Thyatira has issues with these women leaders.
To the Church in Sardis God said, “ I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.” Sardis was a well-fortified city. So it was captured because soldiers failed to stay awake while the enemies were advancing toward the city. In the same way the people of the church were not spiritually awake. They were spiritually quite inactive—sleepy and lifeless.
To the Church in Philadelphia God said, “I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. 11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.” This is the church that God highly commended. This is a good church that was true and faithful.
To the Church in Laodicea God said, “15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.” The city of Laodicea was well-known for its textile industry. The lukewarm city water was good for this industry need. This is the church where rich and powerful people gathered. They felt that they were O.K. Yet, they were neither hot nor cold. They had no real passion for God. Neither did they have any affection for others in the name of Christ.
Out of seven churches two churches (i.e., Smyrna and Philadelphia) received “A” grade from God—all commendation with no rebuke. All other churches received commendation and rebuke (e.g., Ephesus) or only rebuke (e.g., Laodicea).
Here, the familiar phrase is repeated. “God knows”. God knows the deeds, hard work and perseverance of his people. Here, “know” refers to God’s intimate knowledge and understanding. “Deeds” are actions of devotion and dedication to God (e.g., the ministry of God’s word and prayer, caring for people, hospitality). “Hard work”: the great efforts of leaders of the church (e.g., quality, deliberate effort for all the work of ministries). “Perseverance”: they served the Lord with faithfulness and endurance (e.g., continuous efforts)---results. “Cannot tolerate wicked men”: they did not compromise with the wicked people. They have tried hard to sustain the integrity of the church. They deserve praise for their life of faith before God. They also tried very hard to maintain the moral integrity of the church.
By seeing the remains of these seven churches which all disappeared in time, I thought about the challenges of the churches. Was it too hard to bear the challenges? No. After receiving this letter, the church responded the challenges well. They remained truthful to Christ. Problems were not in that time. Problems were much later.
In 337, Roman emperor Constantine embraced Christianity, was baptized, and declared Christianity the official state religion. At this time the percentage of Christians in the Roman Empire was no more than 10%. Therefore, 90% of non-Christians entered the church without real conversion. To accommodate the majority of non-Christians Christian church accepted many paganism in the form of Christian practices. Since then, Christian religion engaged in constant debate on doctrines and Christian conducts. Sometimes the fights between the opposing camps were too severe and the impacts on people were too great. By the time Moslem Army entered the land, the ordinary people were willing to welcome them. The Christians church lost the truthfulness and faithfulness to Christ. The lamps were removed from them. In this way, Christians and the churches disappeared from the land.
Then, the lamps moved to the European Continent. There more than 1,000 years Christianity prospered and impacted the world. Is the lamp of God burning in Europe? This is the report of Shep. Paul Ridge in his message in European Directors Conference. By 1960s about 60% of people in England regularly attended the Christian Church. By 2008, less than 5% of people now attend Christian church. Within less than 50 years Christian church in England is rapidly disappearing. On the other hand, Churches in Asia, Africa, and South America are growing--rapidly. The general make of world religions is Christianity: 2.1 billion (33%) and Islam: 1.5 billion (21%) and others 46%.
What does this mean? God’s challenges to the seven Christian churches are the similar to today’s churches as well. In the broad sense, our challenges are how to be truthful and faithful to God. It is not merely by individual but combined efforts of Christian churches together. As the result of the study of the book of Revelation and my short trip is the shared sense of destiny with the larger Christian body. While worshiping in India with the Indian students, I said to myself, “We need them as much as they need us”. To stay truthful and faithful to Christ I need other fellow Christians their examples and faith as much as they need ours. Wherever we (i.e., Caleb Park and Sarah Hong and other Christians from USA) went in India, Germany and CIS countries, people were encouraged by our common faith. We desire to be truthful and faithful as much as they do. This is a tremendous encouragement to many others. Table 4 is my summary of issues that Christians faced in two different parts of the world.
Third, our responses. Look at verses 4 and 5: “Yet I hold this against you. You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen. Repent and do the things you did at first” They hold against them strongly for one thing: they have forsaken their first love.” What does God want from us? He wants to restore our first love. I received the gospel of Jesus when my body and spirit was sick to death. I had no hope to live beyond 30 years of age. Because of the gospel of Jesus I was willing to do anything. Christ was everything to me. I had no other ambition but to love Christ and serve him only. Since then, my life has become a little more complex.
God’s rebuke of Laodicean church is most fitting description of his treatment of us as well. God says, “18I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." What does God want from us? God does not want us to be in shame and blindness. God wants us to see who we are and what Christ can do. God rebuke those whom he loves. God wants to come and dwell among us. He wants us to invite him for fellowship and growth. God wants to heal his church and restores its glory. But he must be invited. We must let him come in.
God’s message to the seven churches usually ends with these words: “21To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”. God’s message to the seven churches is “truthfulness” and “faithfulness”. As we trust the message of salvation through Christ in truth and faith, we will receive glory and eternal life. On the other hand, those who take this teaching lightly will receive God’s judgment. Chapters 6-18 of Revelation graphically depict what types of judgment will fall on people who reject the truth. On the other hand, chapters 19-22 are about the reward and honor for those who hold the truth of Jesus Christ and faithfully obey him. Jesus will come again. Those who are saved by Christ Jesus will no longer suffer from diseases, curses, and pains. They will live in the New Heaven and Earth without tears. Jesus promises us to come again—soon and very soon. Therefore, we along with John pray, “Amen. Come. Lord Jesus.” As we face the reality of death, we will either enter the eternal blessing or eternal sufferings. Heaven is where Jesus rules; hell is where Jesus is absent. Those who know this truth are happy; those who do not know this truth are miserable. This is the end of the matter. Before I left Toledo, I deliver the message with a title, “Always pray and not give up”. Upon my return, I am committed to do this one thing: Always pray and not give up. May God’s grace be with you so that you may always pray and not give up—being truthful and faithful to Christ to the point of death and receiving the crown of glory.
January 25, 2009. Toledo UBF
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
