Skip to content Understanding the 7 Churches of Revelation Dec 12 · 18 min ...more
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Introduction to the Seven Churches and the Church at Ephesus 0:09 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Alright. The sun is, not up yet. It's pretty early this morning. Alright. To today, 2 very remarkable chapters, each layered,0:21 I think, with truth for each generation. Revelation chapters 2 and 3. Verse 22 of chapter 3, he who has ears, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. Now in these churches, we0:33 find the messages to the 7 churches in Asia Minor, modern day Turkey. Now the portion of rev this portion of Revelation is both historical and deeply instructive. Right? There there were these0:45 were real congregations receiving real messages from Christ that addressed their specific circumstances. Yet, the 7 churches also provide a portrait, I0:57 believe, of the church across history as well as a description of the spiritual condition of Christ's people, both globally and locally, even at this moment in time. And you'll1:09 see that as we look at these 7 churches. Now I'll tell you upfront, I'm gonna go a little long today because I wanna get through I wanna be able to cover this thoroughly because this really kind of sets a foundation.1:20 Now, for example, when we look at the church worldwide today, we can see how the characteristics of these 7 churches are reflected in different regions. What I find particularly instructive is that each1:32 congregation, though part of 1 universal body of Christ, face different circumstances. They they each had different circumstances. Some were strong and faithful. Some were materially poor, while others were rich.1:43 Some endured persecution, while others did not. But all were accountable to Jesus Christ. He was watching, but he said, I know your works. Alright.1:55 As we go into this weekend, I wanna encourage you to read and meditate on, on these 2 chapters before we move into the remaining portion of Revelation that is focused primarily on2:07 prophecy. This morning, we're gonna take, try to take a quick look at the 7 churches and their defining characteristics. So Ephesus is first on the list. Verse 1, chapter 2. To the angel of the church at Ephesus2:19 write, these things says, he who holds the 7 stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the 7 golden lampstands. Now the mystery of the or meaning of the 7 stars2:31 and lampstands is actually told to us in a previous chapter in Revelation 1 20. The mystery of the 7 stars, which you saw in my right hand and the 7 golden lampstands, the 7 stars are the angels of the2:43 7 churches, and the 7 lampstands, which you saw are the 7 churches. Now the angels, it means messenger. This could be an angel for those churches, kind of a guardian angel, if you2:55 will, or more likely, the the interpretation is it it's the pastor. It's the it's the head, the leader of those churches. I know your works, your labor, your3:06 patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil, and you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not and have found them liars. And you have persevered3:19 and have patience and have labored for my name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless, I have this against you that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you3:31 have fallen. Repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of3:42 the nickel the it's not Nickelodeons. It is the Nicolatians, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. To him3:54 who overcomes, I will eat I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Now with each of these churches, we read how they were4:06 commended before their, call was given to correct them. And this, by the way, is actually a good model to follow when we're correcting children, employees, or others that we're leading. First, commend them4:18 before we correct the, bad behavior. Now for each church, it is stated, I know your works. Nothing is beyond the all seeing eye of the Lord. And he who has an ear, let him hear what the4:29 spirit says to the churches. Also, a warning and a promise is given to each 1 of these churches. Now Ephesus was was a key location for the church that was spreading to Asia4:41 Minor. Paul was there building a church for about 3 years. Timothy came after him and was pastor. John also served as pastor of Ephesus, so it was an important location for4:53 the early church. They were commended for their hard work, perseverance in the faith, rejection of false prophets, their intolerance of evil. However, something was missing. They had abandoned their first5:05 love. Their love and passion for the lord and his work had been replaced by lifeless orthodoxy, just going through the motions. Wow. Let that sink in. Look at the5:17 warning in the instruction in verse 5. Remember, therefore, from where you have fallen, repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. So5:27 here here here are 3 things. Remember, they had forgotten what it was like to walk with a vibrant life giving relationship with the Lord. So the call was to repent, turn, and do what was right. And, of5:39 course, repentance is followed by action, true repentance. And then third, here's the warning that if you don't repent, I'm gonna remove I will remove your lampstand. He would take the church away from5:51 Ephesus and move it elsewhere, and so that has happened. In fact, that what what what was once the epicenter of the Christian church, Asia Minor,6:02 where magnificent church buildings were built in the first few centuries, mosque now fill the the skyline. There is a warning here to the west that has become home6:14 to the church. It can and will be moved elsewhere if we don't remember and repent. In fact, it may be in transition now. The African continent is witThe Faithful Endurance of Smyrna, Compromise in Pergamos, and Tolerance in Thyatira 6:26 witnessing a purified and a powerful church. Now there's tremendous persecution in many parts of that continent, but this may be why. The battle that6:38 is raging in the spiritual realm because of a shift. Alright. Next is, Smyrna, which is, the only 1 of the 7 church locations that I've been to. It's modern6:50 day Izmir, Turkey. This is 1 of the churches on the list of 7 with no criticism. Only 2 of the 7 are in good standing. Verse 8, and to the angel of the church at Smyrna7:02 write, these things says the first and the last who was dead and came to life. I know your works, tribulation and poverty, but you are rich. And I know the blasphemy of those who say they7:14 are Jews and are not, but are of a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested,7:25 and you have and you will have tribulation 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Now in scripture stop here for a moment. In scripture, 10 days has a couple of meanings. 1,7:37 it's it's, this meaning is shortness and duration. The second is 10 is the number of world powers hostile to the church often associated with government. Verse 11. He who7:49 has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches who he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death. Now Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, consecrated as bishop by8:01 John, was martyred, and it's believed that this foretold of that martyrdom. Now my visit to Samaria to Smyrna, rather, was actually to get an American pastor8:13 who pastored a church there in Izmir for about 2 decades out of prison, doctor Andrew Brunson, and there's a whole story about that. This happened back, during the first Trump administration.8:26 Next on the list is, Pergamos in, verse 12. And to the angel of the church of Pergamos write, these things says he who has the sharp 2 edged sword, I know your8:37 works and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is, and you hold fast to my name. It did not deny my faith even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr8:49 who was killed among you where Satan dwells. Now Pergamos was the seat of the Greek god, Asclepius, and the the this9:01 was the Greek god of, of healing and medicine. Okay? Pergamos had a major healing temple there that people traveled for9:13 physical, psychological, and spiritual treatments. Now the emblem the emblem or the symbol of Asclepius is a single serpent entwined on a9:25 staff. Where do we find that symbol today? We find it in medical logos, the World Health Organization, and even the US Army Medical Corps insignia. Some think that that9:36 is, the Moses and the serpent lifted up in the, wilderness, but history shows that it comes from this Greek god. Verse 14,9:48 but I have a few things against you because you have there you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols10:00 and to commit sexual immorality. Thus, you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitians, which I hate. Now they held fast to the name of Jesus, but10:12 they compromised with idolatry and sexual immorality, which was a byproduct of the teaching of the Nicolaitians, who taught that there was a separation between the body and the spirit. You could10:24 do whatever you want with the body. God is only concerned with your spirit. That was basically what they were teaching. Verse 16, repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the10:36 sword of my mouth, the word of God. 17, he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches, to him who overcomes. I will give some of the hidden manna to10:48 eat, and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone, a new name written, which no 1 knows except him who receives it. Next, Thyatira, verse 19, I know your works, love,11:00 service, faith, and your patience. And as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless, I have a few things against you. He commends them, but11:12 then he says, I got a few things against you because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed11:24 to idols. They tolerated a Jezebel. Remember from the Old Testament, Jezebel, she destroyed Ahab, her weak husband who was king11:36 of Israel, she led that entire nation into idolatry and, all types of wickedness. So they tolerated this Jezebel, either11:49 history is not completely clear here whether this was there was a possibly a woman named Jezebel or it was in the spirit of Jezebel, a false prophetess who led believers12:00 into immorality and idolatry. Sardis, verse 1 of chapter 3, and to the angel, the church of Sardis, write these things, says he who has the 7 spirits of God and the 7Dead Faith in Sardis, Open Doors in Philadelphia, Lukewarm Laodicea, and Closing Prayer 12:12 stars. Now the 7 spirits, couple of interpretations here, 7 spirits, angels around the throne of God, or 7 meaning the number of completion being12:24 a reference to the Holy Spirit. I know your works that you have a name, that you are alive, but you are dead. Alright? Be watchful and12:36 strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before god. Not a good report. Only a few faithful. The others, spiritually12:48 dead. Not good. The other faithful church in the list remember, there were 2. Here it is. I love this 1. Philadelphia, verse 7. And to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write, these things says he who is13:00 holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no 1 shuts, and shuts and no 1 opens. Talking about the lord Jesus. I know your13:11 works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no 1 can shut it. You have little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied my name. I love this verse. This is 1 the lord kinda13:24 gave me this year. It's been kind of a theme verse. He says, I know your works. Alright? And I've as a result, I've set an open door before you. Nobody can shut it. I realize you have little13:35 strength. And so they didn't have the strength to open the door themselves. They didn't have the the clout, the the political connection, the funds, or whatever it may have been, but they had kept his word and13:47 not denied his name. So it it's a church that no criticism. They're commended. This you have little strength is not a criticism. It's just an acknowledgment that they depended upon God,13:59 not their own strength. The last church, Laodicea, verse 7. And to the angel of the church, actually, I'm sorry. Let me verse14:11 15. I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I14:23 will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched,14:34 miserable, poor, blind, and naked. You know, I've I got a cup of coffee here that's kinda gotten cold. It's actually worse than lukewarm, but I don't like to drink it. And he said,14:46 you know, either be hot or cold. Be hot or cold. And this is, unfortunately, a a a picture, I think, of the church where we've become self reliant. They were wealthy.14:59 Juxtaposed this to the churches that were impoverished but rich in the things of god. Here is a church that was rich in the material but impoverished in the spiritual,15:11 saying I have need of nothing. But, in fact, they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. And the message to all these churches that were astray apart from the15:22 picture and the the the the the call of God was to repent and return. Father, we thank you for your word. And and, lord, this description of these 715:34 churches, lord, we know that we're real churches, but, lord, we know it's also kind of a picture of the church over time and even a snapshot of churches today. Lord, may we be like the15:46 church at Philadelphia. Lord, may we look to you reliant upon you. May we not deny your name nor forsake your word. And, lord, may you open those15:58 doors of opportunity for us to take forth the gospel to advance the kingdom, the kingdom of the lord Jesus Christ. For it's in his name we pray. Amen. Alright. Thanks for16:10 joining me this morning as we, continue the journey through the book of Revelation, our final book. And then, lord willing, next month, we will start another journey16:21 through the word of God beginning in the book of Genesis. And I I, again, wanna encourage you to join us on that journey. Text the word bible to 6 7 7 4 2.16:33 And, also, and I'm gonna ask you to do this for me, consider inviting someone else to join you on that journey. We want as many people as possible joining us on this journey and16:45 experiencing the transformative power of the word of God in our lives each and every day. It helps us understand what's happening around us, puts it in context, it encourages us, it strengthens16:57 us. If you've been on this journey, and you've not been blessed, I'll give you your money back. Alright? Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning, and until next time, keep17:09 standing on the word.17:12 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you17:24 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Introduction to the Seven Churches and the Church at Ephesus6:25 The Faithful Endurance of Smyrna, Compromise in Pergamos, and Tolerance in Thyatira12:04 Dead Faith in Sardis, Open Doors in Philadelphia, Lukewarm Laodicea, and Closing Prayer
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