Introduction to the Seven Churches

Introduction

We have just finished up a three and a half month series on the “one another” passages telling us how we should interact with one another in the church. Our series in Acts is meant to trace the character, development and growth of the church in the first century. The next couple months, we will be looking at God’s letters to the Seven Churches.

The church of America in particular has grown worldly, cold, stale. It has compromised with the world. The United Church of Christ has been ordaining openly gay pastors since 1972. Back in 2019, Mayflower Christian Church over here on Nw 63rd celebrated Pride month with special services. Presbyterian churches (USA branch) support abortion. These are big issues but the church as a whole has harbored worldliness for awhile. We entertain ourselves to the exclusion of God in our every day lives. We have time for hours of TV, video games, football games, facebook, instagram and youtube, but we have no time for God. We accept things that displease God into our homes. We have become desensitized to their influence because we see and hear them so much. Language that blasphemes God, blatant immodesty, immoral sexuality, and worldly philosophies.

The book of Revelation is written to literal churches facing these same battles and struggles that we all face today. The churches of Asia were suffering persecution and death under the reign of Emperor Domitian when this book was written. John empathizes with them in Revelation 1:9 “I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.” John had been exiled to a barren rock off the Aegean sea called Patmos. He understood what they were going through and God gives him this letter to challenge them not to compromise and live according to the world but to overcome and live faithfully to the Lord Jesus Christ. This book though written to the seven churches thousands of years ago has a message for us today as the words signify things which are coming and these seven churches typify the church today.

These churches pretty evenly divide into 2 good churches, 2 bad churches and 3 middle of the road churches. In America, there are some good churches, praise God for that. There are some that are definitely horrible, evil, bad churches and then there are others that want to walk both sides of the fence. Which are we?

I. John’s Vision vs 9-16

We are going to begin by looking at the first vision of the book of Revelation which sets up the letter to the seven churches. In the weeks to follow, we will look at one of the seven churches. It is important to understand who this book is from and that is where John begins his letter.

Revelation 1:1 “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:”

The message came from God, was given to Jesus Christ and then shown to John by an angel. In these first few verses the book of revelation is called three different things:

apocalypse- the literal Greek word for Revelation means unveiled. Apocalyptic literature was a genre of literature popular in the day of John that found its roots in the post-exilic time period. It includes the following features: Visions and symbolic language like allegories, images, symbolic numbers, colors, animals and plants. It includes a heavenly interpreter. The message is of two ages: the depraved fallen world now and the hopeful future. And in its pages is found a yearning for the end as it asks, “How long?”

The book is also a prophecy- Rev 1:3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” It is a message from God in this case dealing with future events.

It is also a letter- It has a specific audience Revelation 1:4 “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;” We must not ignore its intended meaning for the people who were to read this letter.

There is a lot of detail to deal with in verses 1-9 that when I eventually preach through the book we will go over, but I want us to take a look at the beginning of John’s actual message to the churches in this first vision. John accounts for us first of all what he hears in vs 9-11.

John alone and without the company of a church to fellowship with is in the Spirit and on the isle of Patmos on the Lord’s day which is defined in other passages as the first day of the week: Sunday. Behind him he hears a voice, a loud voice like a trumpet. Scattered throughout the book of Revelation and key to understanding the book are references to OT prophecies embedded in the text. The voice as of a trumpet would have reminded John of Mount Sinai and symbolized God’s authority over the nations. It is also a simile to say it was a loud booming voice.

The voice introduces Himself in vs 11 as the Alpha and the Omega meaning the beginning and the end. Jesus Christ is sovereign over all time and history. Jesus rules in the lives of these churches 2000 years ago, but He also rules today and will rule even when the whole world goes to pot. This term has already been seen in this text in vs 8 as a reference to God. John is clearly stating that Jesus is God.

Vs 12-18 are intended to highlight exactly who it is that is sending this message to us. They give us a vision of Jesus Christ. This vision can be divided into two broad categories:

Fearfully wonderful image of Christ vs 12-16

The image we first see of Jesus Christ in this text should stir awe, fear, and in some even terror. Now longer is the vision of a gentle lamb welcoming all to come to his side. John in Revelation 1: 1 had this vision signified to Him. Signified is not an insignificant word- The book of Revelation speaks through images that are meant to convey meaning. The word literally means signs. The vision we see here signifies truth about Jesus Christ. Let’s take a look at how Jesus is portrayed here.

I turned and see the voice- don’t let it trip you up that John sees a voice. This is a standard poetic device called synecdoche where a part of something represents the whole. The voice merely represents the source of that voice: Jesus Christ.

We will come back to the seven candlesticks and the seven stars in the end, but right now our focus is one Jesus Christ who stands in the midst of the seven candlesticks vs 13.

Clothed with a garment down to his foot (ankle) and girt about the paps with a golden girdle- This imagery can be used to speak of Christ being our High Priest as Hebrews 7 develops or it can refer to Him as being a lord. Average everyday working men did not wear their garments to the ankles because it hindered their working. Only the elite, rich or priests wore them this way.

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow- This phrase is a reference back to Dan 7:9 “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.” The reference deals with the Ancient of Days, a name for God, and is again a clear reference that Jesus is God. Commentators are divided as to weather the hair white like wool represents wisdom or purity. Both make sense. God is wise and nothing is hidden from Him. Jesus knows every secret of your heart. The things you think no one knows. The thoughts you entertain in your mind, the things you thought you got away with, the things buried in your closet. But God is also Holy. He is perfect and before Him all men will be found lacking. You might think you are a pretty good guy but the evil in your heart will stand out as a dirty towel up against a brand new clean sheet.

his eyes were as a flame of fire- the flame of fire clearly speaks of judgment but it is tied to the eyes. Jesus’ piercing gaze. He sees and He judges.

his feet like unto fine brass- the best analogy I could see here considering the context is Isaiah 63:3 “I have trodden the winepress alone; And of the people there was none with me: For I will tread them in mine anger, And trample them in my fury; And their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, And I will stain all my raiment.” which speaks of judgment as well but the image of brass burned in a furnace speaks of heated judgment by which men will be tried. As metals are purified through fire, so God will tread out his judgment on the world.

his voice as the sound of many waters- a repeat of the trumpet idea.

seven stars in his hand- these represent according to vs 20 the angels of the seven churches. A word about the angels but we will keep it brief. The word angel can mean one of two things: angels or messengers. Some have proposed that these are the pastors of the church which is completely possible, but it would be the only time John uses this word in a way that doesn’t refer to literal angels. If you want talk to me afterwards and I’ll give you the arguments for both interpretations, but the angels are not our focus today.

out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword- Isaiah 49:2 “And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, And made me a polished shaft; In his quiver hath he hid me;” Isaiah 11:4 “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, And reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, And with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” The words of Jesus mouth are words of judgment that try the hearts of men. They smite them with guilt and discern their every thought and motive.

his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength- the face of Jesus shines with glory like the Shakina glory in the temple and no man can stand in His presence. 1 Tim 6:13-16 “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.”

This image of Jesus is a dreadful image that should strike fear into the hearts of anyone who has to face that judgement. CS Lewis in his Chronicles of Narnia figured Christ as a lion named Aslan. The reputation this lion had was that He was not a tame lion. Jesus isn’t your little pet that you can pull out whenever you want to; He is the Almighty Lord at whose feet even angels fall. But this is not the only image we have of Jesus in this text.

Wonderfully kind image of Christ vs 17-18

Jesus is also presented as the kind deliverer of mankind. On seeing this image of Jesus John falls on his face as we shall deal with in more detail later. But while he is laying there Jesus reaches out with his right hand and places it on his shoulder and speaks wonderful words of comfort to him. Fear Not. John as one of God’s beloved chosen one’s has no need to fear the judgment of God. He has been redeemed.

romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Then Jesus gives the reason why John should not fear:

I am the first and the last- Jesus as God was there in the beginning and will be there in the end. In light of the judgments that will come on the earth, He will protect His own. As I said earlier, He is sovereign over all time and all events in Time.

I am He that liveth and was dead- Death could not conquer Jesus. This brings into view the redeeming work of Jesus Christ. He died for us, but death could not hold Him. He rose from the dead. I am alive forevermore- death will never have the victory over Him.

I have the keys of hell and of death- Jesus is victorious over death and he has the keys to hell. Those who come to Him in saving faith will never have to face an eternity in hell, but those who reject Him will be cast into the lack of fire.

Revelation 20:14-15 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Not yet the thunderbolt! Not yet the riven heavens and the reeling earth! Not yet the great white throne, and the day of judgment; for he is very pitiful, and bears long with men!

Charles Spurgeon

II. John Responce vs 17

We often have misguided thoughts about worship. We get upset if the music isn’t exactly to our liking. The service didn’t make me feel good about myself. Our coffee was cold when we got to church or Heaven forbid we were too late to even get our coffee. The preacher didn’t preach a message that “spoke to me” today. Worship has become so humanistic and man focused.

John on seeing this terribly fear and yet wonderful image of Christ did what all true believers who have had an encounter with God will do. He fell on his face before God.

Isaiah 6:4 “And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.” Isaiah saw trembled at his own sinfulness in the presence of God.

Eze 1:28 “As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one that spake.” Ezekiel fell on his face.

Dan 8:17 “So he came near where I stood: and when he came, I was afraid, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man: for at the time of the end shall be the vision.” Daniel fell on his face.

Matt 17:6 “And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.” The disciples on the mount of Transfiguration fell on their face.

Acts 9:4 “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” Paul fell on his face on the road to Damascus.

The root of all virtue and grace, of all faith and acceptable worship, is that we know that we have nothing but what we receive, and bow in deepest humility to wait upon God for it.

Andrew Murray

The biblical record is clear that men in the presence of a Holy God will respond by recognizing their own sinfulness and humility as seen in falling before him. John says he fell as dead. He was terrified which prompted Jesus to say, Fear Not.

III. Christ’s Commission vs 11, 19-20

After this glorious vision, Jesus recommissions John to write the things that he will see in the following chapters. He is told to write what he sees, the things which are which can either speak of the meaning of the symbols or the events that are now going on and the things which shall be hereafter chapters 4-22. Then Jesus explains that the candlesticks are the churches and the stars are the angels of those churches which He holds in His hand. It is to these stars and candlesticks that He writes the following letters.

Conclusion

So let’s bring this into conclusion: The point of this vision of Jesus Christ is to see clearly the one who is writing us the letters that will follow. When sin is confronted, our secrets made known, our actions challenged we might brush them off if they came from some random fool who just walked in the room. But they do not come from a stranger, they come from this man: Jesus Christ. We see Him in His judgment, His terror and to those who live in unrepentant sin there is something to fear in the purging our souls will go through. But to those who walk with Him, He is still the tender redeemer of our souls. To the good churches, He is the one who will trample down all those who oppress them and so we choose to overcome and remain faithful; to those who compromise with the world, He is the one who comes in Judgment and calls :

Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”