The Declining Church

A study on Revelation

The Declining Church

Revelation 2:1-7

Theme: God reveals what is on the inside of a church in decay.

Introduction: The seven churches in Revelations 2-3 has been subjects of controversy for many years. They have been interpreted in many different ways. Some have said that prophetic churches are still to come. Some say that they are literal churches which represent church periods from John’s day to now. It has broken down into these time periods.

Ephesus-Apostolic Age-AD 100

Smyrna-Period of Persecution- AD 100-300

Pergamos-Early Middle Ages-AD 300-1200

Thyatira-High Middle Ages-AD 1200-1500

Sardis-Reformation Period-AD 1500-1700

Philadelphia-Missionary Period (industrial revolution) AD 1700-1900

Laodicea-present day apostate church-AD 1900-Second Coming

Fascinating to Consider: Problems

1. All periods must be complete before Christ comes back-setting a date.

2. No absolute agreement on which period time goes with what church

3. Some characteristics carry over all periods.

4. Sardis is commonly refered to as the Reformation Period-however, nothing good is said about the church

The problem is this view becomes subjective; however, there are many Godly people who hold this view. I do not.

I am convinced these are literal, Bible-believing churches which God is addressing however, there are certainly some Bible principles we learn from them and have prophetic truths in them.

These churches are practical, literal, personal, and prophetic.

The church of Ephesus

I. The context of the church

A. Led by a pastor

1. This church had great leaders there: Paul, Timothy, and even the Apostle John himself.

2. The angel is probably the pastor who God holds responsible for the preaching, teaching, and leadership of the church.

3. God is in control of the church-holds the seven starts in his right hand-place of authority.

4. He places the “stars” where he chooses and leads the ministry in the are He wants it to go.

5. While obviously there are clearly Biblical truths every church is to follow and preach, there are also churches that have unique gifts for a specific function in a community: some churches are gifted and burdened for education whether it be a Christian school or Bible college, some are gifted to care for abused people, some are burdened for the homeless, and some are burdened for helping hurting people. This does not mean we should not; however, there is not a one size, fit all church. God uses different Bible preaching churches to fill a need as He leads.

B. Located in Ephesus

1. Ephesus means desire-Paul journeyed there on his third missionary journey where he stayed for two years-around 250 K in population

2. There is the temple of Diana which is one of the seven wonders of the world-a pagan goddess associate with prostitution and all sorts of vile practices.

3. This is the capital of Asia just a few miles from Miletus.

4. It was near the harbor of the Cayster River in western Asia Minor, the city had a long fertile valley with major roads connecting Ephesus to other significant cities.

5. In the middle of the city was a huge water fountain that when the winds would blow off the mountains, it would cool everything down.

II. The commendation of the church vv. 2-3

A. Serving church

1. I know-definitely knows completely- thy works means they were busy working for the Lord.

2. Their schedules were filled with activities-many times I think we run the church too much because people don’t time for their families.

3. God is commending them for their faithfulness.

B. Sacrificing church

1. They gave up comforts and conveniences to serve-this word labor means to the point of exhaustion.

2. The Ephesians here paid a price to the serve the Lord-living in a pagan, godless culture, it meant rejection, persecution, suffering, rejection, and loss of position.

3. There were false teachers who were preaching and saying things contrary to what they were teaching, yet they stayed on what they believed.

C. Steadfast church

1. This idea of patience means they endured the trial and never giving up.

2. They separated from evil and stayed on the outside of the paganism of their culture.

3. The leaders protected the church from those who claim to be apostles or those who followed.

4. They carefully examined any visiting minister

“Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist! Be on your guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward. Everyone who does not abide in the teaching of Christ, but goes beyond it, does not have God; whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. Do not receive into the house or welcome anyone who comes to you and does not bring this teaching; for to welcome is to participate in the evil deeds of such a person.” (2 John 7–11)

5. There are false teachers we must watch for like the Nicolatians-power hungry group exercising authority over the people.

6. The Nicolatans were those who lorded over the church and robbed people of their liberty in Christ-they initiated what we know today as clergy where it is not found anywhere in the New Testament.

7. We are all priests and kings I Peter 2:9

III. The condemnation of the church

A. Heart problem

1. Left their first love-this is the devotion to Christ-their fervency was lacking, their personal relationship was weak, their excitement was over. We should be thrilled when people get saved, get baptized, join the church.

2. The believers were struggling beneath the weight of godless and immoral culture, had maintained the letter of the law but lost he Spirit of the law.

3. Just like a marriage deepens and grows over times-we should never lose the excitement.

4. It is possible to serve, sacrifice, and suffer for Jesus and yet not really love Him.

5. The Ephesians were so busy maintaining their separation that they were neglecting loving and adoring Christ. Their Christian life had become routine rather than vibrant.

“It is easy to get caught up in the busyness of the ministry, church work, or volunteering and not realize our passion for the Lord has cooled.” (unknown)

6. Service, giving, and purity is no substitute for passion and love for Christ.

7. The word left means to abandon or forsake-the second-generation Christians have lost their fervency and love for others.

8. First love is a devotion which is fervent, personal excitement, and openly displayed.

B. Dedication problem

1. Remember-reflect on the joy, peace, strength before you love has grown cold.

2. Repent v. 5-reverse direction-Go back to your place of departure, remove things that prevent us from total yieldedness, Candlestick refers to their effectiveness.

3. Repeat-do the first works v. 5-Cure for the lost love is to repeat first works, listen to the Holy Spirit v. 7, the problem is the lack of warm genuine love that distinguished this church.

Conclusion: Has your passion cooled? Have you become routine and mundane in your walk with the Lord? It is a good time to take spiritual inventory to see where you are tonight?