Revelation 2

The Call to Persevere: Lessons from the Seven Churches

Bible Passage: Revelation 2:1-29

Summary: Revelation 2 addresses Jesus' messages to the seven churches in Asia, highlighting both commendations and admonitions specific to each congregation. It reveals the challenges faced by early Christians and the vigilance required to remain faithful amid trials and temptations.

Application: This lesson can help Christians recognize the importance of perseverance in their faith journeys. Through the lessons of the seven churches, believers can glean practical insights on addressing spiritual complacency, remaining steadfast against compromise, and cultivating a vibrant relationship with Christ despite cultural pressures.

Teaching: The teaching emphasizes the necessity of holding fast to one's faith, being alert to the dangers of spiritual decline, and embracing the call to repentance and renewal. Each church's unique challenges illustrate the timeless need for the Church to be discerning and proactive in sustaining their relationship with God.

Big Idea: Perseverance in faith is essential for spiritual vitality and witness; Jesus calls us to remain faithful amidst challenges, empowering us through His grace.

General Letter Structure

An address to a particular congregation

An introduction of Jesus

A statement regarding the condition of the church

A verdict from Jesus regarding the condition of the church

A command from Jesus to the church

A general exhortation to all Christians

A promise of reward

1. Recall Your First Love

Revelation 2:1–7 ““To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, ‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know your works, your labor, your 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 persevered 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 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. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’”

V1: “to the angel”, again this likely is directed to the pastor of the church at Ephesus yet is worthy of the whole church, for all people (Samuel Clarke, early 1700’s)

Ephesus was a famous city of the ancient world with an equally famous church; Paul hit it for 3 years, Aquilla & Priscilla (with Apollos) also served here; Timothy worked here, likely John also ministered here

Religious, cultural and economic center of the region; the temple of Diana was here, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world...she was a fertility goddess worshipped with immoral sex acts

127 pillars, each 60 feet tall, adorned with great sculptures

Ephesus was a stronghold of Satan, here many evil things both superstitious and satanic were in practice, sorcery, ungodly art, etc

V2: “I know your patience”, John in compassion is reaching out to the church of Ephesus, because he knows that Peter and James had been urging them to be patient and await the day of the Lord

Scoffers came and went, this is no different today, we are told to be patient all the while the world keeps on going on; there will always be the fight against good and evil, headlines from 1897 read just like today

“Unprecedented Heat Wave Sweeps the Nation; Crops Wither Under the Sun” (Boston Globe, 1872)

“Workers Strike Against Machines They Say Threaten Their Livelihoods” (Philadelphia Inquirer, 1886)

“Nation Bitterly Divided; Fierce Words Exchanged in Congress” (New York Herald, 1850’s)

The church itself has ebbed and flowed in its exercise of the patience that we are called to have; let us remember that it is a healthy body that can purge the poisons from its own system; it is only when we begin to tolerate the poison, that it takes hold and the church dies from within

V3-4: They were doing so well...the church functions were humming...but “they lost their first love”

He was saying, “I do not care how great your kids ministry is, how strong your connect groups are, how awesome your t-shirts are, or how huge your chili cookoff is. All I care about is your first love, how is your relationship with GOD?”

Remember when you first fell in love, you couldn’t read enough scripture, hear enough sermons, you talked about the Lord every second of the day, you were smitten with God. What happened?

Are you a relationship with the Lord who has backslid from the first love stage to complacency, or are you in a relationship with the Lord that has deepened, become more fulfilling, more fruitful, a deeper unbreakable love?

Remember where you fell from and repent, repentance is not simply “apologizing to God”...(meta no eo) or “metanoeo” - generally refers not simply to changing one’s mind but to turning back to God; a sense of regret for one’s actions; also defined as the comprehensive change of one’s orientation, abandoning the former in pursuit of the new

V5: Jesus warns us that He will not stay in a loveless church, He will caste that church away from His presence

This today is a church that does nothing but bicker and disagree over details, dogma, doctrine, etc; this is a superficial church with an awesome coffee bar but the love and conversations go only as deep as the first sip, then move on

1 Corinthians 12:27–31 “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”

1 Corinthians 13:1–2 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”

Paul teaches us that more important than all the miracles is love, God IS love

V6: He was not a fan of the “Nicolaitanes”, the Greek “Nikos” and “laos” which are “priesthood” and “laody”, it was the practice of setting up a spiritual hierarchy where a man would come between the people and God...

So at least they have that going for them...they hate the same thing Jesus hates, we are going to hear (spoiler) that the church of Thyatira will have this system

V7: He’s closing out that we have an opportunity to overcome the curse of sin from Adam, through the cross, and will once again eat from the tree of life and will live eternal with the Lord

2. Resolve to Suffer Faithfully

Revelation 2:8–11 ““And to the angel of the church in Smyrna 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 they are Jews and are not, but are 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, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’”

You might explore the commendation given to the church in Smyrna for enduring persecution with faithfulness. This could encourage believers to remain steadfast in trials, trusting in Christ's promise of eternal life. Emphasize that hardships are opportunities for spiritual growth and reliance on Jesus, reinforcing the importance of faith during suffering and drawing strength from Christ's victory.

3. Resist False Teachings

Revelation 2:12–17 ““And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because 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 idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. “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 to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him…”

Perhaps you could address the warnings given to the church in Pergamum about compromising with false teachings. This could challenge listeners to stand firm in their faith, rejecting deceptive doctrines that lead away from Christ. Christ calls His followers to discernment and faithfulness, assuring them of spiritual nourishment when they remain true to His Word.

4. Repent from Corruption

Revelation 2:18–29 ““And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: “I know your works, love, 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, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works. “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of…”

Maybe you could focus on the church of Thyatira, which faced criticism for tolerating moral corruption. This could inspire believers to uphold purity and righteousness, resisting societal pressures that lead to moral decay. Stress the importance of repentance and renewal, reinforcing Christ's call to a holy and devoted life through His enabling grace.