Revelation - The 7 Letters

Revelation R. C. Sproul & Robert Wolgemuth in their book, “What’s In the Bible” give is a good intro to the Book of Revelation. I believe that they are right on in saying, perhaps the most important thing to remember about the book of Revelation is that, in spite of honest disagreement among scholars as to the sequence of events described, one thing is for certain: This is actually not a book about the end; it’s the description of a new beginning. Like Paul, John had been arrested for his beliefs and bold teaching concerning the Messiah. Roman authorities had had enough, so they banished the apostle to the tiny island of Patmos to live out the remainder of his life. It was here that he received the revelation that we will be surveying. An ancient legend tells of a general whose army was afraid to fight. The soldiers were frightened. The enemy was too strong. Their fortress was too high and weapons too mighty. The king, however, was not afraid. He knew his men would win, but how could he convince them? He had an idea. He told his soldiers that he possessed a magical coin. A prophetic coin. A coin which would foretell the outcome of the battle. On one side was an eagle and on the other a bear. He would toss the coin. If it landed eagle-side up, they would win. If it landed with the bear up, they would lose. The army was silent as the coin flipped in the air. Soldiers circled as it fell to the ground. They held their breath as they looked and shouted when they saw the eagle. The army would win. Bolstered by the assurance of victory, the men marched against the castle and they won. It was only after the victory that the king showed the men the coin. The two sides were identical. Though the story is fictional, the truth is reliable: assured victory empowers the army. That may be the reason God gives us the book of Revelation. In it he assures victory. As we relate to life, the surest thing in the world is neither death nor taxes. The surest thing is the Coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign and rule over the earth. As we look at this book, take the words of A. W. Tozer to heart, “We need not decipher and decode mysterious symbols to determine the outcome of this conflict of the ages. There is a plain and radiant theme from the beginning to the end of the Revelation: Jesus is Victor!” John received a revelation from God the Father through an angel sent by Jesus regarding what must soon take place. This is not something John came up with, but the first 8 vss make it clear that the message of this book is from God. This is certified at the end of the intro section with the signature: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Many folks stay away from this book because they are certain that we cannot understand it. “It is full of prophecies, pictures, and strange stuff that you need a degree to begin to figure out.” However, this is not some mystery shrouded in words, concepts, or prophecies that we cannot understand, but we are told, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in it, because the time is near.” If we weren’t able to understand it, how could we keep it? Do you want to be blessed? Read it, take heed to what is said. John is to testify as to what he saw, and he has received a command to “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.” John turned to see who had spoken and saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was one like the Son of Man, dressed in a robe and with a golden sash wrapped around his chest. The hair of his head was white as wool—white as snow—and his eyes like a fiery flame. His feet were like fine bronze as it is fired in a furnace, and his voice like the sound of cascading waters. He had seven stars in his right hand; a sharp double-edged sword came from his mouth, and his face was shining like the sun at full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last, and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.” The Word of God tells us we stand on the verge of the most dramatic and far-reaching developments since Adam stood up in the Garden of Eden and Eve stood by his side. I do not know all the details of the future. But I do know that our Lord is returning to earth. And in that Day of our Lord, the Holy City will come down out of heaven beautifully dressed as a bride for her husband (21:2). John is to write what he has seen, what is, and what will take place after this. First, he is given specific messages for each of the seven churches. The letters to these churches are direct quotes from the Lord, written in red in our Bibles. Some look at these churches as representing periods of time in church history, and we do see the reflection of time throughout church history reflected in the letters. I agree with many who see these as actual churches in existence at the time John is writing, and the actual state of those churches. We can also see the history of the church throughout the years, as well as that of today’s church, in that the same commendations and criticisms given then have been and are now applicable. We see various churches around us who could be the recipients of different ones of these letters, ranging from the ones who are lukewarm, warm, or on fire to the cold & dead. The First letter is to the church in Ephesus. The Lord first commends them for their work and endurance, and for not tolerating evil people. They have endured hardships for the sake of his name, not growing weary. But then he tells them I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. Have you sat by a campfire late in the evening as the fire has died down to a small pile of embers? There is a warmth of sorts, but you are starting to get a bit chilly. They are busy going about the things that they should be doing,--standing firm, keeping at the task, have a solid biblical ministry grounded in the truth—their doctrine is right, yet….their love is becoming more like embers. They have become mechanical in their ministry. They are busy because this is what we do, but the passion is gone. The have become comfortable in where they are, and in what they are doing. They have lost the sharp edge of the love that they had at the beginning. They are not to be without hope! They are given a 3-fold formula to experience restoration: 1. Remember what it was like—look and see where you are and how far you have fallen. 2. Repent and turn your life around. Renew your relationship! 3. Repeat—Get back to the work that you did at first! This is accompanied by a warning. Don’t do these things and I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. He says that he will turn off your light. Each letter closes with a statement that is addressed to “the churches.” Plural. I believe that these words apply today as much as they did then, and will apply to the church until his return. This letter ends with: Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. Let’s be sure to hold fast to our first love—if it has started to fade, Remember, Repent, & Repeat— return to where we started! On to Smyrna, the 2nd church. The year was 155 AD, Polycarp was in the eventide of life; the sun was setting on his long and fruitful life and the shadows were lengthening. He was 86 years of age when one day there was the dreaded knock on the front door! He answered and was met by the Roman authorities who promptly took him away. He was hauled before the courts and told to renounce Jesus Christ. He flatly refused. He never flinched. He never wavered. This is what he said, ‘86 years I have served the Lord Jesus. He never did me any harm. How can I blaspheme my King, my Lord, and my Saviour?’ Do you know the outcome? He was burned alive. He died rejoicing in the Lord Jesus. That is what happened at Smyrna. The message to them starts with, “Thus says the First and the Last, the one who was dead and came to life: I know your affliction and poverty, but you are rich.” The church at Smyrna is commended for their willing endurance of afflictions & poverty. They are being slandered, and some of them are going to be imprisoned, although this persecution will not be long lasting. They are one of only two of these churches who don’t receive any criticism. They are encouraged to remain faithful to the point of death and they will be given the crown of life. Are they to escape tribulation? No. But they have a greater promise. They will have the grace to endure and will receive the crown of life! “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.” The first death is merely death of the body; the second death is eternal separation from God. The one who conquers will never be harmed by the second death.” Now on to the letter to the church in Pergamum, Thus says the one who has the sharp, double-edged sword: I know where you live—where Satan’s throne is. This sword depicts Jesus’ power to judge and conquer his enemies. “Where Satan’s throne is” refers to the rampant sin & idolatry, and the hold that Satan has on this area, and is trying to gain in this church. They are commended as he tells them, you are holding on to my name and did not deny your faith in me. But he does have a few things against them. Rather than testing and rejecting false teachers, they had uncritically accepted people who hold to the teaching of Balaam, tied to eating meat sacrificed to idols and sexual immorality, and to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. The risen Lord unleashes stinging criticism. If they don’t repent, I will come to you quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth. His closing words here are, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’ Next, to the church in Thyatira: Thus says the Son of God, the one whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like fine bronze: I know your works—your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance. I know that your last works are greater than the first. The commendation quickly turns to condemnation as it is pointed out that false teaching has led many to embrace open immorality. The Lord’s words on this should strike terror into their hearts—judgment will follow! Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works. There is assurance to those who remain true. I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who haven’t known “the so-called secrets of Satan”—as they say—I am not putting any other burden on you. Only hold on to what you have until I come. The closing statement in this letter is, the one who conquers and who keeps my works to the end: I will give him authority over the nations—and he will rule them with an iron scepter; he will shatter them like pottery—just as I have received this from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. As we will see in 22:16, Christ is the bright and morning star. “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. The letter to the church at Sardis does not open with a commendation. The Lord says, thus says the one who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know your works; you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead. Be alert and strengthen what remains, which is about to die, for I have not found your works complete before my God. Remember, then, what you have received and heard; keep it, and repent. The reputation that they have before men counts for nothing if is in conflict with the one that they have with God. They may look alive and real, but it is a mask. They are dead! He goes on to tell them that they will have no advance warning of when he will return; be ready! To them he says, you have a few people in Sardis who have not defiled their clothes, and they will walk with me in white, because they are worthy. And the closing statement picks up from there “In the same way, the one who conquers will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my Father and before his angels. “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Now we have a letter of a totally different flavor, the letter to the church at Philadelphia. Thus says the Holy One, the true one, the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens: I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power; yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Because you have kept my command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. Does this say that Christ promising to remove the believers physically out of the world before the time of testing (favored by those who expect a “pre-tribulation rapture” for Christians), or is the more obvious meaning true, that he promises to protect (“keep”) these believers from the experience of his wrath (a post-tribulationist viewpoint). In John 17:15 Jesus had prayed, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them,” seeming to back up the later view. Either way, he goes on to say, I am coming soon. He gave no criticism to this church, but gives a command to Hold on to what you have, so that no one takes your crown. And in closing, “The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will never go out again. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God—the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God—and my new name.” “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.” The last letter is to the church in Laodicea. No commendation here at all. Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. They think that they have it all, they have become self-sufficient. They say, ‘I’m rich; I have become wealthy and need nothing,’ However, they are not vibrantly alive, nor or they outright dead. They have become complacently content in their indifference. The Lord says, you don’t realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. He tells them to buy the true gold from him, put on the pure white garments. Be zealous & repent. In trying to evangelize, many use 3:22, See! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. When we remember that context is the key to interpreting & understanding scripture, we see that this verse is talking to believers whom the Lord is trying to bring back to an on-fire relationship with himself. Let’s seek that fire! The closing words in this final letter are, “To the one who conquers I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.” Jesus continues to give the proper compliments and challenges to local congregations because he knows their strengths and weaknesses. What do you see him saying to us at New Life Fellowship today? What might he be saying to you today?