Revelation 2-3

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

Revelation 2-3: The Kind of Church We Want to Be When We Grow Up

How many of you were asked when you were young; “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I still ask myself that question from time to time and have a real hard time answering it. But I figure that if you hit 60 and you haven’t grown up yet then you don’t have to. When I was a kid little boys used to want to be cowboys, firemen, policemen or soldiers. I don’t know what little girls wanted to be back when I was a kid because I never asked or cared. But there are a lot more choices today for both boys and girls. We have been looking at the 7 Churches of Asia Minor; the churches that Jesus addressed His letters to in the Revelation of Jesus Christ and I wonder what these churches wanted to be when they grew up. Did they expect a letter from Jesus? Did that letter really make an impact on those churches? We really can’t get an answer to those questions because it is so far back in history. We do know that some of the churches have disappeared from existence and some of them are still viable even today. But we really can’t answer the questions completely. However we do have the letters that Jesus sent to them and we can apply them to the church today and to our church specifically. After all if they are not applicable to us then why are they included in Scripture? This is going to be a little different than most of the sermons you hear from me because I am not going to start in one place in a passage and end at another. We are going to look at Revelation 2 and 3 trying to pick out (even mix and match) what kind of church we want to be when we grow up. Let’s pray then we will get started.

Since the subject is the kind of church we want to be then we can be certain that there are two churches that we can completely cross off the list; one was dead and the other was useless. We don’t want that do we? The closest good thing Jesus had to say to the dead church, Sardis, was that there were a few things that were alive and they needed to nurture before they do die, and Laodicea did not even have a glimpse of good mentioned by Jesus. So in your list of churches that we may want to be like we can just cross them off.

There were two churches that Jesus had nothing bad to say about; Smyrna and Philadelphia. So we want to be like Smyrna and Philadelphia. Both of those churches Jesus commended for their perseverance. They bucked up and just kept on keeping on. That is something to be known for…except that the reason they had to persevere was because they were under severe persecution. The church at Smyrna was so persecuted that they were, from a worldly perspective very poor. Not to mention the fact that in His letter Jesus warned them that things were going to get worse and many of them would be thrown into prison for a while. But He also reminded them that even though they thought they were poor they were really rich. Then there is Philadelphia who was being persecuted by the Jews claiming to have unique access to God and shutting them out from any kind of worship in the Synagogue. Yet the church in Philadelphia kept on persevering and would not deny Jesus name. So in the grand scheme of things although we want to be like Smyrna and Philadelphia and persevere we really don’t want to have the persecution do we? The problem with that idea is that when we do not suffer any kind of persecution to make us strong, when our lives and our ministry does nothing to bring down the wrath of the world, if you will, then we become inward focused. We begin to think of ourselves as rich when really we are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. When we are not making ministry actions that offend the world then most likely we look alive but are really dead. So if we become self-reliant and comfortable in how we live, worship and serve then we become like the two churches we crossed off the list.

We don’t want to be like Sardis or Laodicea because one is dead and the other is useless. And though we want to be like Smyrna and Philadelphia who were stirring up their communities for the Kingdom we don’t want to suffer the persecution they suffered. So let’s put a little x by those two churches. That is four of the seven churches that we can somewhat cross of the list but don’t worry there are three more to choose from.

We still have Ephesus, the loveless church, Pergamos, the compromising church, and Thyatira, the corrupt church to choose between. Jesus had good things to say about each one of these churches. One, Ephesus, worked really hard even when there was opposition. They hated evil and even knew the truth and we know that because they tested the false apostles who came and claimed to speak for God. The never gave up on what was right and even hated what God hated (Nicolatians). There is no great moral lapse or doctrinal divergence mentioned in the life of the church at Ephesus, they just didn’t love. They were so right that they hated what God hated but they did not love what God loved. Jesus even warns them that if that didn’t change He would remove them from being any kind of influence on the community they were supposed to be serving (remove your lampstand). So maybe we should put a little “x” on the church at Ephesus as our model.

Well there always Pergamos, the compromising church, Jesus has something good to say about them. They lived in a dangerous and pagan world, the place where the throne of Satan was and yet they did not deny faith in Jesus. Even when there was the possibility of being martyred along with one of their members, Antipas, they did not renounce Christ. Maybe that is a good model for us when we grow up. However this church, that did not renounce their faith in Christ, was willing to allow something else, something plus Jesus in their congregation. They had members that obviously were worshiping idols and in that were guilty of sexual immorality. The church that endured in the face of persecution had decided it was easier to do what the rest of the city was doing and compromised with the world. There was more Sardis in the church than there was church in Sardis. Jesus warns them that He would come against them with the sword of His mouth. I don’t know about you but I don’t want Jesus to come against our church at all. So maybe Pergamos is not a very good model either. Let’s put a small “x” there as well.

That leaves us with one choice, Thyatira the corrupt church. Jesus commended them in a big way, at least from a pastor’s perspective. They have been hard working all along and their works were greater now than in the beginning. Their work, their love, their service and patience were great. That sounds promising for us doesn’t it? We all like to be noticed for our hard work and improvement. But…The church had allowed a false teacher, false prophetess Jesus called Jezebel, to come into the congregation and teach her false doctrines. Causing the people to believe that it was ok to eat food offered to idols and to go ahead and see the cult prostitutes. After all the idols weren’t really gods and you were just going along to get along. Jesus said that He gave her and her followers time to repent but that they refused. The fact that the church allowed this false teaching to continue corrupted the church so badly that Jesus warned them that He would throw Jezebel and her followers into a bed of tribulation and those who would not repent He would kill with death. It doesn’t look like we really found a church to be like. Let’s mark Pergamos as a maybe like we have the other 5.

This all sounds very gloomy. We have two churches we want to be like but we don’t want the consequences of this world for being like them. Two of the churches we just mark off the list immediately. Three of the churches indeed have good qualities but they do them without love, or they compromise or they are corrupted and Jesus gives them hefty warnings and we don’t want any part of that. What are we going to do? Well let me tell you. We are going to look at what the One who wrote the letter says about Himself to each of these churches, then we will look at the offer He makes to each of these churches, even the ones we marked off the list immediately. Then we will look at what happens if His offer is accepted.

I am going to run through this without giving references. You will find all of this in Revelation 2 and 3 at the beginning of each one of the letters to the churches. This is how Jesus identifies Himself to His churches (including us). “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. [1] “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. [2] “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.[3] “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.[4] “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits d of God and the seven stars.[5] “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. [6] “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:[7] In this the Sender of the letters to the church is saying that He has control of the message and is in the midst of His churches. He is eternal God who gave Himself to die and now lives forever. His word is judgment against His enemies. He sees His church and will be the ultimate conqueror. He sends the Holy Spirit to His church to make them alive through the message of His pastors (seven stars). He is holy and true holding the key to the Kingdom of God. He opens the Kingdom and keeps open and closes the Kindom and keeps closed. He has mercy on whom He has mercy and compassion on whom He has compassion. He is sure, the only truth, always the same, always true. He is the preeminence, He is God. This is the God who makes offers to His church, even the ones we marked off the list.

Here are His offers. Ephesus: 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[8] Smyrna: Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.[9] Pergamos: 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.[10] Thyatira: 24 “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 Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come. [11] Sardis (we marked them off the list): 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.[12] Philadelphia: 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. [13] Laodicea (another one we gave up on completely): 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. [14] There were some stern warnings there but with the warnings were also great offers and encouragement. Remember, Repent, Be Faithful until death and receive the crown of life, Hold fast, I’m coming quickly hold to what you have. Even to Sardis, the dead churc that we wrote off in the beginning He says: Remember, Hold Fast, Repent. And to Laodicea the useless church He said: Do business with Me (buy from me), I rebuke and chastise those I love, If you will unlock the door I will come in and fellowship with you and you with Me.

All the way through One in control, the Creator, the One who sends the Holy Spirit to give life, the Holy and True One… is calling even the worst of the worst of His churches, His bride to repent, to come to Him, to hold fast to Him and His salvation. Then He has promises for those who overcome: To the members of the loveless church: To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” ’[15] To the members of the persecuted church: He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’[16] To the members of the compromising church: 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 who receives it.” ’[17] To the members of the corrupt church: 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations 27‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him the morning star.[18] To the members of the dead church: 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.[19] To the members of the faithful church: See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it;[20] I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.[21] He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 I will write on him My new name.[22] To the members of the useless (lukewarm) church: 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.[23] Do you see that? The churches that He had nothing to say against He had promises for her members. For the churches that did good and bad He had promises for her members. But even for those churches that were dead and useless He still had promises for her members who overcome.

If you are one of those people who follow a sermon and try to write down the points the preacher makes then you are going to be very confused or disappointed. This sermon has one main point because these seven letters have one main point. It is not really about what kind of church Myrtle First Baptist or any other church may want to be. There are definitely good examples and bad examples and that does apply to us but that is not the main point. These letters and this sermon is not about being an overcomer, though there are some pretty grand promises for those who overcome and it is nice to know what is promised. But that is not the main point. Are you ready for the main point? The main point in Revelation 2-3 is that the entire book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ is the telling of who He is in relationship to His church. He is the One who redeemed His church and has the authority and responsibility to compliment His church, to criticize His church, to warn His church and to make promises to His church. And the grandest part of His revelation is that He is the One who keeps His promises. In this revelation we can be sure, we can be positive that He will finish what He has started. He who began a good work in us will be able to complete it.

Folks, here is the bottom line. It makes no difference what kind of church we want to be because it really is not about us, it is about Jesus. When we get a look at Him as revealed in the Old and New Testament, in the Gospels, the Epistles and the Revelation, and we truly see His glory and His majesty, then those who overcome will fill the church and we will be churches like Philadelphia and Sardis. But not because we did such a good job but because He is Good. Let’s pray.

[1] The New International Version. (2011). (Re 2:1–2). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[2] The New International Version. (2011). (Re 2:8–9). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[3] The New International Version. (2011). (Re 2:12). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[4] The New International Version. (2011). (Re 2:18). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[5] The New International Version. (2011). (Re 3:1). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[6] The New International Version. (2011). (Re 3:7). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

[7] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 3:14–15). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[8] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 2:5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[9] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 2:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[10] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 2:15–16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[11] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 2:24–25). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[12] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 3:3). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[13] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 3:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[14] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 3:18–20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[15] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 2:7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[16] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 2:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[17] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 2:17). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[18] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 2:26–28). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[19] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 3:5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[20] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 3:7–8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[21] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 3:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[22] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 3:12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[23] The New King James Version. (1982). (Re 3:21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.