Letter to the Light-Bearers II: Christ's Strategy to Overcome in the Face of Compromise

Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

If Christianity was outlawed - and you were accused and brought into the Barrie courthouse, and there before you was a family member, a friend, a neighbour, and a teacher and someone from your work. What evidence would they produce to say - yes this person follows the way of Christ, here how I know what they believe, this is what they stand for. More positively, the question is: What of the light of Christ, transmitted by the sevenfold Spirit to flow into the lampstand of your life and mine, into the 7 churches - What of that light, that witness, that suffering love - is seen here and in our daily lives? Jesus says, that’s the first mystery the inaugural vision of this book and these letters- the mystery is Christ among the churches as light in this dark world - and each of the letter unpacks who Christ is for and with us - in this mission. The focus isn’t on the churches but on Christ among us and us witnessing the Gospel in whatever city we are in.

But that is also the problem which that Jesus puts his finger on, all the way from heaven. The problem isn’t Rome, it is not all the suffering, persecution, the problem isn’t even Satan, or the nations. The problem is this in this dark world, where for sure God’s enemies are at work, the church, we Christians like the proverbial frog in the pot - the temperature slowly turned up - hey this isn’t so bad. Hot bath, hot tub, - boiled. See, we are not only to change the world, we are to keep from having the world change us! We saw that in those letters on the extremes first and last, worst - Ephesus and Laodicea. Big cities, on the outside looks like successful churches - but Ephesus no witness no love to Christ anymore, love of salvation; Laodicea got all the outward wealth - both imperial cult to Emperor just become so much like the world that - nothing to offer that world, no light. Such a threat of removing the lampstand if not shining that light. Spewed out like lukewarm water! But what promise,even to the worse, repent, remember - stand re-admitted Christ dine with you restore you. Then we also saw the best churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia - also cities so tempting to bow to Imperial Rome, - but I know your suffering love, and witness and obedience, not compromise - and He outfits them with greatest promises of who He is and what He will give them, now and in the last day! Kind of amazing that the smallest churches, with biggest struggle, facing real opposition, they are the faithful and blessed ones.

Key Truth: Christ provides the resources to overcome spiritual, lifestyle, & moral compromise for effective witness.

But the heart of this one circular letter is really found in the message to these middle three churches, with the longest one right at the center - real mixed bag churches - and Christ gives them resources to overcome compromise and instructions to become overcomers.

This starts with the spiritual compromise that renders us ineffective as light bearers and Christ’s remedy at Pergamum.

A. Spiritual Compromise at Pergamum overcome by Repentance with the Two-edged Sword and Reliance on Christ.

What a relief that the first 4 messages begin with ,not only who Jesus is, but also His positive assessment before coming with the rebuke we need. We already know that Pergamum is where the persecution is starting, probably during the reign of Domitian. And that Antipas - an example of how Christians reproduce the life of Christ - witness to the truth of the Gospel and to back that up with suffering love.

All but one these churches had this new Imperial cult - acknowledge Caesar is God and Lord, allegiance to him, and Caesar has the power of the sword - Antipas with head rolling shows that. But like his Saviour hold and protect and lift high name of the Living God and His Son. He didn’t deny his faith.

But Jesus says, not only do I know where you dwell, my eyes see that throne of Satan there. Without a question Pergamum, in addition to being the capital of the Roman province (though the proconsul was at the biggest city Ephesus, Pergamum was the most religious. Such a well laid out city, in valley inland. Bottom of the hill the plebs homes and shops, then the business owners, then the great leaders, and then the acroploic on the top fthe 1000’ mountain - huge altar to Zeus so big could call it throne of Idol God, throne of pagan deity, jutting out over the brow of mountain, - Satanic oppostion to truth of Christ. But there also the god Asklepios - healer - you know his symbol with cross and snake - but most pertinent, just 60 years before, temple erected for the cult of Ceasar August and he gave the proconsul the right of the sword, the power to execute at will. In the West this Satanic power seated at Rome, in the East, Pergamum.

And did you catch the title given to the one who stood against that claim, paying with Hi life? Rev 2:13

Revelation 2:13 ESV

“ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

He given that title of jesus the faithful witness - we are to replicate the life and character of Christ and that is how we really conquer.

But now Jesus says, here’s the problem: as we shine the light tin the world today. What are the few things that Jesus has against these light bearers Problem not the believers themselves - but its them holidng to a spiritual teaching that compromises them. Which two teachings?

First one is of Baalam - two word in his name baal and yam. Do you remember how Baalam - Lorded, ruled the people of Israel. Couldn't mess them up by speaking curse, kept blessing them. But then he comes back to King of Moab Balak. You know how to get them - I’ve got a plan - and his plan became the prototype of corrupt teachers, that get believer to betray themselves in fatal compromises with wordly ideologies.

He brings the food and the idols and the beautiful young women - said come on with us - to our religious festival. Here - no harm taking this great food, worshiping with this . This is Rome and you want to partake in our city - you must -partake with us. And same message with the second teachers - Nicolaitans - same words but in Greek - nike means what - victor overcome - trick believers into thinking that they can still be faithful to the Lord while at the same time taking on the beliefs and the lifestyle of Rome. That word , porneo - sexual immortality - fornication - word that Romans have no qualms about - part of the religious festivals and even duty of a citizen - but a word that summarizes not only pornography, homosexual acts, but adultery, sex outside of marriage - whole list incest, bestiality. Lev Term that comes with a whole list of sexual sins that can destroy a church. Rationalize have it both ways. . And shows how easily we can fall into the sin of being in the world spiritually, but the world being in us. Like ship on water, vs. ship with water in it. Sin of Presumption.

And what is the message of Christ? how does this message start - vision of Christ - not a bazooka that just blows away those who stumble and fall. But look from chapter 1 vision, Here he comes: Rev 2:12

Revelation 2:12 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Its not Caesar that ultimately holds the sword. Christ Althea the death blow to Satan, and though Satan lingers on. The king of kings sees us on the battle field with the fatally wounded yet still raging dragon - and this double edged sword - the ultimate weapon of the soldier comes out of Christ what - His mouth and this will destroy Christ’ ancient foe and enable overcome spiritual comprise. Early Church Fathers say this is the OT and the NT And so Jesus says, are you in spiritual compromise with the world - Repent - turn from the sin and the compromise lies, the lifestyle that says “I can have it both ways.” Think of Antipas - I will stand for Christ here. Here Jesus saying - this sword cuts both ways, so repent and let it drive the lies away, or else if you side with them Nicolaitan and Balaam’s - see this word destroy them in judgment.

And look at the resource Jesus promises: Rev 2:17

Revelation 2:17 ESV

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.’

God’s pilgrim people, sojourner’s, a colony of grace in dark empire, God outfit them with manna - enough food for the day, provision materially, but even more spiritual bread - Jesus says,, I am the bread - I will provide you so its like you are eating on me. And this is like when exile happens and they hid the pot of manna in cave. We have access like that! And look just like friends back then take a white stone break it in half - say this a token come, show it at my gates - entrance into my house any time. And like guilds and religion, have a banquet such a rock was admission - I will have that tight relationship with you,.

But the promise of Jesus coming to help us not only with spiritual compromise but with lifestyle, financial compromise in every day life comes in these letters. That’s the church at Sardis:

B) Overcome Lifestyle-Compromise at Sardis with the Seven Spirits

Now we come to the church that is increasingly more comprised, only one worse will be Laodicea. And this is one that there is absolutely no persecution, no problems, no suffering at all mentioned. No spiritual attack from Satan. It is interesting that this is the only one that wasn’t a city with a cult to the emperor. It was a nice enough city and they even competed to have that capital religious center cult of the Emperor - but they lost and you know why? It interesting and important because the problem of the city of Sardis became the problem of the church the light-bearers the Christians there. Problem of presumption, thinking so good , so secure but - no reality of it there! They didn’t have any problems they had no opposition, because they had become so much like the world around them, that they weren’t serving for Christ, there, so Satan just let them alone.

Here the order of the letter is startling. Jesus commended all the others before this first , but here He says, “I know your works… and you expect like the others some of the good Christ was working in them and they were imaging Christ in the world. But no: Rev 3:1b-2

Revelation 3:1b–2 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

This is devastating - they think they are alive and that they have spiritual life in Christ, because they do churchy things, and they have a church background, full church without conflicts. Jesus says - you are fooling yourself. Its not just that they are saved and still progressing that they have good fruit and are growing in it. Their works are incomplete, deficient and they have no divine approval.

They have become Christian in name only, but its a total sham the rest of their life is untouched by the Word and grace of God. Its’s like in Isaiah’s day in Isaiah 29:13

Isaiah 29:13 ESV

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

And in Jesus’ day: Matthew 23:27

Matthew 23:27 ESV

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.

We walked by those very tombs. And Jesus says, a word that every person in Sardis would know so well. Wake up - or actually literally Stay Alert. You see Sardis is the oldest of these cities all the way back past days of Trojan War. The name of the city literally means Sardis Fortress in this big inland valley there it stood on what they said was inprgenalbe fortress. Proverb to be take Sardis was to do the impossible. Like pigs will fly, like take Sards.

But five ties they did. And twice because watch on the citadel, seeping while, Cyrus the Persian sent unit that climbed up the cliffs and took he whole city. A little while later Antiochus the Great same way. And still in the present they boasted of there storied history and great position. And here’s why Rome turned them down to be the captial of Asia - They were relying on past, but didn’t have greatness now!? Jesus says the same thing: You are relying on what? REPUTATION. Did you hear Jesus say that to the Christians? You have a reputation - but not the reality! And so Jesus is calling out wake up Alert Attention. If not I will come - not just Second Coming Great Judgment but in this present time, come like thief in night -like destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD come in your space and time in history! And you will lose your very church.

But not a bazooka to destroy us. Listen to his call to repentance even to those with no spiritual life. Rev 3:4

Revelation 3:4 ESV

Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

Story of whole book - those who wake up, turn to Christ, purify their robes in the blood the lamb - do you hear that they are worthy in Christ. Are you compromising in lifestyle and you are not even sure if you are saved? Who is this promise for what must we do? Twofold simple strategy: Rev 3:3a Remember and keep, and then repent!

Revelation 3:3a ESV

Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Oh, do you remember, what salvation is all about it. It is not just to recall it, its to remember it in a way that you act on it. Christ’s order here represents the basic concern, which is not their repentance per se, but their returning to a steadfastness toward the gospel in their complacent city. Like the story of Solomon - relying on past reputation spiritually - end of life disastrous - book of Eccl remember turn back. So to church goers that have backslidden and maybe not even sure if ever really saved! Oh you who backslide. i I there hope for you? Jesus says, yes remember repent, and what strengthen what remains! Get back to living for Christ and keep living in that salvation keep repenting, then what? Walk with the Risen Christ. Look at the promise: Rev 3:5

Revelation 3:5 ESV

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

You get that conquering by living and acting on salvation, and the image is now like the victory parade after a Roman military victory. Here comes the victorious general into the city, and their are his people sharing in the victory all dressed in white. And look you repent like this, then you can have deep assurance. Precious book of the city - the Rostrum, listing of the citizens. Not just that your name inscribed their forever, never lose your standing. But look what the living Christ promises to do with your name. Before His Father and the holy angels… Jesus drop your name - acknowledge you in the heavenly throne room - mission control center! Imagine it your name is mentioned by Jesus in heaven today as He intercedes for you in your service and your struggle here below!

But then we get to the focal point of the struggle with comprise and over-coming at Thyatira.

C) Overcome the Moral-Compromise of Thyatira by Letting Christ’s X-ray Eyes Search You & His Bronze Boots Kick all Moral Resistance Away!

Thyatira was another inland city which set itself a part with no imperial qualities, nor its size or importance. Now at very cetnre: what set itself apart was that it was a great centre of the trades. Archaeology shows remarkable amount of clothiers, bakers, bronze-workers, specifically burnish bronze alloy, cobblers, weavers tanner dyers ( like first convert Lydia a seller of purpose goods from Thyatira. , and potters. They organized themselves into guilds. And each of these guilds also a religious organization like a trade union. They would have feasts with food sacrificed to those idols, and then often great parties, with male only party that they would bring young girls for sexual immorality. Seen as part of the religious ceremony and just life.

So you convert to Christianity and you have got this job with one of these guilds, but say - I’m not coming to the feast or I’ll come but I am happy with my spouse - don’t need - and start costing your business. How do you manage it? And then enter Lady Jezebel - - What should we do with this culture of ours and my business? Rev 2:20

Revelation 2:20 ESV

But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

And there are Jezebel’s as surely as there are Balaam’s teaching in our churches - say no problem God is all forgiveness and love and grace is just acceptance and repentance and walking in the way of Christ and his commands matters not. And you may say well that’s not me I am not doing that. But that wasn’t Jesus complaint was it? The problem was - this is happening and you don’t care. Your apathetic to the influence of such teaching. Unwilling to uproot the teaching from your midst, confront and work through in your homes! There is a careful distinction between someone influence and stumbling in sin - we all struggle - but big difference between that and actually teaching - we can live continuing in sin, we don’t need God’s Word or law. This is the messy business that with a right spirit will not result in healing - but still needs to be attempted - discipleship in your life mine and when we stray what we’ve all committed to if my life or my belief out of wack show up - help - I will submit to Christ coming in his to me.

And here is the real kicker - all of this compromise that Christ writes to us His churches about - it’s all going to come again - with the images of how He walks among us in these struggles in the rest of the visions of this book. And where else do have one like a prostitute seducing the true church of Christ, tempting to commit sin of pornea? This is is exactly the language used of Lady Babylon the prostitute - but not sexual sin - but like the rest of the temptation - all luxury, economic sin -not wealth but how its used -And Jesus says not just a problem that that sin is there but that we tolerate grow laxidacial, don’t deal with sin!

But tolerating Jezebel is saying we can take a laissez-faire attitude to sin - and Jesus says that will ruin a church and its light-bearing witness where I’ve planted them. Listen to how this fits with the overall message of the vision part of the book: Rev 18:3-4

Revelation 18:3–4 ESV

For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.” Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues;

And so listen to Jesus who from heaven has a plan for you and me in our city with whatever persecution, what ever opportunity whatever prosperity ordain for us - to be his witness, but not just twiddling his thumbs watching his church. He is the one with those x-ray eyes and burnished bronze boots: Rev 2:22

Revelation 2:22 ESV

Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,

Jesus says, I deliver warnings, and my comings predicted in this book, not just the last physical coming, not just great tribulation. But I will call to repent and I will bring judgment and I will take candle stick away, and leaving people in their chosen sin - even literally in the bed they have made they will feel the consequences.

But look at the promise: to the rest in v.24 - you don’t test God by engaging in those sins, while saying you walk wit the Lord, the deep things of Satan. Like Peter and the early church at Acts, no sexual immorality no meat sacrificed to idols - but not long list of arbitrary rules. I lay no further burden…

And what is the work of God’s church in the churches in this age - follow the lamb, worship , witness, service, suffering love - Rev 2:26

Revelation 2:26 ESV

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,

We reproduce the life and service of Jesus on earth, and we are promised by overcoming in that suffering live witnessing way, we will also be raised with him we will reign with him. And that’s right at the center of this book about Christians living in the last days, walking with the Lamb until he physically comes again.

He quotes Psalm 2 how David begins the Psalter - follow word of God Psalm 1, but Psalm 2 Messiah Son of God ask me the Father for the nations, I will raise you up - they will Kiss the Son -

Look at the quotation Rev 2:27

Revelation 2:27 ESV

and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.

Same word for shepherd with rod and staff. And then Jesus uses the title that is the last one of the whole Bible for him. you get this rule and share in heaven with Jesus in it. Rev 2:28-29

Revelation 2:28–29 ESV

And I will give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

The morning star for Romans is Venus - sign of victory. And Christ says I will give you myself and you will reign in victory even in the midst of temptation to compromise. Reign not just over your sin and y sin, but restore this whole world.

Not seven different letters, but circular one letter, and with each situation Jesus says to them all seven times, what the prophets said after told a mystery riddle, did a peculiar parables that pictured the kingdom the gospel - He who has an ear let him - hear this is the mystery of Christ walking in the church, this in the mystery of the holy Spirit working this light. Figure this out - get this mystery for it is the only way to wak through these last days: How the book ends as a letter too: Rev 22:10-11

Revelation 22:10–11 ESV

And he said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy.”