Revelation 2.1-11

Recap:

Chapter 1 Sets the plot into motion with the inaugural vision

It is the hermeneutical key for understanding the text

Kingdom involved with Persecution and Endurance

Judgement Context - in the same manner of the OT Prophets

to the 7 churches representing the churches of Asia Minor

Apocalyptic imagery to identify who Jesus is.

7 Letters with a 7-fold Structure

Address

Identification

Account

Assessment

Exhortation

Promise

Call

Tables on this slide***

Something to consider - Literary Analysis

The letters are prophetic judgement oracles as to be expected in a prophetic genre

Τάδε λέγει shows this.

Τάδε λέγει trans. “thus says …” or “the words...” in Rev. 1.20

Τάδε λέγει trans. “The Lord says this...” in Ex. 4.22 LXX

The idea is that we see John’s prophetic writing here.

Who’s doing the judging?

Back to the inaugural vision!

It’s Jesus

remember how Jesus is portrayed? His head and hair look like the Ancient of Days in Dan. 7.9

Jesus, seen in a high Christological light, that is Jesus who is divine, is judging.

The judgement is happening in real time!

“… the letters actualize the Son of Man’s judgment, expressing God’s sovereignty through a reigning Lord” (Stevens, 280).

Ephesus Rev. 2.1-7

Revelation 2:1–7 ESV

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

About Ephesus

Along with Smyrna and Pergamum, Ephesus is one of the greatest cities of Asia Minor

Strong Center of the Emperor Cult - earliest temple to any emperor

A colossal statue of either Titus or Domitian was placed in the temple complex

this further shows the Imperial propaganda

Ephesian statue head and arm***

Artemis statue***

there was also a temple to Artemis (Roman Diana)

“Greek goddess of the moon, wild animals, and hunting. the cult of Artemis at Ephesus, where she is called Diana by the Romans (Acts 19.23-41), regarded her especially as a fertility goddess.

We see just how interwoven religion is to the rest of life.

Artemis coin***

Identification Rev. 2.1

to the angel - whether some mediating angel or human leader, Jesus is speaking to the Ephesian church.

him who holds the seven stars… who walks among the seven golden lampstands

Remember Jesus is with his church as symbolized by the lampstands

Jesus is about to issue his prophetic judgment - the words of him....

Account Rev. 2.2-3

a possitive account

They are enduring patiently by their opposition to false prophets

cannot bear those who are evil… tested those who call themselves apostles…

From the inception of the church, there have been false prophets and false teachers.

The Ephesians are discerning and deal with them appropriate, clinging to the true way and identity of Christ - bearing up for my name’s sake

Assessment Rev. 2.4

Here’s the negative part.

Jesus is calling for repentance here. Like what we see in OT prophets, the people of God are to turn back to God.

they have abandoned their first love.

Love here is a noun and only appears one other time in 2.19 where it is connected to faith, service and patient endurance

It seems that John sees love as a the faithful action of believers that reflects the faithful action of Christ. (Stevens, 292)

Christians are to reflect Christ.

It seems that the Ephesians have done well to deal with false doctrine internally but have failed to reflect Christ externally.

Strong doctrine with a weak witness.

Exhortation Rev. 2.5-6

the exhortation is to remember and repent; to be a witness for Christ once again in the war of words (Cf. Rev. 1.15; Is. 11.4)

Nicolaitians - there is a recognition again that the church rejects false teaching, but scholars don’t know much about these folks.

the Nicolaitians are only mentioned here and in 2.15 in the letter to Pergamum.

Ephesus and Pergamum were the first cities in Asia Minor to initiate and aggressively pursue emperor worship.

Perhaps the Nicolaitinas advocate the Imperial cult. If so, there is more to be seen in emporer worship.

In the 1st Century there was not separation of Church and state. Instead they were interwoven. This makes John’s rhetoric all the more subversive.

Call Rev. 2.7a

v. 7 churches, plural - all the churches would have read all the letters.

call to the churches and their leadership to fulfil this prophecy by obedience.

Promised Rev. 2.7b.

to the one who conquers - How does one conquer? How did/does/will Jesus conquer evil?

The Inaugural Vision showed the cruciformity of how Jesus deals with evil. In the cross, Jesus conquers. He is Lord over all holding the keys to death and Hades.

In this example, the church conquers by obediently consummating what Jesus inaugurated.

The church is to take her cross and follow her Lord.

This is obedience and faithfulness.

This needs to be understood against the conquering narrative of Rome, specifically the games.

There is honor and prestige for the gladiatorial victor.

The loser was expected to die like a true Roman with courage and no fear while facing death.

The Gospel opposes this. Honor is found in a resurrected life and the death of Jesus gave beleivers that life.

Application

We can emphasize doctrine, but if our external witness is not centered on Christ, we have a problem.

Perhaps, we’ve been that way. So focused on doctrine that we forsake our Christian witness.

Orthodoxy without Orthopraxy is void of any real value.

Smyrna Rev. 2.8-11

Revelation 2:8–11 ESV

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto 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. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

About Smyrna

a port city

Like Ephesus it was very loyal to Rome.

Rome as the Patron and Smyrna as the client

Smyrna was the first city to build a temple to goddess Roma in 195BC

Roma is the female deity that is the personification of the Roman state.

To refuse Rome or worship of Rome, was considered impious and impropriety.

Identification Rev. 2.8

To the church of Smyrna via this angel, who or what ever the angel maybe.

the one addressing them is “the first and the last, who died and came to life.”

Back to the inaugural vision! Its Jesus.

This is a reminder of the deity of Jesus and the Gospel over all.

Account Rev. 2.9

Jesus affirms the church - I know…

Smyrna’s Christians are experiencing present tribulation (thlipsis )

For their faith, they are in poverty.

Remember, you don’t refuse Rome or worship of her.

Religion is interwoven throughout society and even economics.

if you don’t sacrifice to the imperial cult or burn incense to the emperor, then your business does not fare well. Jobs are hard for social rejects who confess the Jewish executed messiah as Lord.

They are “rich” - they have not sold their witness of Christ for worldly opulence.

They are enduring slander probably as “atheists”

Among their opponents are Jews, at least they think so.

Jesus came as a Jewish messiah, and in John’s mind, real Jews accept their messiah.

Perhaps these Jews were oppressing them so they are liken to Satan. Cf. Mk. 8.33

A Word about Opposition - The Satan

The Roman State, Persecutors and Unbelievers are certainly presuring the church.

There is, however, more to it that what meets the eye.

The Satan, the great deceiver and accuser is behind these structures, pulling strings to keep humanity immersed in darkness.

The beautiful picture of Revelation is that in the darkness shines the light of the lampstands and their Lord, that is, the Church and Jesus. Redemption is in motion as the darkness begins to fade.

Assessment Rev. 2.10

the prophetic word encourages the church - do not fear

Pain and suffering are a reality and one that is to continue, though for a time.

The devil will seek to harm the Church, but its only temporary as Jesus continues his work against evil.

Ten days: there is no way of knowing if this is meant to be literal or symbolic. We do know it will cease at some point. There is an aspect of duration.

Exhortation Rev. 2.10

However long the tribulation, the church is called to be faithful until death, Just like Christ.

Will there be a rapture in the future? Time will tell, but it was not so for these believers.

Their faithfulness would gain them a crown of life - resurrection life.

Promise Rev. 2.11

to the one that conquers - juxtaposed against Roman conquest, the obedience of believers is met with life.

“second death” is unique to revelation, but what we do see is that its antidote is the resurrection.

The second death, however it may be parsed out, is the death to fear.

Rome can kill the body, but believers will not be killed again.

Christians can persevere with the hope that Christ holds them secure.

Application

a future tribulation is in the mind of John, rather a present one.

The global church suffers daily. The exhortation to them is to continue the good fight.

The American church may be in the midst of a culture war, but persecution is not happening presently.

the exhortation to us to support the persecuted church by whatever means we can - Prayer, giving, missional work, etc.

We must also persevere daily in our faith so that if/when persecution occurs, we stand firm in Christ.