More than Conquers Sunday School

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Chapter 8 Revelation 2 & 3 The Seven Lamp stands

Pastor Wagon maker covered the first 3 sections Last Sunday the Letters to
Ephesus Rev 2:1-7
Smyrna Rev 2:8-11
Pergamum Rev 2:12-17
Now we are going to cover
The 4 other church mentioned in chapter 8
The letters to
4. Thyatira Rev 2:18-29
5. Sardis Rev 3:1-6
6. Philadelphia Rev 3:7-13
7. Laodicea Rev 3:14-22
Lets read revelation 2:18-29
More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (4. The Letter to Thyatira (2:18–29))

4. The letter to Thyatira (2:18–29)

18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first. 20 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. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 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, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 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. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Hendricksen Points out write away that
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More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (4. The Letter to Thyatira (2:18–29))
These trade-guilds were associated with the worship of deities: each guild had its guardian god.
The situation, therefore, was somewhat as follows: if you wish to get ahead in this world, you must belong to a guild; if you belong to a guild, your very membership implies that you worship its god. You will be expected to attend the guild-festivals and to eat food part of which is offered to the tutelary deity and which you receive on your table as a gift from the god.
And then, when the feast ends, and the real—grossly immoral—fun begins, you must not walk out unless you desire to become the object of ridicule and persecution!
he goes on to say

In this difficult situation what must a Christian do? If he quits the union, he loses his position and his standing in society. He may have to suffer want, hunger, persecution. On the other hand, if he remains in the guild and attends the immoral feasts, eating things sacrificed to idols and committing fornications, he denies his Lord.

I think this could be applied to the church today as well.
You may be in a profession like the Thyatirans where you are at social gatherings where the unbelievers you work with might frown upon you not taking part in what God calls sin.
And you would have to make the decision to not be a man pleaser and not care what others thought
and rather obey God.
And we know that we are not to partake in things like going to strip clubs,
as sometimes certain groups of people or events in our culture seem to promote this kind of behavior.
Whether you are in the military in which young men seem to think this behavior is ok in some circles.
Or you are going out on a bachelors party or a Bachloret party, and we see being permiscuous being promoted and glorified and almost expected by the media and in our society toady.
But we are to flea such behavior arn’t we.
In Johns day specifically to the church in Thyatira Hendricken points out

In this difficult situation the prophetess Jezebel pretended to know the real solution of the problem, the way out of the difficulty. She, apparently, argued thus: in order to conquer Satan, you must know him. You will never be able to conquer sin unless you have become thoroughly acquainted with it by experience. In brief, a Christian should learn to know ‘the deep things of Satan’. By all means attend the guild-feasts and commit fornication … and still remain a Christian; nay rather, become a better Christian!

So we don’t need to become aquanted with sin better, to be able to flee it rather thats how we end up like the prodigal son who was wanting to eat what the pigs eat and wishing he was back home and a servant of his father.
after he took the path of living a life of sin and frequenting the Jezebels and this philosophy of life.
We don’t need to reach our bottom or sin all the more before we turn to God.
So this was only some in the church because.
Hendricken also points out what the Lord commends the church of Thyatira for and what he condemns her for

The Lord praises whatever is worthy of commendation: works, love, faith, ministry—loving service rendered to the brethren—and endurance. He also praises them for this, ‘that thy last works are more than the first’. With respect to all of these Thyatira was, indeed, a lampstand, a light-bearer. But this does not constitute an excuse for failure to exercise discipline with respect to members who make a compromise with the world. Hence, we read: ‘But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman—not “thy wife”—Jezebel’. Her name is a synonym for seduction to idolatry and immorality

Jezebel is mention in the book of 1 Kings as one who strays people from the church.
We remember the story of Jezebel from 1 Kings 16:31 “And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, he took for his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshiped him.”
Marrying unbelievers or being unequally yoked in a marriage can lead to terrible things.
falling into idol worship.
sexual immorality. ect.
Hendrickson points out what he believes is the sin or motive of people who follow harlots like Jezebel litteraly and figuartivly.
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Hendricksen says “His penetrating eyes see the hidden motive that makes people follow Jezebel, namely, unwillingness to suffer persecution for the sake of Christ.”
He saying if you love the things of this world more than Christ
Or you would rather show your affections to the things of this world rather than be persecuted for standing up or speaking out against the sins your being asked to commit or condone.
Such as
Those that take the Lords name in vein in your presence.
Those that live together or who have relations together prior to marriage in the church.
Those that condone pornography, or partake in it openly.
We are to repent of these things because they displease the Lord.
Verses 21-23 Says the Lord gives such churchs and specially this church in Thyatira time to repent

21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 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, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works

Hendricken also points out that the Lord instructed the early church regarding Holy living in Acts 15:28-29 “For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.””
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Hendricksen then goes on to show us that we as the church will share in all the benifits of Christ.
He says

By and by the church member who has remained loyal to his Lord is going to rule over the world and, being associated with Christ in the final judgment, is going to condemn the sinner. He is going to share in Christ’s dominion over the nations—which Christ, in turn, had received from the Father (Ps. 2:8, 9)

Hendricksen then goes onto speak of the imagrey of the morning star pointing to Chirst

‘And I will give him the morning star.’ Here again the primary reference is to Christ Himself (Rev. 22:16). As the morning star rules the heavens, so believers will rule with Christ; they will share in His royal splendour and dominion. The star is always the symbol of royalty, being linked with the sceptre (Nu. 24:17; cf. Mt. 2:2).

can someone read
Rev 22:16 ““I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.””
And how this star points to Christs Kingship in
Num 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.”
Matt 2:2 “saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.””

5. The church of Sardis Rev 3:1-6

3 “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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Hedricksen points out that this church was outwardly a healthy looking church but he says

Sardis was sinking into spiritual stupor. This explains Christ’s self-description: ‘the One who has the seven—life-giving—spirits.’ He also has in His right hand the seven stars. By means of the ministers of the Word and their message the life-giving spirits are able to revive a dead church.

Hendriksen goes on to say
Neither the Jews nor the Gentiles seem greatly to have troubled the people of Sardis. Sardis was a very ‘peaceful’ church. It enjoyed peace, but it was the peace of the cemetery! Christ tells these dead church members that they must wake up and remain awake and must make firm the rest of the things that are on the verge of death. The lamp on the stand is beginning to burn more and more dimly. Soon the tiny flame will have been completely extinguished.
This church has become lazy in spiritual disciplines.
They like to speak or give lip service to the things of God.
But in practice they are lacking.
In fact the Lord calls them to repentance for this spiritual laziness in vs 3

3 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.

But just like the church in Thyatira Sardis has a remnant of faithful believers we are told by John in verse 4
Rev 3:4 “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.”
Then in verse 5 Hendricksen points out the clothing of those who are the Lords.
Hendricksen says

‘But thou hast a few names in Sardis that did not defile their garments; and they shall walk with me in white; for they are worthy.’ ‘A few names’—these individuals were known by name to the Father in heaven. They were known individually, each separately. God knew exactly who and what they were. He knows His own. They are as shining lights in the midst of the darkness of this world. These few who kept unspotted the garment of grace here would by and by wear the white garment of glory. White indicates holiness, purity, perfection, festivity (Is. 61:10; Rev. 19:8).

Hendrickson quotes some verses
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Is 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Rev 19:8 “it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”
Hendrickson closes this section by saying
Lastly for the church at Sardis we are not only reminded of the Lords faithfulness to us in giving us garments of white indicating we are Holy and set apart.
But that Christ will also never blot are names out of the Book of Life.
And He will confess the elect of Gods name before the Father in heaven.
Hendricksen points out that we must always acknowledge Christ before men.
And not hide the light that the Lord has given us.
Otherwise we are representing what type of Church or church memeber
A dead one
Rather we are to be alive churchs and church members according to Matthew and Luke
Can someone read.
Matt 10:32 “So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,”
and Luke 12:8-9 ““And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God.”
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6. The Church of Philadelphia Rev 3:7-13

7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

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Hendricksen points out

To this church Christ addresses Himself as the holy and true One. The pretensions of the false or non-genuine—that is, unbelieving—Jews are not pleasing to Him. Christ alone has ‘the key of David’, that is, the highest power and authority in the kingdom of God. (Cf. Is. 22:22; Mt. 16:19; 28:18; Rev. 5:5.) Christ knows that although this church has but little power, being small in number and in wealth, it has remained loyal to the gospel and has not denied the name of its Lord.

verse 8 says
Rev 3:8 ““ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
Hedriksen comments on this saying

The open door means, first, a wonderful opportunity to preach the gospel, and secondly, the operation of God’s grace creating willing ears to listen and eager hearts to receive it. (Cf. 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3; Acts 14:27.)

2 Cor 2:12 “When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord,”
Col 4:3 “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—”
Acts 14:27 “And when they arrived and gathered the church together, they declared all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.”
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This theme of declaring the truth of the Gospel continues in the the church of Philadelphia.
That the church is established by the Christ
The Gospel is to be proclaimed to the church about the mighty saving work of Christ.
And that it is God’s grace that creates willing ears to listen and the eager hearts to receive his message in converting us to children of God.
Hendriksen points out that the

Philadelphia’s church, though of small account in human eyes, was great in God’s eyes. Over against Jewish scoffers and accusers it had ‘kept the word of Christ’s patience’, which probably means the gospel of the cross in which the Lord’s patient suffering is set forth. Already it had obtained a wreath of victory in trial, which it is urged to hold fast

This is how we are to think of the church.
As a faithful light bearer to the world.
And that those with false gospel like the Jews around the Philadelphia church
In which John calls the synagogue of Satan.
Christ says they will bow down before the feet of this simple church that proclaims the true gospel.
And that these Jews will be converted through the faithful proclamtion of the Gospel
vs 9-10 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
Hendricksen summarizes what is taught in vs 11-13 in four things
He says

First, over against the Jewish accusers and scoffers it will not only prevail—like Smyrna—but will gain the victory, a victory in which the vanquished, through their conversion, will share! Secondly, it will be kept safe through the hour of trial. (Cf. Is. 43:2; Mk. 13:20.) Thirdly, the conquerors will be made ‘pillars’ in God’s temple. A pillar is something permanent. They will obtain the one thing which David desired (Ps. 27:4). No earthquake will ever fill them with fear or drive them out of the heavenly city. They will abide there. Finally, Christ will write upon the conqueror the name of His God, and the name of the city of His God, the new Jerusalem … and His own new name. In other words, to the conqueror will be given the assurance that he belongs to God and to the new Jerusalem and to Christ, and that he will everlastingly share in all the blessings and privileges of all three. For an explanation of the phrase ‘which comes down out of heaven from my God’, see p. 199.

Is. 43:2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Mk 13:20 “And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days.”
Ps 27:4 “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”
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More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (7. The Letter to Laodicea (3:14–22))

7. The letter to Laodicea (3:14–22)

14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so 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 eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

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Hendricksen says this regarding to verse 17 and the wealth of the people.
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More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (7. The Letter to Laodicea (3:14–22))
The citizens of Laodicea were rich—and they knew it! They were unbearable.
Even the church people manifested this same proud, defiant, conceited attitude.
Perhaps they imagined that their wealth was a sign of God’s special favour.
At any rate they began to think that they were ‘all it’. They had imbibed the spirit that characterized the city as a whole.
They boasted of their spiritual riches.
If the inhabitants of Laodicea would have said what they were thinking,
their speech would have been as follows; listen carefully to one of these unbearable boasters, one who represents the rest:
‘Rich am I—in spiritual goods—and all along I have been getting richer and richer, and whatever I have gained I still possess, and not one single need have I’ (verse 17).
The church of Laodicea suffers from the sin of Pride.
They think they can pick themselves up by their own bootstraps.
I sure Texans can’t relate with this attitude?
We always build it bigger or better than the rest of the United States.
Hendricksen points out that
More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (7. The Letter to Laodicea (3:14–22))
Even Christ Himself cannot stand them.
An emotion, a feeling is here ascribed to the Lord which is not predicated of Him anywhere else in the Good Book.
We do not read that He is grieved with them.
Neither do we read that He is angry with them.
No, He is disgusted with these straddlers. And not just slightly disgusted but thoroughly nauseated.
‘So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.’ Knowing very well that their entire religion is just so much sham and pretence, so much hypocrisy,
the Lord introduces Himself to them as their very opposite:
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God points out the church of Laodicia’s problem doesn't he.
Becasue God can see into a mans heart.
Hendricksen quotes four different verses about God being from the beginning to illustrate this.
One of the verses is
Col 1:15-18 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”
Hendricksen is pointing out that the God who created these people
The God that can see into mens hearts
Is saying this church is lacking and needs repentance from its pride and arrogance.
Hendricksen also points out that God is about to spew them out .
He has not yet.
Becasue God is longsuffering with his people.
So the people of Laodicia need repentance
And until it is granted to them by God they are describe d by Hendricksen as people you can’t work with
Hendricklsen says
The author of this book has become personally acquainted with this attitude on the part of some church members.
You cannot do anything with such people. With the heathen, that is with those who have never come into contact with the gospel and who are therefore ‘cold’ with respect to it, you can do something.
With sincere, humble Christians you can work with joy.
But with these ‘we’re-all-such-very-good-folks-here-in-Laodicea’ people you can do nothing. Even Christ Himself cannot stand them.
An emotion, a feeling is here ascribed to the Lord which is not predicated of Him anywhere else in the Good Book
We do not read that He is grieved with them.
Neither do we read that He is angry with them. No, He is disgusted with these straddlers.
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Hendricksen goes on to say
More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (7. The Letter to Laodicea (3:14–22))
To this congregation, and therefore to its typical member,
the Lord says, ‘You say that you are rich and have become richer right along, and have kept whatever you have gained, and that you have need of nothing whatsoever;
but you do not know that you, yes you yourself, are the one who is wretched and pitiable and beggarly and blind and naked.’
Notice, it is not ‘miserable’ but ‘pitiable’. Who is more to be pitied than an individual who imagines that he is a fine Christian, whereas in reality the Christ Himself is utterly disgusted with him?
Read those words very slowly and try to see the picture of an individual who has all these five characteristics combined—wretched, pitiable, a cringing beggar, blind, and naked!
These are like many in the church’s today in the south in my opinion.
And maybe in the North as well.
They speak like they are Christians .
They will assign God’s blessing to their lives if they are doing well financially.
They will speak of the time they came forward at a meeting and chose God.
And now they have no need for him.
They treat the church and the Lords day as I can take it or leave it.
They suffer from the same sin that the church of Laodicea did they think they are self sufficient without God.
Without the preached Word.
Without the Lords Supper.
But they are wisiling past the graveyard.
Hedricksen points out their need for Salvation
And how the Lord Cousels those in this church
More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (7. The Letter to Laodicea (3:14–22))
‘I counsel thee.’ How tenderly He speaks—not ‘I command’ but ‘I counsel’. Christ counsels this church to buy of Him
—‘of me’ is very emphatic—gold refined by fire, white garments, and eyesalve. In brief: ‘buy of me salvation’, for salvation is gold because it makes rich (2 Cor. 8:9);
it is white robes because it covers the nakedness of our guilt and clothes us with righteousness, holiness, and joy in the Lord;
it is eyesalve because when we possess it we are no longer spiritually blind.
Salvation must be bought, that is, we must obtain rightful possession of it. But how can those who are poor, and so on, buy anything? Read Isaiah 55:1 ff. and you have the glorious answer!
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Hendricksen then points out that God reproves them becasue he loves them.
He says

‘As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent … be zealous, therefore; and once for all repent … Behold, I am standing against the door and I am knocking.’

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Next in Verse 20 which reads
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 eat with him, and he with me.
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Hedricksen points out that it is the Lord who is Sovereignly calling sinners to repentance with this door imagery.
Hedricksen says
More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (7. The Letter to Laodicea (3:14–22))
Notice the phrase ‘if any man hear my voice’. It is not the person who is inside who takes the initiative.
No, this text is in complete harmony with the entire Bible in its teaching concerning sovereign grace.
It is the Lord who is standing at, or rather, against, the door—no-one has called Him—it is He who is knocking, not once but again and again:
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and lastly in verses 21-22

21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

We see that God not onloy calls us to repentance but grants salvation to his elect.
Those who God has given an ear to hear will hear the spirit calling him or her to himself.
Hendriksen closes out this chapter by saying
have SOMEone read

The sevenfold condition of these churches actually existed at that time. It exists today. It has existed during the entire intervening period. These seven churches represent the entire Church during the entire dispensation. It has become abundantly evident that the one great question is this, are these churches faithful to their charge? Do they hold fast the name of the Lord in the midst of the darkness of this world (Rev. 1:20)? In other words, are they lampstands, light-bearers? In Sardis and in Laodicea the world seems to have triumphed. We see but a tiny flicker of light; the light has nearly—yet not entirely—gone out. In Ephesus the light is still shining but the flame is diminishing. In Pergamum and in Thyatira, where the temptation coming from the side of the world was very real, the light is shining but not as brightly as it should be. In Smyrna and in Philadelphia the true character of the church as light-bearer is revealed and here one finds loyalty to Christ; therefore real influence for good is being exerted upon the world. Is this church a real light-bearer? That is the one, main question in all these epistles. Is it true to its Lord in the midst of the world?

The temptation to become worldly and to deny the Christ came from three directions.1 First, from the side of antichristian persecution, the sword, the wild beasts, the stake, imprisonment (2:10, 13; 2:9 and 3:9), and the Jews who were constantly accusing the Christians before the Roman courts. Secondly, and very closely related to the first, from the side of the Roman religion, emperor-worship (2:13). The first source of temptation cannot be separated from the second; yet the two can, and should, be distinguished. Thirdly, there was the temptation of the flesh: the constant invitation to join in the immoral feasts of the heathen in order to make one’s social position secure and to enjoy the pleasures of the world. And this form of temptation, as we have seen, was very closely related to the second, religious, form. The church is in the world. That was true then. It is still true today. The church should shine in the midst of darkness.

‘Ye are the light of the world—and the seven lampstands are seven churches.’

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