REVELATION - CHAPTER 2

REVELATION – Chapter 2 -Letters To the Churches

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Pastor Carolyn Sissom

Each of the letters to the churches is marked with some identifying feature of the titles of the Glorified Christ as seen by John in Chapter One.

1. He that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.
2. The first and the last, which was dead and is alive.
3. He that has the sharp sword with two edges.
4. The Son of God, who has his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass.
5. He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars.
6. He that is Holy, He that is true, He that has the key of David, He that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens.
7. The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God.

Each church is addressed with the words, “I know,” there follows a brief description of the condition of the church.  Two of the churches are really good, and two are really bad.  Three are a mix of good and bad.

Each letter ends with the exhortation, He, who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  This is a gift of grace that I pray for in my life, that I will have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

We find all seven of these churches today, with each church a window for us to look through and get a picture of the universal church.  The seven churches of Asia were headed for some very rough times of persecution.  This persecution would shortly come to pass and was already happening as John was given the vision.

In Rev. 2:13, Jesus honors Antipas, a faithful martyr, who was slain in Pergamos.   I researched Antipas.   Church history records that Antipas was ordained by John the Apostle as bishop of Pergamum during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian.  The account goes on to say Antipas was martyred in 92 A.D. by burning in a brazen bull-shaped altar used for casting out demons worshiped by the local population.

Also, tradition records that Antipas was one of the children that Jesus blessed at the blessing of the children.

Since he had already been martyred at the time of this visitation of our Lord that would date the Book of Revelation before 92 AD.

Pressure is being brought to bear on the Christians to be less unyielding in their negative attitude to such socially approved activities as emperor worship, fornication, pollution of idols, etc. (Acts. 15:20, 29)

We can say the same for the church today as pressure is being brought to bear on Christians to change our attitude toward the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman; abortion; fornication as young couples delay marriage in favor of living together; debauchery on our televisions and movie screens, etc.

I am standing with the Catholic Church and their “push back” with a law suit against our government for their pressure against the American church to violate our basic Christian values.

The pressure on the churches might take the form of active persecution as at Smyrna and Pergamum, or the more subtle and less easily resisted form of continued emphasis on the advantages of just so much conformity to paganism as to make life a little more comfortable.

Rev. 2: 1-7:  The Letter to Ephesus:  To the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things says He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you cannot bear them which are evil; and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and I have found them liars; And have borne, and have patience, and for My name’s sake have labored and have not fainted.  Nevertheless, I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love.  Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of its place, except you repent.  But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.  He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

At this time Ephesus was the greatest commercial city of Asia Minor and capital of the province of Asia.  It was widely renowned as the home of the cult of Ephesian Artemis (a local manifestation of the great mother-goddess of Asia Minor), whose temple there was one of the seven wonders of the world.

The Ephesian church resisted the idolatry and immorality, at least on the surface.

Ephesus was the mother church of the other churches in Asia Minor.  On his third missionary journey, the apostle Paul established a seminary in Ephesus, teaching there for more than two years.  From this school, trainees fanned out all over the province to start other churches.

Ephesus had lots of good works to its credit.  It was sound doctrinally, but had cooled toward Jesus, having forsaken intimacy with Him.  No amount of good works or sound doctrine---can take the place of agape love in a Christian community.

What’s more, the church was plagued with those claiming to be apostles.  After building a following, these false teachers would exploit their followers for personal advantage.  This is going on in the universal church today.  There are many who claim the title of Apostle, who are false Apostles.  If the Lord has ordained one as an apostle or prophet, we won’t have to announce who we are. 

Until the Lord states His charge, one would think this church was perfect.  but there is a major flaw, they substituted works for love.  If they do not repent, the Lord will remove their candlestick (His Presence).

After a stinging accusation of this church’s sin, the Lord adds a comforting word of praise.  He says in effect, “at least you hate the Nicolaitans”.  Once the Lord spoke to me about a church that had the doctrine of the Nicolaitans.  Theologians tend to lean toward the doctrine of the Nicolaitans as “believers have a right to participate in immoral heathen practices with the Blood of Jesus covering all sin.  They preached lawlessness as an acceptable way of life.”  The church the Lord spoke to me about didn’t advocate immorality, but were very self-righteous, judgmental and condemning.  The word “Nicolaitans” is also, used for “make believe Christians”.

According to the letter to the Ephesians by Bishop Ignatius of Antioch, Ephesus overcame.  He commends the church for their faith and love.  Ignatius was another student of John the Apostle.  History records that he was sentenced to death by lions in a Roman coliseum in 108 AD.

When the Lord was prophesying to the churches through the Apostle John, he was warning them of the severity of the persecution awaiting them.

The tree of life is the terrestrial counterpart of the tree of life in the Eden of Genesis.  This is eternal life.

Revelation 2: 8-11: To the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things say the First and the Last, which was dead and is alive; I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.  Fear none of those things which you shall suffer; behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days; be you faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life.  He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; he that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.

The letter to the church in Smyrna is the shortest of the seven and is also the most warmly commendatory.

“Those who say they are Jew and are not;” the true Jew is one whose life is praiseworthy in God’s sight (Rom 2:28).  The Jewish community in Smyrna, because of its slanderous attacks on the Christians, had shown itself unworthy of the name ‘Jew’, they were rather, by virtue of their opposition to the gospel, a synagogue of Satan.

Several decades later, the Jews of Smyrna played a prominent part in the attack on Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna.  Well known episodes in the history of the Smyrnaean church is the martyrdom of Bishop Polycarp.  Polycarp was also a disciple of John the Apostle.  He was bound and burned at the stake.  The fire did not touch him, so he was stabbed to death.

The Lord had not one complaint against this church.  It was severely persecuted.  Persecution always refines God’s people.  The Lord knew that even more severe persecutions were coming and encourages them to be faithful to death and they will receive the crown of life and shall not be hurt of the second death.

The second death is final judgment, the alternative to eternal life (Rev. 20:14; 21:8).

I stand amazed at much of the “arrogance” of ministers in the mirror of this scripture, who egotistically strut their crowns and scepters.  According to this Word, this good church will receive the crown of life if they will be faithful to death.  These martyrs suffered persecution and suffering beyond the scope of anything the Western church has ever experienced.

2: 12-17: To the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things says He which has the sharp sword with two edges; I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan’s seat is and you hold fast My name, and have not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwell.  But I have a few things against you, because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.  So, have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.  He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows saving he that receives it.

Pergamum means ‘citadel’.  Pergamum boasted:

 (a) A throne like altar to Zeus on the citadel;

 (b) The temple of the healing god, Asklepios, before which stood an image of the god in association with a gigantic snake, which could have been a counterfeit of the “serpent that was lifted up in the wilderness”.  John 3:14: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” 

© The earliest shrine of the provincial cult of Rome and Augustus, established there in 29 B.C. 

Persecution has never been a threat to the church.  Christianity is always accelerated and been purified during times of persecution.

Satan discovered that internal attacks by false teachers were a far greater weapon.  So, while the church at Pergamum had safely endured physical persecution, it had fallen into Satan’s trap by tolerating false teachers.

The teaching of Balaam is a reference to the apostasy of Baal-peor (Num. 25:3), which was instigated by Balaam (Num. 31:16); it involved fornication or ritual prostitution as well as idolatry.  Here the Nicolaitans and their followers are described as holding his teaching.

 Back in Balaam’s day, the prophet counseled the Midianite women to mix with the Israelites.  The Midianite women seduced the Israelite men and the nation became corrupt.

Such false teachings would have reduced the social differences between Christians and their pagan neighbors.  It is also possible there was a token participation in pagan worship by the church.

The hidden manna would be an abundant compensation for abstaining from idol-food.  As the tree of life has its heavenly archetype, so has the manna which Israel ate in the wilderness.  There was among the Jews a considerable body of teaching about this manna, hidden in heaven which would be revealed at the end time and given as food to the faithful.

In Psalm 78:24-25, it is called the bread of the angels: He rained down manna upon them to eat; and had given them of the corn of heaven. man did eat angel’s food; He sent them meat to the full.

John 6:33: For the bread of God is He which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.

John 6:27: Labor not for meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give to you; for Him has God the Father sealed.

A white stone with a new name written on it; the meaning of this gift is uncertain, but it may denote an inscribed pebble serving as a ticket of admission to the heavenly banquet.  The ‘new name’ according to Rev. 3:12, is Christ’s.  It will be known only to him who receives it.  Purveyors of magical amulets know how important it was that a name of power should be kept secret; the power of Jesus’ name is not to be commanded by magic arts, but is known in the experience of His servants.

Rev. 2: 18-23:  The Letter to Thyatira:  To the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things says the Son of God, who has His eyes like to a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass; I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first.  Notwithstanding I have a few things against you, because you permit that woman Jezebel, which calls herself a prophetess to teach and to seduce My servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.  And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.  Behold, I will cast her into a bed and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.  And I will kill her children with death; and al the churches shall know that I am He who searches the reins and hearts; and I will give to every one of you according to your works.”

(“reins” Gr. “nephros” the kidneys, or in figurative language, the innermost mind—I am He who searches hearts and minds.}

2:24: But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden, but that which you have already. Hold fast till I come.  And he that overcomes, and keeps My works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers; even as I received of My Father, and I will give him the morning star.  He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

For the first time in this book, the Lord refers to Himself as the Son of God.  To this small, rather obscure church, the Lord speaks the longest of His messages to the seven churches.  He is speaking to them with blazing eyes and glowing feet.  At this point Thyatira’s commendation exceeds that of Ephesus.  Until he says I have a few things against you, then the reprimand is severe.  They are tolerating the spirit of Jezebel, whether that is her name or her spirit, it does not matter.

1. The church has permitted Jezebel to teach.
2. Permitted her to seduce My servants (Christians) to commit fornication.
3. Permitted her to seduce Christians to eat things sacrificed to idols.
4. Tolerated her in spite of impenitence.

Her activity had evidently gone on for some time, and previous warnings had been unheeded; now sickness and plague will fall as a judgment on her and her children.  Literally I will kill her children with death.

Once again, the attributes of God are shared by Christ.  I will repay each of you according to your deeds is a repeat of the constant principle of divine judgment in scripture.

Jezebel teaches Satan’s so-called deep secrets:  there is a heavenly wisdom which explores ‘the deep things of God (1 Co. 2:10), so a counterfeit wisdom promises to open up ‘deep things’ as they are called—of Satan.  The reference may be to a form of Gnostic teaching, the doctrine of salvation by knowledge.

I am of the conviction that we do not have to spend time studying about Satan.  If we are following after Christ, Satan will be eating our dust and chasing us.

I will not impose any other burden on you---hold fast until I come:  His coming is a visitation of judgment upon the unfaithful and a reward for the faithful.  I will give authority over the nations---He will rule them with an iron scepter.  Messiah’s dominion is shared with His victorious followers.  The shepherd’s staff is a protection for the sheep but a weapon of offence against their enemies.  Just as I have received authority from my father, I will give him the morning star.  This must be understood in relation to Rev. 22;16, where Jesus calls Himself the morning star…a fulfillment of the royal star out of Jacob foretold by Balaam in number, 24;17.  The overcomer is to share the royal rule of his conquering Lord.