Revelation - Chapters 2 & 3

In this transcription, Julie Callio discusses chapters 2 and 3 of the book of Revelation, specifically focusing on the letters to the seven churches. She explains that each of these churches represents a different period in history and highlights their strengths, weaknesses, and the promises given to those who overcome. Julie emphasizes the importance of love and staying faithful to God. She concludes by summarizing the messages to four of the churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, and Thyatira. I am Julie Callio, your host, and thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to tune in with me today. If by chance you want to contact me, you can do that at bab.bc.pc at gmail.com. Today we are covering chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation. This is the first sequence of sevens, and these are letters to the seven churches which are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These were all located in Asia Minor, which is the western part of modern day Turkey. Chapter 1 was the prologue, which was the vision of Jesus Christ among the candlesticks. At the end of chapter 1 verse 20 it reads, As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches. One thing I did not mention was that the number seven in the Israelite culture represents a sense of fullness or completion. Yesterday it was discussed that there are different ways to interpret Revelation and one of those is historic. If you hold that view, then the church of Ephesus represents the apostolic church, Smyrna the martyred church of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, Pergamum the state church beginning with Constantine and continued to the end, Thyatira the firmly established church that is not only a church but a state, such as the Vatican, which is indeed both. It began with Gregory the Great and continues to the end. Sardis would be the Reformation church beginning with the 16th century, Philadelphia the characteristics of the missionary church beginning with the rise of modern missions under William Carey, and then Laodicea portrays the apostate church of the last days, the ones who forsake their religion. One of the problems that I have with it being just a historic view of interpretation is that it is easy to say that this passage is referring to them and we then do not heed the words as if they are for us. One thing we know to be true is that all of these cities and churches were present during John's writing and they did apply to them, but they also apply to the reader throughout the ages. To begin looking at these seven letters, let's look at what they all have in common. All seven begin the same. To the angel of the church end in the name of the city, write, John the apostle is charged with writing these letters to each of the churches. Then the sender of the letter is addressed and these all are parts of the descriptions of Jesus that are found in that first vision. With Ephesus it is, the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven golden lampstands says this. These descriptions are found in chapter 1 verse 13, 16 and 20. With Smyrna it says, the first and the last who was dead and has come to life says this. This is found in chapter 1 verses 17 and 18. With Pergamum it says, the one who has the sharp two edged sword says this. This is shown in chapter 1 verse 16. With Thyatira it is the son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and his feet are like burnished bronze says this. One change with this description and the one in chapter 1 is that John said with his vision one like the son of man chapter 1 verse 13 and here in chapter 2 verse 18 it reads the son of God but then the eyes are like fire in chapter 1 verse 14 and his bronze feet are in chapter 1 verse 15. With Sardis it says, he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars says this. Now the seven spirits of God is mentioned before John's vision in chapter 1 verse 4 and then the seven stars are in the vision in verses 16 and 20 of chapter 1. With the church in Philadelphia he is holy who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut and who shuts and no one opens says this. This one is different because in the vision it says the keys of death and Hades, plural. Here it says the key of David, singular with the description that if the Lord opens or shuts the door no one can change it. Then the last church Laodicea it reads the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God says this. This description is also found before the visions in chapter 1 verse 5 and then verse 8. It seems as if the description of the Lord matches the need of the church. Then with each of these churches the Lord says I know chapter 2 verse 2, chapter 2 verse 9, chapter 2 verse 13, chapter 2 verse 19, chapter 3 verse 1, chapter 3 verse 8, chapter 3 verse 15. One thing that is clear is that Jesus knows what is going on in his churches because he is standing in the midst of them and that still applies today. Now with most of the churches there is a compliment of something they are doing well. With Sardis only a few people have not defiled their clothes, chapter 3 verse 4 and then Laodicea does not have any compliment at all. Then most of the churches have a criticism of what they are not doing well except for Smyrna and Philadelphia. This reminds me that no one is perfect. We all have areas that need to improve and areas that we do well in. I find it easy to brand people as evil or good but life is not that easy and people are complex and complicated yet the Lord knows. Each of the churches have a command such as remember, repent, do, fear not, repent, repent, hold on, be alert and strengthen what remains, remember, repent, hold fast and then buy from the Lord. Also each church has a promise to those who overcome. Chapter 2 verse 7, chapter 2 verse 11, chapter 2 verse 17, chapter 2 verse 26, chapter 3 verse 5, chapter 3 verse 12 and then chapter 3 verse 21. This makes it clear that this book is to encourage its readers to stay faithful and persevere until the end. Each letter ends with he who has an ear to hear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. Chapter 2 verse 7, chapter 2 verse 11, chapter 2 verse 17, chapter 2 verse 29, chapter 3 verse 6, chapter 3 verse 13 and chapter 3 verse 22. With that being said let's take a brief look at each of the churches. Revelation chapter 2 verses 1 through 7 is a letter to the church in Ephesus. They are hard workers. They do not put up with evil. They make sure their preachers teach the truth. They endure and have not grown weary. Then verse 4, but I have this against you, you have left your first love. It seems they no longer were doing the right things for the right reason. Their love for God. If you remember Jesus said that all the law and commandments are fulfilled in two commands. The first is to love the Lord with all that you are and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. Then the Lord said in verse 5, remember then how far you have fallen, repent and do the works you did at first. This makes me think back to when I first fell in love with Jesus. I wanted to please him and that was my heart's desire. It's so easy to fall into doing one's duty instead of doing things because of love. Also remember that love is not always attached to feelings. True love is caring for the other even if you are tired. Verse 5 continues, otherwise I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. Ladies, I can't help but think this is what is happening to the Church of America today as the doors are closing left and right and it is because we have done our duty to build our church but we have stopped doing it because of our love for the Lord. Now to the one who has an ear and listens to the Spirit, I will give the victor the right to eat from the tree of life which is in the paradise of God. Now what does that make you think of? Genesis chapter 1 and 2. Revelation is a great way to end the Bible because it ties us all the way back to Genesis of the promises of God and it shows that this is one amazing book. Adam and Eve ate of the tree and it brought sin and death and they were expelled from the paradise of God but to those who overcome we receive life and get to come back into the paradise of God all because of Jesus. The church in Smyrna chapter 2 verses 8 through 11 suffered tribulation and poverty yet they are rich with the Lord. Then verse 10 reads don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. This is future so the Lord is saying it is going to get worse. Verse 10 continues look the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you and you will have tribulation for 10 days. J.B. Smith said while man is the instrument Satan is the instigator and the Lord is the permitter of the trial. One other thing to keep in mind is that the time of tribulation is limited. There is an ending those who are faithful until death receive the victor's crown and they will not be harmed by the second death. The first death is the bodily death and the second death is eternal death but as Christians we have already died to self. Galatians chapter 2 verses 19 through 21 Paul said I have been crucified with Christ and I do not live but Christ lives within me. Now with the Pergamum church chapter 2 verses 12 through 17 the Lord knows where they live and it is not a godly place but a few of them are following the ways of Balaam and Balak. This is found in Numbers 22 and then Numbers 25 and then 31 plus they followed other false teachers. To those who overcome the Lord will give them hidden manna and a white stone with a new name which is inscribed that no one knows except the one who receives it. If you remember in the Old Testament when people had an encounter with God their names were changed. Abram became Abraham, Jacob became Israel, Simon became Peter. This seems to be a new name like in marriage that is just between Jesus and his bride. Later on in Revelation chapter 19 verse 12 even Jesus has a new name. With the church in Thyatira they are doing greater works than at the first but they tolerated the woman Jezebel. In the Old Testament this is the wicked wife of the wicked king Ahab in first and second Kings. Verse 21 reads I gave her time to repent but she does not want to repent of her sexual immorality. Time is a gift from God to draw us to himself but some choose not to. God will bring sickness upon her so that the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts and I will give to each of you according to your works. Did you notice that the Lord is trying to bring his church, his bride back to himself. The church of Sardis had a reputation of being alive but they are a dead church. Verse 2 of chapter 3 reads be alert and strengthen what remains which is about to die for I have not found your works complete before my God. Ladies are your works complete before the Lord? One thing that I find so interesting is that the warning to be alert because I will come like a thief in the night and you have no idea at what hour I will come against you. Against whom? Against the church. Then the Lord said there will be a few that have not defiled their clothes and they will walk with him in white because they are worthy. I don't know about you ladies but I so desire to be worthy of the Lord. Verse 5 continues and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before my father and before his angels. It seems that the Lord has all people's name in his book but those who do not believe will be erased. With the church in Philadelphia they are weak but faithful. Here there are people who claim to be Jews and are not true believers. They lie and the Lord said I will make them come and bow down at your feet and they will know that I have loved you. What is so interesting to me about this is the Lord is lifting up the lowly and bringing down those who are prideful and then the Lord doesn't say to the liars look here are my faithful ones. Instead he said look here are the ones I love. The apostle John was the one who described himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. Do we understand how precious that is? Verse 12 says the victor I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of my God and he will never go out again. 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 my new name. We get new names for our new place because we too will be made new. The last church Laodicea in chapters 3 verses 14-22 they are neither hot nor cold just lukewarm. They are good for nothing and the Lord will spew them out of his mouth. They say they are rich but the Lord described them as wretched pitiful poor blind and naked. The Lord advised them to come to him and buy gold so that they can truly be rich and to get white clothes so that they may be dressed and not ashamed and ointment for their eyes to see. We again see the Lord is calling people back to himself. Verse 19 reads as many as I love I rebuke and discipline so be committed and repent. The Lord uses the circumstances of life to draw us back to him and to make us more like him. Then verse 20 behold I stand at the door and knock if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into him and have a meal with him and he with me. When I first studied Revelation in depth I was struck by this verse because I had always seen that old fashioned picture of Jesus standing at the door knocking on a closed door and I always thought it was to the unsaved. But what people group is this message to? The church people who claim to believe in him and I wonder how many churches are like that. We are worshipping doing our own thing while Jesus is standing outside knocking on the door but we won't let him in. One of the reasons we leave him outside is because when he comes inside he messes with us. He rebukes us, he disciplines us, he calls us to repent and to allow him to do his work in us. Are you willing? Do you have an ear to hear what the spirit says to the churches?