(For an introduction and
background see the previous article).
The
Church in Ephesus
“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 have not grown weary,” (Revelation 2:2-3).
Jesus opens by commending several aspects of the Ephesian
church, praising them for enduring against persecution and evil. In verse three
he gives a similar praise about suffering for the name of Christ and not giving
up. No doubt Christians were undergoing immense pressure to conform to the
world and forsake their faith in Christ. He also commends them for testing
those who claimed to be apostles but were actually not. The specifics of what
these false apostles were doing are unclear, but we can infer that the church
was tested by people who were preaching either false doctrine, promoting
immoral behavior, or distorting the gospel. Either way the Ephesian Christians
were able to sift through these false apostles and resist them. So endurance
against evil, false doctrine, false teachers and forsaking the faith are
praised by Jesus Christ. Now what does he condemn?
“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,”
(Rev. 2:4-5).
The church is criticized for losing the love they had
initially for Christ. How odd that a church can be commended in one sense for
their faithful endurance but yet be criticized for losing their love of Christ.
What a scary thought this should be for present day Christians. We may be
faithful to serve and hold fast to truth, but if we do not maintain our love
for the Savior we are in danger of the rebuke of Christ. So the Ephesians are
commended for their endurance against evil and holding fast to the gospel, but
are criticized for losing their love for Christ. Let’s look at what Jesus has
to say to the next church.
The
Church in Smyrna
“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 the 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,”
(Rev. 2:9-10).
There’s not really a direct commendation or criticism
here. The church is praised for their endurance in tribulation, slander and
suffering. They are encouraged to endure what they are about to suffer with the
promise that the faithful unto death will be rewarded by Christ. We can safely
say Jesus desires endurance and faithfulness to Christ and the gospel in the
midst of persecution, slander, and tribulation.
The
Church in Pergamum
“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,” (Rev. 2:13).
The Church in Pergamum is commended for holding fast to
their faith in Christ and to the gospel even while one of their members was
killed for his faith. Again we see endurance in the midst of persecution
praised by Jesus. Unfortunately there are several things Jesus speaks against
in the church.
“But I have a few
things against you[1];
you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a
stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food
sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who
hold the teaching of the Nicolatians. Therefore repent,” (Revelation
2:14-16a).
Without getting too deep into the context of the church
we can clearly see there were issues with the church holding to incorrect
beliefs which were leading to immoral physical and sexual behavior. The issue
of believing truth and behaving rightly are strongly interconnected. Right
belief usually produces right behavior. Wrong behavior usually is a precursor
to believing falsehood. Here we see Jesus is concerned with his church
believing truth and practicing righteousness. He warns them to change their
mind or “repent” and thus[2] change their behavior. And
just as bonus here, I will include the promise of reward Jesus gives to the
church. (Jesus includes several of these promises in these chapters, but this
one is pretty cool). “To the one who
conquers…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,” (Rev. 2:17).
Faithfulness to Christ, his word and his righteousness is again praised.
The
Church in Thyatira
“I know your works,
your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter
works exceed the first,” (Rev. 2:19)
Jesus again opens his words to the church with
commendation. He praises their love, faith, service and endurance. By this
account they are a faithful and growing church. But the criticism given by
Christ is unfortunately pretty long.
“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,” (Rev. 2:20).
Christ goes onto speak of the punishment
which will come upon this “Jezebel”[3] and those who follow her teachings.
Let’s just say it doesn't end well for anyone involved. We can see again how
the church was being affected by immoral belief and immoral behavior. In this
case it was sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols,[4] a practice rejected by the
apostles and leaders of the church at that time. Jesus condemns unrighteous
belief and unrighteous behavior within the church. He calls them to repent of
their deeds and hold fast to what is right. “But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching…only
hold fast what you have until I come,” (Rev. 2:24-25).
We’ve got three more churches to go[5], but let’s stop here and
look back. What are the characteristics in the churches which were consistently
praised and encouraged by Christ? Endurance and faithfulness. He praises those churches that held fast to the gospel, to
truth, and to righteous behavior, even in the face of persecution, death, false
teaching and evil. Furthermore, the end of each speech to the church ends with Christ
saying, “To the one who conquers…”, (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26), and then the promise of reward. Conquering
implies endurance, faithfulness, and overcoming odds. Clearly Jesus desires the
church be filled with those who, in the face of an evil and contentious world,
hold fast to truth, morality, and to Him.
Conversely, what does Jesus condemn? He condemns the
church for losing its love for Christ. He criticizes them for tolerating
immorality, false teaching and false prophets. I believe false belief and false
behavior will be consistent issues addressed by God and the apostles as we
study the purpose and desired product of the church. The Lord here specifically
rebukes both. Right doctrine should lead to righteous behavior. Righteous
behavior will not exist without truth. On the flip side, immoral behavior will
ultimately lead to a corruption of your belief system and believing false
teaching about God, Jesus, man, sex, money, marriage, love, and truth will
ultimately lead to a depraved lifestyle.
We’ve reviewed four of the seven churches of Revelation. In some ways it’s pretty awesome and in other ways it is incredibly humbling. We’re hopefully building a framework from which we can understand God’s desired purpose and product for His church. As we As today is the day before Easter, I conclude by hoping our time in Revelation be both a blessing and a challenge to all of us in our own walk with the Savior who is risen, he is risen indeed.
Questions
for you, the reader[6]:
- How do these
commendations speak to our understanding of God’s desired purpose and product
of the church?
- How do the criticisms
given by Christ speak to God’s desired purpose and product of His church?
- If Jesus were to speak
about your life would he commend you for your endurance to truth and righteous
living? Or would he “have a few things against you?”
- Does your church create
an atmosphere of “conquering”, holding fast to truth, the gospel, and to
righteousness? Does your church promote endurance in your faith? Does your
church promote moral purity in thought and heart?
- How’s your level of
sexual purity? That seems to be somewhat important to the risen Savior.
- How’s your love of
Christ? How does it relate to your earlier life in Christ? Is it higher, lower?
Growth in our love of God seems to be important to Jesus, (see the church at
Ephesus and also the greatest commandment).
- What is your view of
truth and the Bible? Right belief is a priority to the one who is “the first and the last, and the living one.
I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and
Hades,” (Rev. 1:17-18).
[1]
Can you imagine Jesus saying that to you? Just the thought of it gives me the
willies.
[2]
Yes, I said “thus”.
[3]
You don’t see a lot of babies named Jezebel, do you?
[4]
The food sacrificed to idols thing is a longer discussion entirely.
[5]
You know, because 3+4 = 7, except in Common Core math.
[6]
Don’t worry. I’m asking myself these uncomfortable questions too.
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