Revelation Study 2

While there were far more churches in existence than the seven churches addressed at the time of the writing of this book (around A.D. 95), these seven were chosen because the problems that existed in them are representative of the difficulties and problems that the church (universal) will face throughout her 2000 year history. These seven churches then, are representative of the different phases and experiences of church life, and were chosen by God for the particular purpose of giving the church universal the warnings, instructions and admonitions necessary in order to be God's church (Christ's body) in this world - in whatever age the church is in.

Remember who pioneered (started) the church at Ephesus (Acts chapters 18 and 19)? St. Paul spent two to three years preaching there. And, it was from Ephesus that all of Asia heard the Gospel! Ephesus became the center for gospel distribution because the church there became a great missionary church! In fact, what this church accomplished with its evangelistic/missionary zeal was absolutely astounding. Historical documents bear this out.

Notice how the Lord of the church commends them for THEIR VIRTUES: "I know your works, your labor, your patience --- and how you can't tolerate them who are evil - and how you expose religious imposters."

This church is commended for its zeal, its missionary outreach and its adherance to truth and God's Word. The members of this church were active and alert. They were ready to go and do whatever was required of them to make Jesus Christ known and to glorify His name.

They desired doctrinal purity and Biblical truth and would not put up with the abuse of Biblical standards or scriptural manipulation! They were "true blue" in their Christianity and doctrine. Rev. 2:6 states "You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans which I also hate." The Nicolaitans were a sect that identified itself with Christianity but countenanced loose living! In other words, these people abused Christian liberty and God's grace. Under the guise of "grace", they indulged in all kinds of abuses. God says He hated these practices and so did the church at Ephesus. (See Romans 6:1-4).

What a message for the church today - where all kinds of abuses are taking place and God's grace is used as a cloak to cover all kinds of immoral, perverted and shady acts!

Yet, even with all their virtues, the risen Lord exposes their main failure: "But I hold this against you - you have given up (abandoned, left) your first love. (Rev. 2:4) The problem with this church has become the big problem with churches and denominations throughout church history - the "first love" is gone! As happens so often in the marriage relationship in the routines of life and the day-to-day hardships faced in "making a living", the intimate relationship and deep devotion has eroded to the place of "routine" - and sometimes plain drudgery.

Notice that this church had not lost her first love, she had left it! (The original Greek word here is very blunt and strong and is correctly translated in the RSV as abandoned, or in the NIV as forsaken.)

You see, without real love and devotion to Jesus Christ, toil becomes hardship and orthodoxy becomes traditionalism. The Lord, however, gives the remedy for their (and our) failure by reminding them (and us) of the necessary Rs.

Ø REMEMBER from where you have fallen. Remind yourself of the good old days. How does love, devotion and true worship compare today with the early years of our Christianity?

Ø RETURN to that first love and devotion that had characterized their (and our) love for the Lord. NOW - isn't that one of the real secrets to a dynamic church and to the huge problems in today"s Christianity? What will happen if we don't return? Jesus says I will-

You see, a loveless church can continue only for so long. Eventually, it will lose its light and its life and just become a social club or something else. It ceases being the true church of Jesus Christ and a light in the community!

This is not talking (necessarily) about losing our salvation, but losing the radiance that brings light to a darkened world. Jesus says that if this church did not remember, repent and return, the church's light in Ephesus would go out and there would just be darkness there. What a sobering thought! So it is today. We see the remains of church structure but no real light in the community!

Well, what happened to the church at Ephesus? Historical records reveal that this church did NOT heed the warnings and as a result, she was removed. The church at Ephesus became utterly extinct and for ages there was not a professing Christian there! This great city of Ephesus (the largest city in the Roman province of Asia) with its prosperous seaport and thriving trade and rich industries was left without the light of the Gospel!

REMEMBER, the chief cult of this place was the worship of the goddess Artemis (Diana) whose great temple was one of the wonders of the ancient world. With her worship there was not only idolatry but also sex orgies and temple prostitutes. Yet under the dynamic preaching of the Gospel and the zeal of those early Christians, the image of Diana lay prostrate before the cross of Christ!

BUT, what happened to this dynamic church? It left its first love and the place itself has become a desert.

As we read the words of a prominent historian we stand in silent awe at the sight: Consecrated first of all to the purpose of idolatry, Ephesus next had Christian temples almost rivaling the pagan in splendor, wherein the image of the great Diana lay prostrate before the Cross. But after the laps of some time, Jesus gives way to Mohammed, and the crescent glittered on the dome of the recently Christian church! A few more years and Ephesus has neither temple, cross or crescent - nor even a city, but is a desolation - a dry land, a wilderness.

This series of events can be recounted in many parts of the world. When a church has declined in purity and love - (real devotion to Jesus Christ and a commitment to His Lordship), its services and activities lose their glow and the light goes out. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, reminds us that we may give our body to be burned, we may speak in the tongues of angels, we may have great prophetic gifts, great spiritual insight and miracle working faith - we may be great social workers and give all we have to help the poor and the hungry - but if we don't have love, we are just a noise - we amount to nothing and our work does not benefit us in the least.

The message to the Church at Ephesus and the church in every age: without love and devotion to Jesus, the light goes out! The church becomes virtually useless in lifting and impacting society. The light that once shone brightly has been extinguished.

Next (2:8 11), lets examine the message to the SUFFERING church at Smyrna and see what the Holy Scriptures are teaching the Church today.

First - we need to understand some historical background in order to get the full impact of this message. The city of Smyrna was founded about a thousand years before Christ as a Greek Colony. However, it was conquered in the seventh century B.C., and in the second century B.C. it became an ally of Rome and as a result it prospered. Today it is a city under Turkish rule with about one-third who are reportedly Christians. Smyrna had an excellent harbor and became a large commercial port. It was rich and prosperous - situated about 40 miles north of Ephesus. In ancient days, it was one of the finest cities of Asia and was called the lovely, the ornament of Asia.

But Smyrna also was one of the first cities to engage in worship of the Roman Emperor and actually erected a temple to the Emperor in the reign of Tiberius. While it was basically a Greek city, it also had a very large Jewish population who, along with the pagans were bitterly opposed to the church and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Herein is where the trouble lay. The church at Smyrna then, becomes a type of the suffering, persecuted church in a pagan world. Christians were horribly treated, persecuted and put to death for their faith!

Second we are made aware of the church's (and believer's) character. They were living (alive) and steadfast even though surrounded by hardship, poverty and death.

In verse 8, Jesus calls Himself the FIRST and the LAST who DIED AND BECAME ALIVE.

First, because while the city of Smyrna had been destroyed in 580 B.C., it was rebuilt (and alive) in 290 B.C.

Second, the church in that city faced death moment by moment. So Christ says to her, I am the First and the Last. I died but came to life again (i.e.: I am the Creator. I will have the final word in all matters.).

Notice how relevant God is to every situation. And in it all He says . . . I am the resurrected One! It's a message to the church universal (as well as individual believers) throughout the ages.

Next, not only was this church alive and steadfast, it was also living and suffering (2:9 10). The local Jewish Synagogue must have been very adamant and active in its hatred and persecution of Christians in this city.

Polycarp (a disciple of the Apostle John) became the Bishop in the Church at Smyrna. As a very old man, he was arrested, tried, condemned and burned at the stake. (It is reported that as a sword pierced him, his blood poured out and extinguished the flames.) Also, so incensed were the Jews regarding Christians, that they brought fuel on Saturday (their Sabbath!) to burn Polycarp! (about 156 A.D.)

So, the message of the Lord of the Church becomes very meaningful: I know your affliction and your poverty, (but you are rich) . . . . Do not dread what you are to suffer. True, the devil is going to throw some of you into prison. . . . you will have trouble . . . Be loyal, though it means death . . . I am the resurrected one - - -! And because I live, you shall live also!!

The Christians in Smyrna had been reduced to poverty in the extreme. In fact the word translated poor in the Greek means not only that they had nothing superfluous, but that they had nothing at all! Even so, Jesus says they were RICH. Rich in their relationship and devotion to Him.

Can this be said of the church in North America? Unlike the church at Ephesus, the church at Smyrna - though poverty stricken and suffering cruel treatment, maintained its devotion and faith.

TODAY, not only is this city alive and well, but you will still find a church there!

Faithfulness to Christ even in the most trying and harshest circumstances will reap a reward!