The Seven Churches In Aisa

What would Jesus Christ say to Vineland Park Baptist Church if He were to send us a letter such as He sent to the Seven Churches in Asia? We don’t need to hypothesize or speculate because Revelation 2 & 3 are as much to the local churches today as they were when they were first commissioned to John.

The letters to the Seven Churches in Asia given to John by the risen Christ are not only for these local churches but are for the encouragement of the Church from the time of John’s writing until the end of this present age.

The number seven in Scripture is the number of perfection or completeness. So the seven letters to the seven churches in a book of symbols is significant. It is our task to see not only what Christ said to these ancient churches but what He is saying to us.

In the last message we dealt with the pattern of the seven letters. Today we will look at each letter to the seven churches. You do not need to be reminded that the church is the people and not a building.

The pattern of each letter is first the identification of Christ by a part of His glorious vision to John in the first chapter [1:9-20]. Jesus claims intimate knowledge of each church. He commends the church for whatever is commendable. Then He issues His complaint or warning. And He ends each letter with a promise that He will be faithful and for the Church to “hear Him” and to be faithful to the end.

Ephesus is in danger of having her candlestick [church] removed. The custom of meeting in buildings by the church did not start until the 300’s when Constantine made Christianity “legal”. It was because Christianity was not “legal” that the Church was under severe persecution by the Roman government.

Jesus represents Himself to Ephesus as the One who holds the seven stars [angels – pastors] in His right hand as He walks in the midst of the candlesticks.

To Smyrna He is ‘the first and the last’.

To Pergamos He is the one with the sharp sword.

To Thyatira He comes with His eyes like a flame and His feet like fine brass.

To Sardis He is the One who has the seven Spirits of God.

For Philadelphia the figure is taken from Isaiah 22:22 where Christ is predicted as the Possessor of the ‘key of David’, who opens and shuts according to His sovereign pleasure.

The final Laodicean apostasy sees Him appropriately as “the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” - for He who is the beginning is also the end.

Each message is also concluded with a glorious promise to the faithful who overcome in the conflict with Satan and sin, thus:

Ephesus: The tree of life.

Smyrna : No second death.

Pergamos: The hidden manna and the new name.

Thyatira: Power over the nations.

Sardis: White raiment and the Book of Life.

Philadelphia: A glorious place in the heavenly temple, the name of God, the name of the city of God, the new name of Christ written upon them (showing their abiding portion in the glory of that eternal world).

Laodicea: Consummation - Man sits with Christ in His eternal throne and the purpose of God in the creation of man is at last fully realised.

“The seven promises combine to form one picture of the future bliss of heaven.”

(Speaker's Bible)

The Individual Churches Addressed

EPHESUS

Still Alive but Failing

2:1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands:

2 "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent.

6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."'

Ephesus at the time of this writing was a great seaport city. The Temple of the goddess Artemis [Diana to the Romans] was at Ephesus. The temple of Artemis was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, a resident of Ephesus, wrote that the “morals of the temple were worse than the morals of beasts, for even promiscuous dogs do not mutilate each other.”

Ephesus was apparently the “mother church” and was in an oval shaped circle with the other churches. The churches were all within a two to four day walk from Ephesus. While this letter is addressed to Ephesus it was shared with the other churches. It may be that all seven of the letters was circulated to all of the churches. In verse 1:11 John is told to write a book and send it to the seven churches.

Paul visited Ephesus three times and wrote an epistle to this church where he left Timothy in charge. The history of the founding of this church is in Acts 18-20. Now the church is 40 years old, sound in doctrine and faithful in works.

Perfect? No!

“I know your works, your labor, your patience.”

This was a working church serving its members and the community. The word “labor” [toil] indicates that the good works were produced at a cost and some difficulty. “Patience” in the NT is endurance. Literally it means “to remain under”. It means staying when the burden is heavy.

… and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

Men had come to Ephesus claiming to be apostles. A true apostle was a man commissioned by the Lord Jesus Himself to have authority over all the Church. So if these men were in fact apostles they must be obeyed. But the church had tested them and determined that they were not apostles but were liars.

These Gnostic teachers had not yet gained a foothold in the church at Ephesus. The church had not grown weary in the struggle against the heresy of the Gnostics.

The work of the Nicolaitans has met in Ephesus with what can only be described as hate. Righteous wrath against what is most probably antinomianism that Jude condemned in the church.

NICOLAITANES [Followers of Nicolas]

- The church at Ephesus (Rev 2:6) is commended for hating the “deeds” of the Nicolaitanes, and the church of Pergamos is blamed for having them who hold their “doctrines” (15). They were seemingly a class of professing Christians, who sought to introduce into the church a false freedom or licentiousness, thus abusing Paul's doctrine of grace (comp. 2 Peter 2:15, 16, 19), and were probably identical with those who held the doctrine of Balaam (q.v.), Rev 2:14.

What could be wrong in such a church?

It continued in good works in the face of difficulties; it rejected false teachers; it hated sin; it did not grow weary in the Lord’s work. What could be wrong?

The Lord with His piercing eye of flame discovers a great flaw.

4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

One writer said “the honeymoon is over.” The church had departed from that fervor and love which had characterized their first experience as Christians.

They were still carrying on an active aggressive program but they had departed from the right motive for worship. When love for Christ as a motive for worship is absent, service means little.

Dear church at Vineland Park: Have we “lost our first love?”

You will have to answer that question before the Lord. If you are honest you will most likely agree that you do not have the zeal to serve Christ and His church that you had at the beginning of your Christian life.

The counsel of the Lord is simple: remember, repent, and return.

Remember the zeal of that first love.

Repent of working without the love of Christ as your motive.

Return to that original state of service out of love for Christ.

7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."'

“To the churches…” extends this letter to Ephesus to the Church universal.

The Church includes only those who overcome.

For those who overcome there is spiritual food for all of life’s circumstances.

SMYRNA - The Suffering Church of Martyrs

2:8 "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

9 "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."'

Smyrna was located on the west coast of Asia Minor and had a sheltered harbor facing a bay. In the hot summer cool breezes from the sea provided a pleasant climate.

Smyrna was for many years a prosperous city. It had passed into obscurity at one time but was rebuilt by Alexander the Great. It became a wealthy city and remained so long past the NT period.

History tells us that Polycarp ministered at Smyrna and was martyred there. Polycarp was martyred in the second century and may have been the pastor [angel] of the church when this letter was written. Polycarp was burned at the stake.

Smyrna [myrrh] is a balsam herb which was well known in the world and used to embalm the dead. Smyrna was the suffering and martyred church.

Smyrna [Greek: smurna (smoor'-nah) the same as “myrrh” and is found three times in the N.T.;

Matthew 2:11

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Mark 15:23

Then they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it.

John 19:39

And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

It is noteworthy that only good is spoken of this church.

Smyrna is a church that is strong under tribulation and there is no rebuke.

Christ is “the first and the last”.

So Christ reminds them “I died too, but now I am alive.”

Christ knows their tribulation; He knows their poverty [Domitian confiscated their property as a means of persecution]. They are poor in the world’s riches but rich in Christ.

There was a large population of Jews in Smyrna and many of them were hostile to the church. They slandered the Christians and called themselves Jews but they belonged to the “synagogue of Satan.”

Christ knows the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews but are not. They are those who had escaped persecution by compromise of the faith. The Christian Jews were poverty stricken while these false Jews prospered.

Note especially that Christ does not promise to take away their persecution; rather they can expect worse to come. How would that sell with the followers of the TV false prophets that tell lies about God’s desire for your “health and wealth”?

The “ten days” is a definite, full, brief period of time.

There were ten Caesars who persecuted the church.

Be faithful even if it cost you your life and Christ will give you a “crown of life”.

A crown is a symbol (wreath of victory).

11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."'

They will suffer persecution but they will not be cast into the lake of fire [20:14].

Revelation 20:14

Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

PERGAMOS - Hell’s Headquarters

2:12 "And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,

'These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

13 "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it."'

Pergamos was located about 65 miles north of Smyrna. The English word “parchment” derives from Pergamos [Pergamum] and illustrates an industry that developed from a trade embargo by Egypt. They could not obtain paper products made from papyrus leaves so they prepared animal skins for writing purposes.

The city marketed these skins and opened a library that contained some two hundred thousand scrolls.

Pergamos was a city given almost entirely over to wealth and fashion. The city was the headquarters for emperor worship. It was here that the state religion was regulated and incense was offered to the image of the emperor.

There was a symbol of a serpent in its temple and there were non-poisonous snakes crawling about in the temple.

Christ identifies Himself as one who has the “sharp two-edged sword”.

The symbolism is a sword that can protect them as they are martyred but will be used against them unless they repent. Faithful, even martyred, yet they lacked discipline, they tolerated the evil of the Nicolaitans, here mentioned again.

Christ commends the church for its faithfulness under extreme difficulty. There is a reference to “Antipas” who is probably a pastor, who was well-known to them having been martyred at the altar where Satan’s throne was located.

In this early time to hold to the name of Christ was to acknowledge that Jesus was the only Lord. To acknowledge “Lord Caesar” was the way to escape persecution. To hold fast to the name of Christ meant martyrdom - but loyalty to Christ.

But there were some in the church who held the “doctrine of Balaam.” In Pergamos there were those who held a combination of the heresy of Balaam as well as the licentious lifestyle of the Nicolaitans.

Christ will not tolerate what He hates and says:

16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

The church is to rid itself of heresy.

The provision for Israel in the wilderness wanderings was “hidden manna”. In the NT Christ is the Bread from heaven [John 6].

What is the symbolism of the “white stone”?

There are about seven explanations given by the commentators for the “white stone”. The one that seems to me most apt is that Pergamos mined a white stone that was used for commercial purposes.

There were several ways the white stone with a name written on it was used.

Most likely what the symbolism used here is where a white stone was given to a man who had been tried and acquitted. It had his name written on it and was a sign that he was not guilty of the crime he had been charged with.

Those at Pergamos who repent will be given symbolically a white stone with Christ’s name written on it.

THYATIRA - Wait for the Morning Star

2:18 "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,

'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

19 "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

21 And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.

22 Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

23 I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

24 "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden.

25 But hold fast what you have till I come.

26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations —

27'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' — as I also have received 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."'

Thyatira was a fortress city about forty miles southeast of Pergamos.

There is no direct information of the origin of this church in a small city of Asia Minor. Lydia, a seller of purple, was from Thyatira but she had moved to Philippi, where God opened her heart when she heard the gospel. [Acts 16:14]

The same antinomian heresy that was at plaguing Pergamos was even worse at Thyatira. They allowed “Jezebel” to teach and commit her sexual immorality.

Christ identifies Himself as: the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass:

He is infallible [as God’s Son]; omniscient [piercing eyes like flames]; and strong [feet as brass refined]. He understands perfectly. Therefore the church must hear Him.

Christ commends their service of love which was absent at Ephesus. He acknowledges their works are improving. Apparently this is a good church. But the letter does not end here. There are evils which must be condemned.

The complaint is that the church is harboring “Jezebel”:

Surely no one would name a child “Jezebel”. She is called Jezebel because of her character. Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, was one of the most wicked women that ever lived. This woman had gained acceptance in the church and was teaching and practicing the same sort of gross sexual sins that Jezebel of old committed.

“Jezebel” is someone in the church who is corrupting the church with her teachings and claiming a mystical revelation as a “prophetess”.

Thyatira was a trading city for garments, etc. To get ahead you must belong to the trade-guild. Each trade-guild had its guardian god. If you expected to be successful, you had to attend the guild festivals and eat food offered to that god. Then after the feast, there were grossly immoral sexual orgies. You must not walk out unless you wanted to become the object of ridicule and persecution. Jezebel taught that to really know Satan and conquer him you must get involved in his works. Cf. Acts 15:28-29

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.

The Lord promises to those who overcome that He will not put upon them any more spiritual obligations than they already have; no special mystic revelations.

They are to remain faithful in what He has already given:

I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast what you have till I come.

They will be completely vindicated as Christians before men who are now persecuting them.

26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations —

27'He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels' — as I also have received from My Father;

28 and I will give him the morning star.

The symbol of the rod of iron is the certainty of the triumph in Christ.

He further promises to give to the overcomers the “morning star”.

In Revelation 22:16

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

There is a subtle connection between Psalm 2:8-9 and Numbers 24:17:

Psalm 2:8-9

8 Ask of Me, and I will give You

The nations [Gentiles] for Your inheritance,

And the ends of the earth for Your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;

You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"

Numbers 24:15-17

So he took up his oracle and said:

"The utterance of Balaam the son of Beor,

And the utterance of the man whose eyes are opened;

16 The utterance of him who hears the words of God,

And has the knowledge of the Most High,

Who sees the vision of the Almighty,

Who falls down, with eyes wide open:

17 "I see Him, but not now;

I behold Him, but not near;

A Star shall come out of Jacob;

A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,

And batter the brow of Moab,

And destroy all the sons of tumult.

If you have ever watched the sky before dawn on a clear night and have seen the brilliance of the morning star you will see the beauty of this promise. A man or woman may walk in darkness in many tribulations, but the morning star will be given to guide them. They must refuse to follow the false leadership of Gnosticism and wait for the star.

SARDIS - Dead or Alive?

3:1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but 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."'

Sardis was located about thirty miles southeast of Thyatira and fifty miles east of Smyrna. Sardis is a fortress built on a promontory. The city was on a high narrow strip of land and was militarily invincible. Steep cliffs protected the city because they could not be scaled.

Sardis was a city that lived in the past. She had a name but no longer deserved it. The city was arrogant in the pride of former glory.

Christ identifies Himself as:

He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars:

To the first four churches Christ commended them for what was good.

At Sardis there is so little that is good to commend that He reverses the order and warns them first.

"I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

Here is a church that is working along with much outward activity but no inner spiritual life. It was well organized and from the outside it appeared to be “successful”.

It no doubt held the record in the association for baptisms and buildings and budgets.

Someone rightly said, “There are few things better organized than graveyards, but there is little life there,” So it was with Sardis. They had a reputation and they were busy; Jesus said they were dead!

There were a few things left in the church that remained but were ready to die.

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

If they heed Christ’s admonition they could be rescued. They start but they do not finish. The word “perfect” usually means “complete”. They had a “name” for good works but were apparently like the cowboy who was “all hat and no ranch”.

A church cannot survive on ritual and outward form.

The word “watchful” would have special significance to the people of Sardis. The city was built on a hill, surrounded on three sides by precipitous cliffs. It was easily defended against an enemy but because of carelessness it had fallen twice.

When Croesus was king Sardis was besieged by Cyrus, while he and his soldiers slept, thinking the city was safe, only to have the city captured by the enemy.

Another time under Achneus the city fell before Antiochus the Great under similar circumstances. The Lord uses these failures at “watching” to warn the church. “Remember your history. If you do not watch, the same thing will happen to you.”

“Watching” in the NT means to keep busy and active for service to Christ.

In verse 4 the Lord says there are a few in Sardis who are worthy of commendation. They did not defile their garments; i.e. they took no part in the pagan worship. They had been true to God.

The promise to the overcomers is that they will walk with Him in white. Sardis was proud of its colored cloth worn by worldly pagans. Those who overcome will wear white to symbolize their purity. The overcoming one will not have their name blotted out of the Book of Life but Jesus will confess their name before God the Father and His angels.

The one who overcomes may have his name added to the list of martyrs but his name will be found in the Book of Life.

The phrase “blot out” does not mean that the name is in the book of Life only to be erased. This warning is taken to mean that overcoming is the evidence that your name is actually in the Book of Life to begin with.

In the OT we find several references to such a “book”

Exodus 32:30-35

30 Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, "You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin."

31 Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold!

32 Yet now, if You will forgive their sin — but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written."

33 And the LORD said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book.

34 Now therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin."

35 So the LORD plagued the people because of what they did with the calf which Aaron made.

Psalm 69:28

Let them be blotted out of the book of the living,

And not be written with the righteous.

Daniel 12:1

"At that time Michael shall stand up,

The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;

And there shall be a time of trouble,

Such as never was since there was a nation,

Even to that time.

And at that time your people shall be delivered,

Every one who is found written in the book.

In Revelation the “Book of Life” is the record of those who have received the gift of eternal life.

Revelation 13:8

All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 17:8

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Revelation 20:12

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

Revelation 20:15

And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:27

But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

The other NT references to the Book of Life are:

Luke 10:17-20

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."

18 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

Philippians 4:2-3

2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.

3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.

Hebrews 12:18-24

18 For you have not come to the mountain that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest,

19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, so that those who heard it begged that the word should not be spoken to them anymore.

20(For they could not endure what was commanded: "And if so much as a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or shot with an arrow."

21 And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.")

22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

The warning and the promise go together. The warning is to be faithful and your name will be found in the Book of Life. And the promise is that Jesus will confess your name before the Father in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33

32 "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.

33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Luke 12:8-9

8 "Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God.

9 But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

PHILADELPHIA - The Open Door Church

3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,

'These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens":

8 "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.

9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie — indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.

10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 I will write on him My new name.

13 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'

Philadelphia was thirty miles to the southeast of Sardis and about sixty miles east of Smyrna. Philadelphia dates back to about 159 B.C. Attalus II, whose loyalty to his brother Eumenes, was given the name Philadelphus, “brother-lover”. He called the city Philadelphia, city of brotherly love.

The city was known as a culture center for the Greek language. It was a missionary city for Hellenism. In this letter it finds a promise of another kind of mission work.

Christ identifies Himself as “holy and true” and the one who has the “key of David” who “opens and no one shuts, and who shuts and no one opens”. He is truly King Jesus! The reference is clearly to Isaiah 22:22.

Isaiah 22:20-22

20'Then it shall be in that day,

That I will call My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah;

21 I will clothe him with your robe

And strengthen him with your belt;

I will commit your responsibility into his hand.

He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem

And to the house of Judah.

22 The key of the house of David

I will lay on his shoulder;

So he shall open, and no one shall shut;

And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

Only good is spoken of this church; there is no condemnation to offer. The Lord knows her work and sets before her an open door which no one can shut. An open door in the NT means that no one can stop the work even though the church is weak the Lord is strong.

The promise is that the persecuting Jews who are doing Satan’s work will come to know that it is these despised Christians that Jesus loves. Because of their perseverance they will be sustained through the persecution that is about to come on the world.

The two congregations of Smyrna and Philadelphia are the only two of the seven where the Jews are specifically mentioned, their synagogue, and their master Satan. Yet these are also the only two that are praised without a word of rebuke.

Jesus called the Jewish assembly “the synagogue of Satan”. These Jews prided themselves on being God’s chosen people but here Jesus indicates that they have forfeited the right to be called His people.

But there is a caution to hold fast what they have: His name, His patience, His promise to return, lest someone take their reward.

Sardis was threatened by His coming but Philadelphia has nothing to fear and is encouraged by His return.

The promise is to be made a “pillar in the temple of My God”.

Because one is faithful they will be an important part of the sanctuary – symbolized as a pillar – the supports that keep the temple from falling.

All through the historical period until after the fall of the Roman Empire, Philadelphia remained as a witness for Christianity.

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 I will write on him My new name.

The name of God is branded on those who overcome. Many pagan religions branded people to identify their followers. What is the purpose of tattoos now so popular except to proclaim allegiance to something?

Later we will see the “mark of the beast” and what it symbolizes.

No church received a more glorious promise than Philadelphia.

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Again these words stress that these messages are meant for the Church in every age.

LAODICEA - The Church with a Closed Door

3:14 "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

15 "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing' — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked —

18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore 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 dine with him, and he with Me.

21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame 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."'"

Laodicea was forty-three miles to the southeast of Philadelphia and about eleven miles west of Colosse. Laodicea was a city characterized by great riches. It needed no help from the Roman treasury when it was partially destroyed by an earthquake in about 60 A.D. It was the chief commercial city of the region. Three Roman roads met at Laodicea making it an important city for access and commerce.

The complacent spirit of the town made its way into the church.

Christ identifies Himself as: the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

In John’s Gospel 14:6, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, without whom no one can come to God. Jesus is the “Amen”.

Laodicea was a hot springs spa; “lukewarm” meant something to them; many wealthy people lived here; even church people were boastful. Christ is disgusted with them. Hot or cold is pleasant to drink; lukewarm is not. He addressed them as the Genuine One to the hypocrite. He is about to spew (spit or vomit) them out of His mouth.

The Lord uses three of the city’s main businesses to illustrate His counsel and complaint.

First, the city was a banking center for the region. Great riches were gathered in the city. They were proud and self-sufficient because of their riches.

But without Christ you can have all the riches in the world and be miserable.

Notice He does not condemn, but counsels. Buy from me. Cf. Isaiah 55:1

Ho! Everyone who thirsts,

Come to the waters;

And you who have no money,

Come, buy and eat.

Yes, come, buy wine and milk

Without money and without price.

The second business in Laodicea was the black wool market. They produced black glossy wool which was made into fine garments that were in great demand. Christ says in spite of this you are naked. You need a robe that will cover your true condition before God.

The third business was the preparing of an ointment used as a balm for the eyes; there was a medical center at Laodicea. Travelers in the heat and wind welcomed the eye salve that gave them relief.

Christ says “You are blind and do not know it.” Come to Christ for spiritual eye salve that you may really see.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.”

Hebrews 12:5 ff tells us that the Lord chastens those He loves.

If you can sin with no repentance you are not a child of God!

The church at Laodicea had everything except Christ.

Christ stands at the door and knocks.

Knocking and calling; “hear my voice.”

Christ takes the initiative, no one called Him!

He is at the door of the church, not unbelievers.

If you have one of those silly pictures of Jesus knocking on a door with no knob on His side of the door, throw it away. Jesus is in control, not the sinner.

His gracious invitation to open is genuine but not from the position of inability on the part of Christ which is exactly what that painting portrays.

***

There is the vision of the glorified Christ as He stands amidst the Seven Churches in Asia, seeing with piercing eyes of flame; He commends where it is deserved and He warns them in mercy and grace.

The seven-fold condition of these churches existed then and still exists today.

They faced three kinds of persecution:

1. Anti-Christian persecution; the sword; the stake; wild beasts; imprisonment.

We must face the world system and be ready for persecution if it comes. The spirit of a martyr is one who does not boast in his own strength but will take a stand for the honor of Jesus Christ.

2. Flesh; invitation to join in the immoral feasts of the heathen.

We are not likely to go to a pagan temple, e.g. the Playboy Club but we are bombarded with advertisements that use sex as the bait. The only thing that has changed is the “sophistication” of the temptation.

3. Emperor-worship; refusal of which led to persecution.

In John’s time it was refusing to say the Caesar was lord and to hold that Jesus only is Lord that brought suffering. Today pluralism is the order in the religious world where any and all religions are accepted as valid. If you insist that only Jesus is to be worshipped it will at the least bring ridicule.

The world, the flesh, and the devil.

John wrote:

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17

Is Vineland Park Baptist Church a lampstand?

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Amen