Jesus and the Churches

[Read Revelation 2-3]

A month ago, someone told me about a Time magazine cover that had the year 2020 with a large X through it and said, “The Worst Year Ever.” This person asked the question, “Is this really the ‘worst year ever’?” The answer is: NO. If you take a moment to read history, you will quickly find out there have been many years that are much worse than this one. If you get a chance this week, give Fennie Schaver a call and ask her what it was like living in the Netherlands during the Nazi occupation. She’ll tell you those years were worse than this last year. 

I bet if you asked the Apostle John if 2020 is “The Worst Year Ever,” he would strongly disagree with you. Look at the situation of the seven churches. Last week we talked about this a little bit. We saw how John was exiled for his Christian faith and how he talked about being a partner in the tribulation. But, as we dive into these letters to the seven churches, we get a clearer picture of the mess they were in. 

The church is falling under HEAVY persecution. They are being mocked, thrown in prison, and martyred. They are regularly faced with tribulation and the need to patiently endure. One city is told that a synagogue of Satan is there, another that Satan’s throne is in their city. 

Sadly, the church is not doing real hot either. They are filled with false teachers. There are the Nicolaitans that Jesus says he hates. There are those who are like Balaam—undermining and leading the church into temptation. There is Jezebel who is leading many people away into sexual immorality. Then, there are other false teachers who remain unnamed. The church was under attack from the world AND from the inside. 

The church was also surrounded by a sinful, godless culture and increasingly being tempted to become like the world—falling into sin. People in some of the churches are described as having “stained garments”—which points to their lack of purity. Other churches are told that they have become so much like the world that they make Jesus want to vomit. One commentator said that these seven churches were “compromising, spiritually lethargic, and flirting with idolatrous allegiances” (G.K. Beale, p.58). 

Although things aren’t as bad right now, we can see some similarities for our current situation. Christians are increasingly being ostracized for their beliefs. Generally speaking, the church is a mess. False teachers are running rampant—publishing their false teaching all over the internet and television. We are surrounded by a culture that is increasingly running further and further into sin—yet we are increasingly tempted to become more like them. And, not to be a pessimist or the bearer of bad news, but I don’t think things will be getting better any time soon. Unless the Lord returns soon, or brings about a massive revival (which I’m praying for) the culture will continue to become more messy and so will the church. 

So, in these chapters, we see seven letters to seven churches—the same seven churches mentioned in the first chapter. These are real churches (not metaphorical churches). I’ve visited the ruins of three of these cities. The words Jesus is speaking to these seven churches are describing their actual situation at the time when John wrote it down. 

Yet, remember what John told us at the beginning. We should interpret things symbolically when we can—especially when we see the number seven. The number seven has TONS of significance throughout the Bible. It especially looks back to the seven days of creation. The number seven has the symbolized meaning of “fullness.” So, when we read about the seven churches, we understand that these seven churches are representing the “fullness of churches”—the churches throughout history. These churches aren’t representing different periods of church history. They ARE collectively representing what the church will look like between Jesus’ resurrection and his second coming. And, to build on that, the letters to these seven churches help us understand the various responses (positive and negative) of the churches throughout history—especially when the heat is turned up and persecution starts. 

You have the church in Ephesus. In the midst of the persecution and false teaching and temptation, Jesus commends them saying, “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 you have not grown weary.” (Revelation 2:2–3, ESV). They are working hard, enduring trials, teaching doctrine, and doing church discipline. These are good things. Yet, Jesus says, “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” (Revelation 2:4, ESV). This is not a good thing. They have so many things going well, but they’ve gotten distracted and lost their first love—which is connected with the two greatest commandments: love of God and love of neighbor. So, that’s one temptation in the church. 

Then you have the church of Thyatira. In the persecution, false teaching, and temptation, Jesus commends them saying, “I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.” (Revelation 2:19, ESV). So, this church is loving and faithful and servant-hearted and patiently enduring trials. These are good things. Yet, Jesus says, “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.” (Revelation 2:20, ESV). This is not a good thing. They are tolerating a false teacher that is leading people astray. 

This church is the opposite of Ephesus. Many characterize the Ephesian church as the Unloving Doctrine church and the Thyatiran church as the Loving Tolerant church. Both need some work. One temptation is to get so wrapped up in the work of the church and getting rid of false teaching that you lose your first love. The other temptation is to focus so much on being loving and tolerant that you never address sin and never call out false teaching. Neither temptation is good. 

Then there’s the church in Pergamum. In the persecution, false teaching, and temptation, Jesus commends them saying, “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.” (Revelation 2:13, ESV). They live in a rough city and have held fast to Jesus’ name. They haven’t denied him even though they are threatened with death. Yet, Jesus has something against them too: “But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam…So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.” (Revelation 2:14–15, ESV). While Thyatira could be considered the Loving Tolerant church, Pergamum could be characterized as the Faithful Cowardice church. They were faithful, they didn’t deny Jesus, but they also refused to address the false teaching in their church. They tucked their heads and ignored the issues so they didn’t cause any problems. 

The church of Sardis has different issues. In the persecution, false teaching, and temptation, Jesus has NOTHING good to say about them. Ouch. He says, “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.” (Revelation 3:1, ESV). This church looks good on the outside. They have all the best programs, all the best teaching, all the best music, all the best…This is the church that everyone envies. They want to be this church. Yet, they are dead. They look pretty on the outside but are full of dead man’s bones on the inside. I call this the church of Whitewashed Tombs. 

Laodicea is even worse. In the persecution, false teaching, and temptation Jesus not only has nothing good to say about them, but tells them they make him want to vomit. “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15–16, ESV). The translation “spit you out of my mouth” is just a sanitized version of vomit. This church makes Jesus want to vomit. Why? He explains: “For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing” (Revelation 3:17, ESV). This church has become just like the world around them. They are living it up with their riches and prosperity. They look at the world around them and say, “We’ve got everything we need. We don’t even need Jesus.” So, Jesus is ready to vomit. This is the Church that is Sold Out to the world. 

Pretty depressing so far isn’t it? Out of the seven churches, two of them are doing well. To Smyrna Jesus says, “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 a synagogue of Satan.” (Revelation 2:9, ESV). Then, Jesus doesn’t say anything against them. He just says, “Keep it up.” The world sees them as a poor, foolish church. Jesus says they are a spiritually rich and faithful church and tells them to keep up the good work and not to be afraid. That’s how they handled the persecution, false teaching, and temptation. (On a side note, the city of Smyrna is the only one of these cities that still has a Christian church). 

Finally there’s the church of Philadelphia. In the persecution, false teaching, and temptation Jesus says, “I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:8, ESV). This is a small church—seemingly insignificant—but they have kept God’s Word and haven’t denied His name. And God has opened a door for them for fruitful ministry. This church may look small and insignificant, but God is going to bless the church and use them powerfully to bring the gospel into their city. This is the Faithfully Fruitful church. 

At this point it’s helpful to take a break and recognize a couple things. First, don’t you think this is an accurate picture of the church today? I bet we could find at least one of these seven churches in a twenty mile radius of this church. The other thing we should be asking is: Which of these churches is ours? Are we the Unloving Doctrine church, the Loving Tolerant church, the Faithful Cowardice church, the Whitewashed Tombs church, the Sold Out to the World church, the Spiritually Rich church, or the Faithfully Fruitful church? And, since churches are made up of people, which of these churches resembles your own personal life? 

To five out of these seven churches, Jesus shouts “Repent!” and gives a warning. To the Unloving Doctrine church Jesus says, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” (Revelation 2:5, ESV). They need to remember the love they had at first otherwise He will remove their church—it will disappear unless they repent. 

To the Loving Tolerant church Jesus says, “Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works,” (Revelation 2:22, ESV). He is going to come in judgement upon all who are leading people astray AND those who have been led astray—unless they repent. 

To the Faithful Cowards Jesus says, “Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.” (Revelation 2:16, ESV). If they don’t repent, Jesus is going to make war against them with his authoritative word. 

To the Whitewashed Tombs Jesus says, “Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent.” (Revelation 3:2–3, ESV). They are told to wake up and strengthen any life they have. They are to remember the things they heard—the teachings that founded the church—repent, and obey them.

To the Sold Out to the World church Jesus says, “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3:18–19, ESV). They are to find their treasure in Christ and not in the world. They thought they had everything they needed in the world. Yet, Jesus said they were “wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” (Revelation 3:17, ESV). If they were going to repent, they needed to solve these problems IN CHRIST not in the world. 

To the Spiritually Rich and the Faithfully Fruitful churches, Jesus says, “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” (Revelation 3:10–11, ESV) and “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.” (Revelation 2:10, ESV). Basically, Jesus tells them Keep up the good work. I’ve got you in the palm of my hand. Don’t give up. 

I want you to notice the type of church we’re called to be in the world—a world of persecution, false teaching, and temptation. We can get this picture by looking at all the things Jesus praises the churches for. If we compile all the things Jesus commends in the churches, we are called to be a Doctrinal, Loving, Faithful, and Bold church in this world. We must not give up or slacken any of these areas. We need them all. And, we need to continue laying this ground work right now as a church in the midst of COVID and beyond. We need to prepare for the days when persecution, false teaching, and temptation will increase AND we need to keep pressing forward with the Gospel, stepping through any open door Jesus places before us. 

This will not be easy. We will be tempted to neglect doctrine, to neglect love, to neglect faithfulness, to neglect boldness. Yet, Jesus reminds us that something beautiful is in store for those who endure to the end—for those who fight the good fight and finish the race. Each letter ends with a beautiful promise. I want to read each of them at the end of this sermon. May each of these images stir your heart and mind and strengthen your resolve to keep fighting the good fight of faith. 

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7, ESV)

“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life…The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:10–11, ESV). 

“To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and 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.” (Revelation 2:17, ESV). 

“The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star.” (Revelation 2:26–28, ESV). 

“The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5, ESV). 

“The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.” (Revelation 3:12, ESV)

“The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” (Revelation 3:21, ESV).