Unit: Revelation (Part 1)
Theme: Call to Arms
Lesson Text: Revelation 2:1-17
Supplemental Texts: Joshua 24:14-15; 1 Samuel 22:9-19; Mark 6:17-27; 2 Timothy 4:6-8
Aim: Be faithful to the point of death
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By Mark Scott
Revelation 2:1-17
Following the glorious vision of Jesus, John now looks at the church. John R. W. Stott calls it What Christ Thinks of the Church. Eugene Peterson reminds us that to get from Jesus (chapter 1) to heaven (chapters 4-5) you have to go through the church (chapters 2-3). In fact, faulty thinking is to think that you can have Jesus without his bride.
Most numbers in the book of Revelation are symbolic, but in chapters 2-3 there are seven literal churches. The number seven might stand for “all” the church, but seven churches of the first century A.D. are addressed individually. These churches have counterparts in all ages of the church, but they are probably not seven ages of the church. Christ is seen as walking among the churches (1:13; 2:1), but a few churches are in danger of Christ not continuing with them. They need to “be faithful.” Some nuance of Christ is mentioned to each church (e.g., Jesus’ eyes likened to flames of fire, 2:18), and all the churches are commended (except Laodicea), and all churches are condemned (except Smyrna).
Faithful . . . Yet . . . Love (1-7)
The first church addressed by Jesus via his angel (messenger) is in Ephesus. (The order of the churches addressed might follow the postal route of the ancient world.) Jesus does not fail in his omniscience. He “knows” their deeds, works, and perseverance (i.e. endurance). He also is aware of their concern for right doctrine. The church does not tolerate (bear up with) wicked people. The church has tested these supposed apostles and found them to be false. The church has persevered and has not grown weary. The church was excellent at hunting down heresies. This was evident by their hatred for the Nicolaitans (mentioned also in connection with the church in Pergamum, 2:15). Faithful in works, endurance, and doctrine—that was Ephesus.
Yet, the church had forsaken the love they had at first. Their heresy hunting had hardened them. They failed to love God first and most and love their neighbors as themselves. Jesus called them to repent (change). In fact, if they did not change he would remove their lampstand from its place. The Spirit still says this message to the churches today. “Lead with grace . . . land with truth” (Jon Weece). If they did this Eden would be opened to them (i.e., they would be privileged to eat from the tree of life again).
Faithful . . . To . . . Death (8-11)
The second church addressed is the church at Smyrna. This is the modern city of Izmir (third largest in Turkey at three million people). Interestingly enough, nothing bad is said about this church. Jesus described himself to the church as the First and the Last and the one who died and came to life again. Once again Jesus’ omniscience is acknowledged. He knows that they have had afflictions (pressed down) and are fiscally poor. But spiritually speaking they were rich (abundant or plentiful). They were being slandered (blasphemed) but were standing strong against their adversaries.
Their adversaries were evidently Jews from the Diaspora. Instead of a “gathering for God,” they were a synagogue of Satan. The church would go through a time of testing. The devil was identified as the one behind that testing, and the persecution would be real but limited, i.e., 10 days (a complete but not lengthy time). The call was for faithfulness—even to the point of death. That kind of faithfulness would achieve the victor’s crown. This faithful church would by-pass the second death (eternal damnation, Rev. 20:6). Polycarp, an early church leader, was an elder here. He is well known for his statement prior to his martyrdom, “Eighty and six years I have been his servant, and he has done me no wrong. How can I now blaspheme my king who saved me?”
Faithful . . . Nevertheless . . . Hold (12-17)
The third church addressed was Pergamum. The theater at this town has been excavated. It is large and very steep to climb. Below the city was a medical school, and today it is close to a rug factory. Jesus, the living word, gave the spoken word described as a double-edged sword.
This church had many challenges working against them. Satan’s throne was there (a reference to the imperial cult of worshiping Rome and its power, or a reference to the Temple of Asclepius?). One faithful saint who held on to his faith was Antipas. He was martyred.
An internal issue within this church was that some promoted pagan idolatry and influenced them in the direction of sexual immorality (thus the reference to Balaam, Balak, and the narratives in Numbers 22-25). Also, the Nicolaitans, mentioned in the letter to Ephesus, were infiltrating the church. The church was called to repent or taste the sword of Christ’s wrath. If they repented, they would experience fresh bread (i.e. manna) and a new identity (white stone with a new name written on it). Faithfulness has to be complete, eternal, and without compromise.
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