Revelation 1-3

Not Prophecy, Not Mystery…Just Honesty!

Future Events, Part 7 – Revelation 1-3: Christ speaks to Churches, cont.

By Pastor Dan Kennedy

www.pastorkennedy.com

(On the website above, click the link to “recent message notes” to view this message online.)

We seem to always equate the Book of Revelation with deep mystery and prophecy. Not so the first three chapters of this Revelation.

In these chapters Christ is seen walking through seven lamp-stands representing seven churches in Asia. Because of the nature of the Bible…in how it speaks to every generation, every tribe, every culture, every people group, so it is with Christ’s message to these seven churches. His message is current. It was current then and it is current now.

Not only is this message to the churches current, these chapters have been seen as speaking to seven generations of churches since the beginning of the “church age” at Pentecost – until the end of the “time of the Gentiles” and the “state of the church” during the “end times”.

We see Christ’s messages to these churches to be in three dimensions:

1. The obvious spiritual condition of the seven churches at John’s writing of Revelation.

2. The spiritual condition typifying the church’s distinct characteristics in each era of the “church age” from Pentecost to those in the last days; such as, the characteristics of the church at Laodicea, being known as “lukewarm”. A status typified by “end time” churches, prior to Christ’s return.

3. The seven diverse spiritual conditions of churches simultaneously existing in each era of the “church age”, including the “end times”.

We will begin by reviewing briefly the churches from the previous message.

The Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)

The Diligent and Militant Church that Lost its Love

God knew who they were and what they had done:

o They were hard workers

o They persevered through painful things.

o They did not tolerate wicked people.

o They tested deceitful people and found them false.

o They had persevered and endured through hardship for Christ’s name and had not grown weary.

o Christ had one thing against them.

• They had forsaken their first love.

o They were called to repentance – to be the people who loved God as they did when they first became Christ’s followers.

o If they do not repent, God would remove them from where they had been established.

o They were commended on hating deceptive spiritual people, because God hates them too.

o Christ’s promise to them if they heard what His Spirit said to them:

• For those who overcome, they are given the right to eat from the Tree of Life, in the Paradise of God.

The Church in Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)

The Suffering Church refined by poverty and trial

o God knew their afflictions and poverty – they were poor in this world but they were rich in God’s Eyes!

o God knew how they had been slandered.

o They were told not to be afraid of what they were about to suffer.

o Christ promises those who are faithful, even to the point of death, that they will have a crown of life.

o Those who overcome will not be hurt at all by the second death (Rev. 20:6,14; 21:8).

The Church in Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17)

The Church that Struggled to Shine in a Dark, Dark Place

o Where they live is a center of spiritual oppression. They are located where Satan has his throne.

• Even though they are living in such a spiritually dark place, they have remained true to Christ’s name.
• They have not renounced their faith in Christ, even when those in their Church were put to death for their faith.

o Christ has some things against them:

• There are folks in the congregation involved in immorality.
• Some folks are holding to false teaching and they know it.

o This Church is called to repentance, if not, Christ Himself will war against them, with His Powerful Word!

o To those who overcome and conquer in such a spiritually dark place:

• Christ will satisfy them with His eternal spiritual bread (see John 6:48-50).
• Christ will give them a unique and special identity, known only to Him (see Rev. 3:12; 14:3,4 – a song known only to certain ones; 19:12 – Christ has a Name known only to Him; Is. 62:2; 65:15).

The Church in Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29)

The “tolerant Church” that was deceived by secret, sinful “theology”

o Christ knew their deeds, their love and faith, service and perseverance; that they were doing more than they did at first.

o Unfortunately, they tolerated a false prophetess who misled those who followed her, into immorality and vile idolatrous worship. She claimed to have “deep secrets” but they were from Satan. She had been given time to repent but she was unwilling.

o Christ will repay her according to her deeds.

o They are told not to hold on to her teachings, only hold on to what they already have until Christ comes.

o Those who overcome and do the will of God to the end, will be given authority over the nations…just as Christ will rule with a rod of iron with authority from God, His Father, so they will have His authority.

o Christ will also give them the “morning star”.

Revelation 22:16

16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

The Church of Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)

The Dead Church with a façade Reputation of Life

Reputation only, but not Reality

“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.”

What can kill a church?

o Pride: pride goes before a fall. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:8

o Legalism: the misunderstanding in believing those things done for God, even without a heart for God, receives spiritual merit from God.

o Sin: Tolerance of, or actively participating in that which God hates.

o Traditionalism is similar to legalism: falsely believing that if one keeps doing things that have been blessed in the past, no matter what the heart or lifestyle of the one doing them now, that God will continue blessing.

God’s Blessing in the Church

• God is concerned about the heart of those in the church, not what people do to keep up a spiritual façade.

• This is the primary message of Christ to the churches!

• Christ does not want a spiritual façade, Christ wants reality!

• Jesus reveals the mystery of “end times” and His Second Coming to those whose hearts are close to Him! He reveals Himself “to those who are eagerly waiting for Him!”

Hebrews 9:28

28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

• Notice that Jesus Christ, in the first three chapters of Revelation, begins with these messages to His Church, before He begins revealing the mystery of the Last Days!

• Jesus wants reality in His Church before He wants them to understand “end times”!

• Those in His Church who simply want to do what they want to do and have Jesus Christ as a mere “insurance policy” from hell, or use Him as another “idol” on the “god shelf” of their life, will have a rude awakening when they face God! To these folks, the “revelation of end time mysteries” is but child’s play fantasy. It is “child’s play fantasy” until the reality of the earthquake-tsunami of end time events and Christ’s coming surges over the world. “Fear mongering”? I think not. Almost every Prophet of God in the Old and New Testament predicted it. We don’t know when….

What part of a church is alive before God, when death is all around?

• Living in Truth not dead legalism – doing things because they are spiritually life giving, not legalistically doing good or right things to gain merit with God.

• Daily Living in Spiritual Reality – not just doing things because they are simply traditionally good things to do. (Rabbit’s foot theology – “My great, great grandfather always carried this rabbit’s foot and it always brought him good luck, so I am going to carry it too!)

• Genuine Humility before God and others. “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:8

• Dying to ourselves (and sin) and living unto God. Galatians 2:20

This is different than sounding an alarm to waiting for an earthquake to destroy or a tsunami to ravage. With these confrontations, Jesus Christ is calling His Church to repentance – back to living life that is soundly based on hope and faith in Christ, not destroyed by the cancer of sin.

Christ is calling His Church to repent and find life in Him.

Wake Up, Sardis, or Lose what is Alive

Rev. 3:2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

Remember, Obey and Repent

Rev. 3:3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent.

Waking Up to Solemn Reality

But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Being Ready, Being Worthy: Clothed and Acknowledged by Christ

Rev. 3:4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The Church in Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13)

The Fragile Church, to whom God had given Open Doors

Revelation 3

7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David.

The One who unconditionally Opens and Shuts Doors

What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

God Knows them and has given them an Open Door

8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

God also knows those who are deceptive in His House

9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

Protection Given from the “Hour of Trial”

10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

Holding on to what you have

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

A Pillar, God’s Name, God’s City’s Name, Christ’s New Name Given

12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

The Church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22)

The Wealthy, Lukewarm, and Spiritually Blind Church – who think they know all they need to know about spirituality.

Revelation 3

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

Lukewarm in Relationship to Christ

15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

A Wealthy Façade – without any other need

17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’

Lack of Comprehension of their Squalid Spiritual Condition

But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Need for Real Wealth Consultation

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

It is interesting that Jesus tells the wealthy church in Laodicea that they need “wealth consultation” and appropriate attire. Their view of wealth and attire obviously did not coincide with Jesus’ view of the same.

The Purpose of Christ’s Confrontation

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.

Response Expected by Jesus

So be earnest, and repent.

The Lukewarm Church’s Ready Accessibility to Christ

20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Christ’s Promise to those who Overcome

21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I 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.”

Conclusion

The Seven Churches of Revelation 1-3:

1. Churches in the Day when the Book of Revelation was written.

2. Typifying distinct Eras of the “Church Age” (Pentecost to the “End Times”).

3. Existing simultaneously in every era of the Church Age (including now).

Ephesus: The Diligent and Militant Church that Lost its Love

Smyrna: The Suffering Church refined by poverty and trial

Pergamum: The Church that Struggled to Shine in a Dark, Dark Place

Thyatira: The “tolerant Church” that was deceived by secret, sinful “theology”

Sardis: The Dead Church with a façade Reputation of Life

Philadelphia: The Fragile Church, to whom God had given Open Doors

Laodicea: The Wealthy, Lukewarm, and Spiritually Blind Church – who think they know all they need to know about spirituality.

God knows each of us:

o He knows our uniqueness –

• Our failures,
• Our successes,
• And the depth of our love for Him.

o He loves each of us.

o He warns each of us.

o He comforts each of us.

o He disciplines each of us as we need it.

o And He will bring His own to be with Him for eternity.

Jesus Christ Extends His Invitation to those struggling in His Church:

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,

I will come in and eat with him,

and he with Me.”

Revelation 3:20