This is the follow-up to my earlier message - "Imminent Pre-tribulation Rapture."
The apostle John was probably already past eighty years old when he saw the awesome figure of the glorified Jesus. His terror was so intense he fell at His feet as though dead. When John fell, our Lord Jesus laid His hand tenderly on him sand said:
"Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and Death" (Rev. 1:17, 18, NKJV, emphasis added).
Jesus, who died on the cross of Calvary and was resurrected on the third day, has the keys of Hades and Death. Therefore anyone who believes in Him does not need to be afraid of anything, because both life and death are under the authority of Jesus.
The Keys to open Revelation
Revelation 1:19, 20 are keys that open John's revelation to our understanding. When misunderstood, however, these verses can cause one to misinterpret the whole book. Unfortunately, that happens frequently, even among Bible teachers and pastors.
"Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden hampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches" (Rev. 1:19, 20, emphasis added).
That which the apostle John was told to record falls into three divisions:
1. "The things which you have seen" - corresponds to Chapter 1 of the book of Revelation.
2. "The things which are" - corresponds to the period of Churches (the Church Age) in Chapter 2 and Chapter 3. This message and the next one, deal with this period.
3. "The things which will take place after this" - corresponds to the remaining Chapters (Chapter 4 to Chapter 22) which deal with things that will unfold the end of the Church Age, such as the Rapture of the Church to heaven, the last days of the world and the unfolding of the new heaven and the new earth.
The Church Age
Christ's message to the seven Churches in Asia Minor were not only words of exhortation accompanied by praise and rebuke, but also words of prophecy coverning the span of Church history until the present time. That history falls into seven periods.
Examining the prophecy in the light of what has happened, we are thrilled to find that events took place just as foretold and are still being fulfilled. Studying Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 of Revelation leads to a firm belief that this is truly the last age of the Church!
Each letter to the seven Churches can be divided into six parts:
1. Name of the recipient Church.
2. Christ's spiritual evaluation of the Church.
3. Christ's commendation..
4. Christ's rebuke.
5. Christ's exhortation.
6. Christ's promise.
In each letter we'll see how those things applied prophetically to the Church during the past two thousand years.
The Church in Ephesus (Rev. 2:1 - 7)
1. Name of the recipient Church
Ephesus was a major city in Asia Minor - a seaport and a commercial and export center. It was also the location of the great temple of Artemis (Diana). This large city was so thoroughly stirred by Paul's message that the silversmiths rioted because they believed their business of making shrines for Diana was threatened (read Acts 19:23 - 41). There were also many people practicing magic arts. As a result of Paul's preaching, a number of those who practiced magic arts believed in Jesus, then brought their books together and burned them (read Acts 19:13 - 19).
The Church at Ephesus was the most privileged among all the Churches because it was blessed with the best of that day's pastors. It was successively pastored by the apostle Paul, Apollos, Timothy and the apostle John. it was therefore the most trained in the Scriptures and doctrinally orthodox.
2. Christ's spiritual evaluation of the Church
The Ephesian Church represents the apostolic Church in the period from A.D. 33 - 100. The name "Ephesus" means "to relax and let go." Hence, the name implied that love had departed, and only only form and rituals were left.
The Church of Christ, which had been red-hot with the fire of the Holy Spirit in its initial stages following His ascension, slowly lost its first love. By the year 100 it had turned into a Church with nothing more than forms, like the Ephesian Church.
Many Churches today have members who simply attend the services. They listen to the pastor's sermon. They are interested in things that are entertaining, humanistic and philosophical. The sevices turn into entertainment meetings, void of spiritual nourishment and blessing. The Church degenerated into a humanistic body that leaned toward activity and organization.
3. Christ's Commendation
Jesus commended the Ephesians because their work had been Christ-centered. They also toiled sacrificially, bearing trouble and hardships in much perseverance. he also commended their purity; they would not tolerated those who were evil. Instead, they drove the false apostles out of the Church.
According to Jewish tradition, the Nicolaitans referred to in Rev. 2:6 were the followers of Nicolaus, one of the deacons chosen by the early Church. Nicolaus, who had fallen from orthodox faith, introduced heretical Greek philosophy into the Church. He held the belief that the spirit of man is good and pure, but his body is fundamentally forever evil. The spirit is by no means affected by the body's activities because the spirit is pure and holy forever. Therefore one's spirit is not affected harmfully even though one lives an unrestrained life of indulgence, drinking and eating as one wishes, living immorally. Since the spirit is purified, once a man believes in Jesus, there is no difference in his body even though it commits evil.
Many Churches followed the Nicolaitans and went into corruption and licentiousness. Furthermore, the Nicolaitans systematized the Church and set up a sinful hierarchy. Understandably, our Lord hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The Church at Ephesus did too, so He commended them for that as well.
4. Christ's Rebuke
The Lord sharply rebuked the Church that they had left their first love (Rev. 2:4). They had learned the Word well, but while they had been busy with their many activities, including service and sacrifice and bearing hardships, they lost Jesus from their midst - what was left was form and ritual.
Once believers' fervent relationship with Jesus has cooled off, they will just attend Church on Sundays out of habit. They are going through the motions without joy or enthusiasm. How many Churches today are like that? How fervent the early Christians must have been when they first believed in Jesus Christ! Doesn't the Bible say they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (read Acts)? The Church cannot please God unless the members maintain a constant, fervent fellowship with Christ.
5. Christ' Exhortation
Jesus exhorted the Church at Ephesus to "remember therefore from where you have fallen" (Rev. 2:5). We so easily forget the blessing of the Lord. We also forget His chastisement. In other words, Jesus is asking, "What happened that you now possess only a hollow faith?"
If we come to our Lord at such times, confessing what we've done and repenting, we can return once again to a fervent faith-life. Then we won't repeat the failure of the Church of Ephesus.
6. Christ's Promise
Jesus promised that when the Ephesian Church's first love was restored, two blessings would be given (Rev. 2:7).
1. He promised paradise. This paradise is far better than the one where Adam and Eve lived. The new paradiise will be in heaven. Christ will transform our bodies from their former state of dishonor to a glorious new state; from weakness to power; from the natural to the spiritual so that these mortal bodies will put on immortality, and we will live forever with Him.
2. He promised He would give the fruit of the tree of life. That fruit isn't given just for the pleasure of eating, but also for nourishment.
The Church in Smyrna (Rev. 2:8 - 11)
1. Name of the recipient Church
Smyrna was a seaport forty miles north of Ephesus. This flourishing city was situated on the trade route linking Rome to India through Persia, so commerce developed rapidly. Smyrna was founded by Alexander the Great and had temples erected to the sun god, Zeus. It was aslo the center of emperor worship and had temples honoring Roman rule.
2. Christ's spiritual evaluation of the Church
The Church at Smyrna characterizes the Church from A.D. 100 to 312, when Christianity was officially recognized by Constantine the Great. The Church of this period was under severe persecution. The name Smyrna means "crushed myrrh." Imagine! Myrrh is a bitter-tasting preservative, so wouldn't crushed myrrh taste ever more bitter? It was a prophetic name that foretold how terrible the persecution would be for the Church there.
The Church at Smyrna follows the Church at Ephesus. Don't forget that when love waned at the Ephesian Church, the judgment of God followed. Through persecution and tribulation God restores the pure first love to the Church.
The Bible says the Church at Smyrna would have tribulation for ten days (Rev. 2:10). This signified that ten Roman emperors would persecute the Church. According to Church history these Roman emperors, from the first to the tenth, were - Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimus Severus, Maximum, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian and Diocletian.
Jesus appeared to the Church at Smyrna as the One who was the first and the last; who had been dead and was now alive.
3. Christ's Commendation
Our Lord always commends the Church under persecution. He said, "I know your works, tribulation, and povery (but you are rich); ..." (Rev. 2:9). Tribulation and affliction always purify our faith.
The Lord also commended the Christians at Smyrna for overcoming the blasphemy they received form the Jews. Many Jews were executed for their monotheistic faith, and while being pulled to death they dragged the Christians to the same death out of hatred. Thus were many Christians at Smyrna were executed. Jesus said it wasn't the Jews but Satan who worked behind them.
4. Christ's Rebuke
The Church a Smyrna received no rebuke, as Smyrna's sufferings had helped to keep the believers pure in faith and life.
5. Christ's Exhortation
The Lord exhorted the Church at Smyrna to be faithful until death (Rev. 2:10). Jesus said He would be their guarantor and give them a crown of life. Since we are slso guaranteed by the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall also be taken care of if we have been faithful to the Lord, whether we live or die.
6. Christ's Promise
The Lord promised the Church at Smyrna it would not be hurt at the second death. The first death is the death of the body, and the second is the death of the soul. The first death comes to every being on this earth, but the second death, signifying the death of the unbelieving souls in the next world, is identified as everlasting torment of the soul in the lake of fire burning with brimstone. That has no power over the faithful believers in Christ. This promise means that even though the Church at Smyrna was being put to death by Roman persecutors, the Lord guaranteed it would avoid the second death and be translated to heaven - as part of the bride of Christ!
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