The Book of Acts tells about the history of the early church. The Epistles give instruction to the Church. But it is in the book of Revelation that a prophetic history of the Church is given. The whole book is about prophecy, so it is understandable that the messages to the seven churches of Asia were meant not only for the actual churches of that day, but for seven periods of church history that would describe conditions from the beginning of the Church Age to the end of it. The book of Revelation is unique in that the opening verses tell us that what follows was given to Jesus by his Father. Jesus then passed the contents to his beloved Apostle John (now an old man in exile on the island of Patmos off the coast of Asia, or modern Turkey). John recorded for us in vivid language what he saw and heard. The information was imparted to him partly by means of a series of great visions. Information about events transpiring in heaven is juxtaposed with happenings on earth. The book contains interludes and flashbacks. Therefore, understanding the order of events in the Revelation takes thoughtful care. Genesis, the Book of beginnings, unfolds little by little. Great themes of human history are introduced to us one by one. These themes branch out and are woven as recurring themes in the rest of the Bible. In the book of Revelation all these themes come back together in a great consummation. The 404 verses of Revelation contain 800 Old Testament references! 11 Many Jewish symbols and ideas that have not been used in the entire New Testament suddenly reappear in Revelation. Because of this, no one can hope to understand this marvelous last book of the Bible without reading the rest of the book–all that has gone before. The Revelation gives an outline of its contents in Chapter 1, verse 19. “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” This verse may be considered the KEY to the Book. The three parts of the Revelation are: 1- What you have seen – The Person of Jesus – 1:1-18 2- The Things that are now – The Presence of Jesus Christ in This Age – 1:19-3:22 3- The things that will take place – The Program of Jesus Christ For The Future – 4:1-22:21 In this section we will only consider the second of these parts.
The Presence of Jesus Christ in This Age – Revelation 1:19-3:22
Following the Ascension of Jesus, Acts Chapter 1, we do not again hear directly from the Lord Jesus Christ until we come to the last book of the Bible. There Jesus is depicted for us in priestly robes walking in the midst of, and judging, his church, during the present age.
Insight about the Church: Revelation 1:19-20
These verses portray the seven churches as seven golden lamp stands–they were designed to shine the Light (which is God), into the darkness of the world. “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. 20The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.‖ – Revelation 1:19-20 A message is to be given to each of these seven churches, and the messages to the churches follow a pattern. First, there is a description of Jesus Christ in terms that are especially important to each church. Secondly, there is affirmation of the good characteristics of the Church. Thirdly, there is a warning for each church (except Smyrna, and Philadelphia). Finally, there is a reward promised to those in the Church who are overcomers.
Instruction to the Church: Revelation 2:1-3:22 To Ephesus – Revelation 2:1-7
“To the angel[ of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. 5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.‖ – Revelation 2:1-7 Ephesus, the first church, portrays the Apostolic Period, from the birth of the Church, at the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), until approximately AD 100. During the Apostolic period there were false apostles. The early church was careful to identify true apostles and reject the false. This explains the need for the Apostle Paul to defend his calling as an apostle in 2 Corinthians, chapters 11-13. In chapter 11, verse 13 he also mentions people who were masquerading as false apostles. Believers of this period also endured great hardships without giving up their faith. Christianity was considered false by the majority of Jewish people who had been blinded because of their unbelief (Romans 11). Those who followed Christ often had to do so against the wishes of their families. Jesus warned his followers that this would happen (Matthew 10:34-39). Opposition to early Christianity became so strong that believers were scattered and many were imprisoned and even killed. Before he was converted, Paul zealously persecuted the Church (Acts 9:1-2, 21). It is shocking that this early church had lost its “first love” for Christ. It shows that it is possible for any Christian to be distracted from his devotion to the Lord by the cares of the world. Jesus himself gave the Parable of the Sower, which teaches that some new Christians fail to develop deep roots, others are choked by the competing “weeds” that spring up around them, and others grow well and bear good fruit (Matthew 13:3-8). The good news is that if a person, or even a whole group of people in a church, should lose their first love, they can be restored by repenting. To repent means to turn around and go the other way. Repentance requires honest self-appraisal. One must identify the sins that are separating him from the Lord, and then confess (Greek homologeo –” to say the same”). This means that the person agrees with God about the sin. When a person does this, God is faithful to forgive and cleanse him or her from sin (1 John 1:9). The church of the Apostolic Period hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. This is a Greek word, which means “conquerors of the people.” This is probably a reference to the false apostles mentioned earlier, and their tendency to establish a ruling class over the rest of the people in the Church. The proper Scriptural view is that the Church is like a body, and different people in the Church have different gifts from God, but all are of equal importance to the well-being of the whole spiritual body. There is no hierarchy in the Body of Christ, and no distinction between “clergy” and “laity”–all are called to work together in the ministry as one Body headed by Christ (1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4). The promise to overcomers of this period is that they will eat of the Tree of Life, which is said to now be in Paradise. Adam and Eve ate instead from the forbidden fruit of the Tree of The Knowledge of Good and Evil, thus rebelling against God and entering into sin (Genesis 3). Part of the result of this sin was to be banished from the Garden of Eden so that they would not eat of this tree and live forever in their fallen state (Genesis 3:22-24). Nevertheless, an overcomer will be delivered from this fallen state, and will be permitted to partake of this fruit, thus living forever as a redeemed person. Who then is an overcomer? John himself explains this: For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. – I John 5:4-5
To Smyrna – Revelation 2:8-11
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.‖ – Revelation 2:8-11 Smyrna was a city, of course, but its name is derived from “myrrh,” a valuable spice used in the process of embalming. Myrrh symbolizes death and yet is a sweet fragrance. This is an appropriate word picture for the period of church history characterized by martyrdom. This period lasted from approximately AD 100 to 312 when Constantine established Christianity as the state religion of the empire. During these two centuries there were ten definable periods of persecution of Christians under ten of the emperors of Rome. To these believers, Jesus identified himself as the resurrected one! There is no warning to this church, since it was a church constantly purified by the rigors of persecution. To put it simply, only a strong, dedicated Christian would be willing to die for Christ. A hypocrite would quit the Church long before he would risk losing his life. True believers would be faithful unto death, and they would receive a crown of life. This is one of the special believers’ crowns mentioned in the Bible. Faithful believers will be able to lay these at the feet of Christ in the future to prove their love for him (Revelation 4:10). Jesus had taught earlier, “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.‖ – Luke 12:4-5 The promise to overcomers of this period is that, though they might need to die physically, they would not be hurt by the “second death.” This subject is revisited in Revelation 20:12-15 where it is equated with eternal punishment and being cast into the Lake of Fire. The biblical concept of death is not annihilation, but separation. When a person dies physically, the material part (body) is separated from the immaterial (soul and spirit). The person does not cease to exist. Spiritual death is seen in the Scriptures as separation from God (Genesis 3, Ephesians 2:1). Those who are spiritually dead may be brought back to life, that is, be born again. (Ephesians 2:2-10; John 3:3-18). See Appendix T – Do You Know Christ Personally?
To Pergamum – 2:12-17
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city— where Satan lives. 14Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17He 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. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.‖ – Revelation 2:12-17 Pergamum, also known as Pergamos, had a colorful history as a major city of Asia Minor. It was steeped in pagan idolatry, serpent worship, and Caesar worship. Alexander Hislop, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in the late 19th Century, wrote a book called The Two Babylons, in which he showed how the satanic religious system of Babylon was transferred to the city of Pergamum.12 Pergamum means “thoroughly married.” It represents the period of church history when the Church became married to the world. Constantine, the Emperor of the Roman Empire probably meant well when he issued a decree that all his subjects should become Christians, but it actually did much damage to the Church. The majority of people became Christian in name only, bringing their pagan practices and lifestyles into a compromised church. This merger of the Church and state took place with Constantine‘s conversion to Christianity in AD 312 and the Edict of Milan in AD 313. This period lasted until about AD 476 when the Western Roman Empire fell. During this time the Bishop of Rome assumed the title, Pontifex Maximus13 . To this church Jesus revealed himself as the one with the sharp double-edged sword proceeding from his mouth. Hebrews 4:12 calls God’s Word a double-edged sword, able to divide even between soul and spirit. In the same book Jesus is considered God’s ultimate Word (Hebrews 1:1-2). In John’s own writings Jesus is called The Word (John 1:1, 14). If the Church would follow Jesus and his Word, they would be able to separate the truth from the pagan influences that had come in like a flood. The warning to this church is about those who allowed the teaching of Balaam. This refers to a fascinating story from the Old Testament book of Numbers, chapters 22 through 24, where the prophet Balaam was hired by Balak, king of the Moabites, to curse Israel. He tried repeatedly, but God would not allow him to utter a curse against his people. However, he evidently advised Balak to involve the Israelites in worldliness and immorality (Numbers 31:16). Thus Israel could be corrupted from within. This, of course, is exactly what happened to the Church during this period of time. They were corrupted by worldliness. This church was also corrupted by the teaching of the Nicolaitans. These church clerics who exercised authority over the people are the same as those seen above in the message to the Church at Ephesus. They had now entrenched their position by their doctrine. Overcomers are promised hidden manna and a white stone with a new name written upon it. The hidden manna might be the truth of Scripture that was in the process of being hidden by the worldly church. The white stone is a symbol taken from the ancient custom of giving a black stone to one judged guilty, and a white stone to one who is acquitted.
