The Compromising Church

The church of Pergamum = The compromising church.

Jesus = he who has the sharp two-edged sword. = the Word of God.

Greeting

“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to my name, and did not deny my faith even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”

The Problem

“But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.”

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who

bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

The solution to the problem = Repent!

The warning

Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

God is a jealous God (Exodus 34:14). He will act. He is jealous of the truth and jealous of his blood bought people.

The promises

To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.’

John 6:48-58,

Jesus said: I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever. Jesus is God’s hidden manna.

The white stone is explained by Herb Munson like this:

“In Asia, at the time that John was writing this book, it was a custom to give an intimate friend a tessara, which was a small smoothed stone or piece of ivory with writing on it. It became the secret private possession for the one who received it from the one who gave it. In like manner, I believe Jesus is speaking here of a heavenly tessara that will be inscribed with a secret and private new name that each child of God will be given from his hand one day. These individualized stones will ever remind us of the intimate and utterly unique … one on one … relationship that we have with our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Suffering Church

SMYRNA: the suffering church.

Christ = the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

The compliment

Christ tells them, I know your works, tribulation and poverty ...be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

The suffering saints at Smyrna are scheduled for crowns! In the New Testament, crowns always refer to rewards.

Crown of life … Found here, in the letter to Smyrna, and in James 1:12. It awaits those who suffer and endure temptation, persecution and trials.

Incorruptible Crown … Found in 1 Corinthians 9:25. It awaits those who have run their race well in living for Christ.

Crown of Rejoicing … Found in 1 Thessalonians 2:19.

It has been called the soul winner’s crown. It awaits those who have faithfully helped to get the Word of God out, and have helped precious souls to come to Christ.

Crown of Righteousness … Found in 2 Timothy 4:8.

It will be given to those who love his appearing, who are eagerly watching and waiting for Christ to come.

Crown of glory … Found in 1 Peter 5:4.

It is the teacher and/or pastor's crown. It will be awarded to those faithful saints who have diligently fed God’s people with the Word of God.

The Lord concludes

He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death. Hebrews 9:27

It was the avoidance of the second death that Jesus was referring to when he said to Martha;

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die [experience the second death]. Do you believe this? John 11:25-26

Dr. D. L. Moody, speaking of the necessity of being born again through faith in Jesus Christ, said, 

"He who is born once will die twice, but he who is born twice will die once". Christ assures his suffering believers at Smyrna that, as overcomers, they will never be hurt by the second death … the only real and permanent loss mankind has to fear.

7 Love letters

 

Have you ever thought about the 7 letters to the churches in the book of Revelation as Love letters?

I haven't. But I came across a  sermon where a pastor talks about the letters as "love letters" It is thought provoking since most of the sermons I have heard from the book  of Revelation have been about rebuke and judgment; thunder and hail; fire and destruction. If  I look at the letters as love letters from Jesus it gives a different perspective. The love of Jesus forces him to take action, and he tells the truth about what has been good and what is bad; and he also makes a prescription how to recover and start anew.

EPHESUS  where love has grown cold.

These things  says He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands. This description emphasizes that Christ is the head of the Church.

The church of Ephesus was:

a working church

a separated church.

a theologically sound church.

Jesus  commends them for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans which he also hate. Jesus is pleased with a church that stands firmly against  heresies.

THE PROBLEM

… Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Their hearts had grown cold toward the Savior

The recipe for the cure:

First,  Remember

Second, Repent.

Third,  Do the first works.

Read his Word

Talk to him  in prayer

Tell others about him

Those are first works.

THE ADMONITION AND THE PROMISE

Hear what the Spirit says to the churches! 

The promise:

To him that overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

1 John 5:5,

Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.