“Seven Churches of Asia”

Sunday, October 06, 2024

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”

(Revelation 1.10-13)

The Apostle John was given this commission by Jesus, and the resulting book has become the most difficult and contentious book in the Bible. But its beginning is straightforward, and contains valuable lessons for us.

Ephesus

Years before, Paul told the Ephesian elders,

“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things…”

(Acts 20.29-30)

They took the warning to heart! Jesus now tells them, “you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested” and found out the false teachers (Re 1.2). This is a great success story! But at what cost? “I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first” (v4). Don’t ignore one of God’s commandments, to idolize another.

Smyrna

This church stands out as one of two on this list to encounter no rebuke. They’d suffered much earthly tribulation already, between the pagan surroundings and the local Jews, whose hatred of Christ and his followers made them “a synagogue of Satan” (Re 2.9). Jesus was pleased with their faithfulness, but warned them, trials were about to get worse. His instruction is as straightforward as it is timeless: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (v10).

Pergamum

The Lord was pleased, overall, with the Christians at Pergamum. He praised them because they “did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas,” a martyr (Re 2.13). Yet he had complaints. Some in this church subscribed to “the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel” (v14a). It’s not obvious what this teaching was, but in light of its association to idolatry and fornication (v14b), as well as the incident mentioned (cf. Nu 3.16), it seems to have involved a perverse notion that Christ endorsed sexual depravity. While pleased his name is preached, Jesus does not want it tied with this behavior! He tells the church, “Therefore repent” (v16).

Thyatira

The story here is very similar to that in the previous section. This should be no surprise, since Thyatira is only thirty or so miles from Pergamum. While ascribed to another Old Testament figure, “Jezebel” (Re 2.20), rather than Balaam, the heresy at Thyatira is effectively identical. Jesus tells those who haven’t been seduced to “hold fast what you have until I come” (v25) and tells those led astray that temporal punishment is swiftly approaching, “unless they repent” (v21). This should remind us that the same, tired, old heresies can be repackaged to appear fresh, unique, and enticing. Don’t be fooled!

Sardis

“I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.”

(Revelation 3.1-2)

This city was situated on steep cliffs and considered the best fortified in the ancient world; indeed, it was only occasionally conquered. In two instances, both several centuries before John wrote Revelation, it had fallen due to complacency among the rank and file. Of these, the more compelling story took place in 547 BC, when Cyrus the Great took the city easily. A soldier inside the citadel accidentally dropped his helmet over the wall and then climbed down the wall and cliff to retrieve it, not realizing he was seen by the Persian forces to whom he unwittingly betrayed the surprisingly easy and ill-guarded back way into the city. Jesus’ point is that the city’s Christians are showing a similar lack of awareness and need to keep a better watch on their own souls! Many today need to hear this same admonition.

Philedelphia

“Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.”

(Revelation 3.10)

Despite what we might have thought, Jesus is not just looking for something to nitpick about each of these churches. Surely he could have come up with some shortcomings of the Christians at Philadelphia; but he’s not out to get us! Although “we all stumble in many ways” (Ja 3.2), it is within our grasp to be faithful to Christ and receive his blessing.

Laodicea

The last church on the list gets the harshest rebuke. Even “dead” Sardis wasn’t told, like Laodicea, “I will spit you out of my mouth” (Re 3.16). The problem in this church wasn’t so much complacency, as arrogance! Despite lacking any true zeal for the Lord, their attitude was, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing” (v17). How wrong they were! If we forget how badly we still need Jesus, we make ourselves repulsive to him.

§

These messages vary greatly, depending on each church’s situation and deeds. In broad terms, we all need to hear the same gospel; but its particular application differs, as we’ve seen. If Jesus were to send a letter to your church, what do you think he would say? Therefore, what should you be busy doing?

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

(Revelation 2.7, 11, 17, 29; 3.6, 13, 22)

Jeremy Nettles

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