LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (PART 6)

Text: Revelation 2:18-end; Revelation 3:1-end 

Scriptural References: Acts 16:14 Acts 5:11 Acts 214:27 Col. 4:3 II Pet. 1:9 II Corinth 6:1-10

The Church at Thyatira This church was known as “the corrupt church” or “the church of the evil prophetess”. It was in the city of Thyatira, which was founded by Alexander the Great. Lydia, the first convert of Paul was in this Church. God introduced Himself to this church as the one “who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass”; fire indicating that He was coming to burn up everything that needed to be burnt (purification) and brass indicating the crushing of all the filthy things that needed to be crushed. The church was among other things, commended for its charity, service, faith, patience as we see in verse 19 of Rev. 2.

The church was accused of allowing the ministry of the false prophetess Jezebel, (who was promoting fornication and eating of things sacrificed to idols) to flourish. They were also unrepentant about their activities despite the space given to them by God to repent. In the historical era, this church shows how evil progressed in the church with idolatry practices. It relates to the Roman Catholic Church during the period of papal apostasy. In the modern era, this church represents the development of numerous modern cults that usually emphasize things and works rather than the word of God and faith in God. The advice to this church was that they should hold fast to what they already had.

The key lessons we can learn from the letter to this church are:

- We need to be careful about what we hear, see and think

- Asking ourselves certain questions such as: what do we have that we need to keep? Who are we listening to? What are we watching? What are we reading?

- Ensuring that we hold fast to the things we already have such as: our faith in God; the Word of God; His finished work on the cross.

- Not sacrificing the truth for anything and making sure that no matter the pressure, we are holding on to the word

Two things God promised this church are:

- Spiritual dominion and

- Spiritual illumination.

The Church at Sardis The name Sardis means “remnant”. The church was also known as the spiritually dead church. Coins were first introduced in Sardis and the city was one of the most flourishing at that time. Jesus introduced Himself to the church as “he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars”. As we know, seven stands for perfection. Thus, God introduced Himself as coming in His fullness because they were in a dead state. In this church, only a few people were commended for not defiling their garments. The church was accused of having no perfect work before God. In the historical era, prominent men that stood out were Martin Luther. Alongside Martin Luther were men like John Knox and John Calvin. Martin Luther left three (3) things for the church:

- Universal priesthood of believers

- The Bible as the sole authority for the Christian faith

- Justification is by faith only and not by works.

Key lessons to learn from this church:

- God always has His remnant in every church and in every church age that are standing firm for Him without compromising. That is why everybody is doing it; or the personality doing it; or it is producing result is not an excuse to compromise.

- Where there is no Holy Spirit, there is no life, there is no progress, and there is no explosion. Most of the men who stood out at that time did not have the Holy Spirit in them and that was why they could not have much influence on the people.

- This letter unlike others started with a rebuke. This means that there is no fixed pattern with God; He decides how He will act. So we must not program God. The Church was advised to be watchful; to strengthen the things which remain; and to remember what they had received and hold fast to it. Jesus warned the church that if they did not watch, He will come on them as a thief, and they shall not know what hour He will come upon them. This tells us that we should live our lives ever ready and stop living carelessly as if Christ will never return. God gave this Church the following promises or assurances:

- Promise of fellowship in glory to him that overcomes

- His name will not be blotted out from the book of life (Heavenly registration)

- His name will be confessed by Jesus to the Father (Heavenly recognition)

The Church at Philadelphia

The name Philadelphia means “brotherly love”. The church was known as the tried but faithful church; the weak but loyal church, weak in terms of political relevance. The city had a lot of Jewish population and was celebrated for its excellent wine. Jesus revealed himself as holy, (purity) true, (liberation) and “he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth” as we see in Rev. 3:7. The church was commended for the following:

- They kept His word

- They did not deny His name

- They remained faithful in opposition.

This church had no accusation, showing us again that it is possible to live holy and sin free lives without having any form of accusation from God. For the historical era, this was the period of reformation. Some prominent ministers at that time were: John Wesley, D. L. Moody… Key lessons we can learn from the letter to this church:

- It is possible to live without condemnation

- The power of love and togetherness i.e. agape love binding us together.

The assurances He gave this church are:

- An open door

- They will be kept in the hour of temptation

- Everyone that overcomes will be a pillar in the temple of God.

The Church at Laodicea The name means “people’s right” or “judgement of the people”. This means that people were in charge rather than God. The church was known as the rich poor church (rich in the eye of men but poor in the eye of God). It was also known as the lukewarm, self satisfied church boasting of her wealth, though weak, miserable and poor. As Christians, where does our boast lie? Do we boast because of what we have achieved or what we think we have acquired? Our boast must always be in Christ alone. Christ revealed Himself to this church as the one who is unchangeable; the true witness and a martyr (one who would not compromise His standard, course and belief; and is also ready to die for it). He didn’t approve of anything in this church. The church was accused of being lukewarm: neither cold nor hot. This church represents churches of these days that play down on prayer and the word of God, where the emphasis has shifted from truth to physical things.

Key Lessons we can get from this church are:

- Materialism: We must never be carried away by material or earthly things. This church was more engulfed with material possession that was why they thought they were rich when God saw them as a poor church.

- Worldliness: We must not be totally earthly conscious. We must know that our life does not end here, but there is a life after now.

- Friendship with the world. We may be living in this world, but we must not get attached to it. We must be conscious that Jesus will come back for the faithful ones.

Christ advised this church to be holy, zealous and repent. He assured the church of divine fellowship and spiritual enthronement for those who overcame. We must note that the letters to these churches ended with an appeal; “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Thus, as Christians, we must constantly pray that Lord: “I have ears, I hear and because I hear, I overcome”. In summary, the study of the seven churches can look like a cycle. First, no love, then persecution, compromise, corruption, deadness, revival and then lukewarmness. We must watch out for this cycle and must not allow it repeat itself in our generation.