LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES (Introduction)

This is not doing a study on the book of Revelation. We are simply looking at the letters to the churches contained in the first three chapters of the book. This study ought to be done routinely in the church for a spiritual check-up.

The book of Revelation is a part of the bible. You can read it, understand it and be blessed by it. Any church that does not have an understanding of the book of Revelation, cannot make a headway. The ruling number of this book is 7. The first few pages of the Bible reveals how satan gained control of the earth (as recorded in Genesis 1-3), and the last few pages (in Revelation) reveals how he will eventually lose control of it.

PURPOSE OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION

The purpose of the book is not just to tell us what’s going to happen but to prepare us for what is going to happen. It is also to prepare us to face persecution and even martyrdom if need be.

The summary of the book is that Jesus won and overcame, we would win, and overcome.

Read Revelation 1:1-20. The book starts by saying, the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

Vs 1- The word ‘Revelation’ simply means the UNVEILING or DISCLOSURE. So it is the unveiling or disclosure of Jesus Christ. 

It shows everything is all about Jesus Christ. If we claim to be a church and we do not find Jesus inside, it’s not a church. In 1 Cor. 2:2, Paul stated that when he came he "suffered not to know anything among them, save Jesus Christ..." The Church is all about Jesus. Anytime the church or a local assembly of believers is given a description outside of Christ, it has missed it. 

Vs 3 tells us that, it is those who read, hear the prophecies in the book and keep the word, that are the blessed ones. You are not blessed because you attend a vibrant church or because of the position you hold in the church. You are blessed because you are living in obedience to God's word.

Revelation 22:18-19- Any man, who is not encouraging you to look at the prophecies in this book, is doing you a disservice.

Until we take the responsibility to read, to hear and keep the words of the book, we are not serious. The average believer today does not give attention to God's word. 

Vs 4, 8 - "John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne…I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty". Jesus Christ who is, who was, and is to come. - the past, the present and the future, so it tells this prophecy is relevant to the past, the present and the future

- The names stated here all have meanings: 

Vs 11- "saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and, What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4. Any believer who is losing hope is not conversant with scriptures. The prophecies in these books were not written to entertain us, but for our learning. The letters to the churches have a four-fold application. 

THE FOUR-FOLD APPLICATION OF THESE LETTERS

1. Revelation 1:4- "John, to the seven churches which are in Asia…" A local application to the churches in John’s day. It was a direct letter to the churches that existed in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey ) at that time.

2. The letter is relevant to the present day churches throughout the dispensations until Jesus comes. It reveals the spiritual condition of churches and individuals. It can be used to help make a true spiritual assessment and needed adjustments.

3. An individual application- so that individuals may be warned and profit from what they learn, by the failures of the seven churches. Although the letters were written to the churches, the exhortation, promises are personal.

4. It is prophetic in application and can further be broken into two, disclosing two phases of the spiritual history of the church.

1. It reveals a pattern that has been operated again and again through the centuries. The book is a history book given to us to take advantage of it

2. It reveals the progress of the spiritual state of the church until the end of the church age.

STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK

1. THE ADDRESS- The place where a person, an organization can be found and reached. This is very important. Your address can either blur or make your vision clearer. Your vision should define where you live. There are certain things you will never see if your address does not change. Every church had an address. 

2. THE ATTRIBUTES- How did Jesus reveal Himself to each church? He didn’t reveal Himself by His name but by titles. Each title reveals what that church has forgotten or needs to consider. In other words, Jesus used a unique title to reveal Himself in each letter to these churches. 

Key lessons

- The revelation of Jesus is very personal-Matthew 16:18.

- There is no basis and room for comparison between individuals or churches. 2 Cor. 10:12

- What God reveals is a pointer to what He wants to see and what He will judge. (We are privileged to have the seven letters and we need all to be perfected)

3. APPROVAL- These letters tell us, God takes records. In all the letters, Jesus kept saying, I KNOW YOUR WORKS. We are saved and justified by faith but will be rewarded according to our works. 2 Cor. 5:10

4. ACCUSATION- Two of the churches had no fault, so it is possible to live sinless, faultless, and above board.

5. ADVICE /COUNSEL- The Lord had counsel for every church. It was their failure to take the counsel that wiped them out. Let us maintain the right attitude towards counsel and advice.

6. ASSURANCE- In each letter, there is an assurance. The call to overcome is not addressed to the church as a whole but to each individual. This is because judgment is always personal whether for the purpose of reward or punishment.

7. APPEAL- The closing remarks in all the letters, shows that Jesus has an expectation from every church - "He that has an ears, let him hear…"

There is a reward awaiting every genuine seeker and follower of God. This reward is not what an unbeliever can get nor receive. This reward is more than physical, although it can produce physical things- it is more than that! Live your life conscious that there is a God taking note. Don't just labour for now. The REAL REWARD IS NOT HERE. Labour with eternity in view. What should guide you through life is the revelation of Jesus. This revelation is what should guide you in your dealings with every man.

PRAYER 

Isaiah 6:9-10- "And He said, Go, and tell this people: Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed."

Matthew 13:13-16- "…But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear”.

Blessed are my eyes for they see, blessed are my ears for they hear.