LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES

It is important we remind ourselves that we have seen from the introduction, that the book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus to His Church. To each of the Churches Jesus revealed Himself in different ways, and when we put together these seven ways in which Jesus revealed Himself, it becomes the whole that we need in our time.

The Book of Revelation is divided into two parts. Revelation 1 to 3 is one part which is HISTORY, while Revelation 4 to 22 is another part, which is prophecy (Revelation 4:1). The Book of Revelation is actually meant to prepare us for persecution in the coming days. We may not want to talk about it but we cannot escape it.

"To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, 'These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." Revelation 2:1-7

THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS
Historical Background

This is the very first letter among the seven letters addressed to the Church in Ad30-Ad300 it means DESIRABLE. The account has it that it is the ‘loveless church’. It was also the leading Church of the group where Paul laboured of great success and the leading point of John’s ministry. 

Introduction
Revelation 2:1
Jesus revealed Himself to this Church as the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand. He’s the one that walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Jesus’ introduction to this Church means that the Church of Ephesus was already losing focus off Him.
So the question we should ask ourselves as an assembly, as an individual is that, is He still our/my focus?

Approval
Revelation 2:2
Jesus said He knew their works, their labour, their patience. They hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans.  By saying He knew their works meant God takes records. Jesus noted and commended their good works. He noted their sound doctrine by standing against the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. The Nicolaitans held impure and immoral doctrines, and that eating meat offered to idols was not evil.

This means that we have to watch the doctrine we have embraced
 
Accusation
Revelation 2:4, Proverbs 14:14, Matthew 24:12, Jude 21, Hebrew 10:38, Romans 12:11

Jesus had several things to commend about the Ephesians’ Church but also had something against them. "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love”. What Jesus had against them was the identity that was given to the Church “LOVELESS CHURCH”. This Church eventually got wiped away because of this one thing.

We need to pay attention to everything God is calling our attention to. Jesus has already told us that as we draw closer to the end, there will be more pressure on our love walk. There will be pressure for us to love less and begin to walk in unforgiveness. We can be in church and yet, drawing back. Pleasant times and pressure times can separate us from the Love of God.

Jesus’ accusation of this Church meant they were adhering to what is commonly accepted. The backsliding believer who is persistent in Church but his love is already growing cold. He’s losing spiritual touch and spiritual fervency. Activity is ongoing but fellowship does not exist.

Key Lessons
i. Where I was is not as important as where I am now. In other words, where I was is only relevant to where I am now if it has any bearing to my future. Don’t let where you were distract you or become a tool in the hand of the enemy to rob you of your future. Where you were is not as important as where you are now.

ii. Revelation 2:5, 1Corinthians 5:6, Galatians 5:9, Song of Solomon 2:15. That one little is enough to spoil or destroy all. We need to look into our lives and find out that one thing that can rob us of so much and ‘deal with it’. We must stop using what God commends us about to justify that one little. iii. Don’t be a victim of the old prophet syndrome. We are boasting about what we did but are losing spiritual flavor by the day, we know the history of the Church but we don’t know the mind of God.

Advice
Revelation 2:5   
Jesus says to remember and repent from where we have fallen. We should call to mind where we have fallen. True repentance is not just saying I’m sorry or regret or be remorseful. However, true repentance involves regret and being remorseful. This is because you can repent and still go back to doing that same thing over and over again. If you are truly sorry/repentant, it requires a turning away, a change of action. What you are sorry about or repented of, you do not repeat. Repentance has fruits.

Assurance
Revelation 2:7, Luke 24:41-42, Matthew 26:29
There is an assurance to everyone that overcomes. Jesus says to him that overcomes He will give to eat of the tree of life. This tells us that even in our glorified state we will still be eating. Everyone must overcome for himself by taking heed to His counsel. We must not compromise our fellowship and walk with God for anything.  

Appeal
Jesus says he that has ear let him ear. If we give attention to His word, we will do His word.

Prayer
*I have ears and I hear. I remember and I repent.
*I overcome by faith, Hope, and Love
 

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.