The Endtimes Series - Part Ten - Jesus' Letters To The Churches
Writer Author Sylvia Huffnagle
Christian Article
:
Bible Teaching
- Fiction No
Jesus’ letters show His true Spirit toward sin and toward righteousness. Therefore, they are very important not only for instruction, but to show what God does really cares about. It will show that the spirit loose today that claims God is mainly interested in whether we show clarity or not and is not too upset with misconduct and sin is false. I will emphasize the truths that the church seems to have lost or mislaid.
Rev: 2:1-3: Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2: I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4-7: Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5: Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6: But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
(Jesus emphasizes His office as head of the church. He then tells the church at Ephesus what they are doing that pleases Him. That is the tactful way of doing things. If He had given the negative first, He risk turning them off so that they could not accept the negative nor rejoice in the positive. They were doing a good many things right. I would guess that most churches today would think they were doing quite well if they had this list to their credit.
They were obviously hard at work for the Lord and not only that, but they were practicing patience. They were addressing the issues and standing against sin. What more could He want?
He wanted something more so much so that He warned them that their candlestick was in danger. In other words, they would not even be considered His church if they did not do their first works; which I would guess was to love, care, and reach out to people, having the good news flourishing in their hearts.
Please take note that Jesus doesn’t settle for half measures or partial truth.)
8-9: And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9: I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10-11: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
(Jesus identifies Himself as the resurrected Christ to put across what He wants to say to the church at Smyrna. This church was having it rough--persecution and poverty. And apparently the Jews were calling their Savior bad names. That’s why He identifies Himself as the one who was dead and is alive--because their very lives were being threatened.
Jesus tells them not to fear what they might suffer, even jail. He lets them know it will be for only a definite period of time and that they are to focus on the crown of life that they are winning.
He does not reprimand them for anything. They apparently were just trying to be Christ followers. He encourages them.)
12-13: And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; 13: I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14-15: But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. 15: So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16-17: Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
(The church at Pergamos was unfortunate enough to be located in a wicked city. The church was holding fast to Jesus’ name and keeping the faith even in the midst of violent persecution. But that was not enough for Jesus. He wanted them to have nothing to do with those whose lewd behavior was a stumbling block to all those who might have been drawn to Jesus by them.
He calls for them to repent of their tolerance of these things. If they wouldn’t repent, they would be cut off from the true vine or true church by the sword of Jesus’ mouth which is the Word of God. He will quote scripture that tell what happens to those who practice such things.
If they repented of this wrongful tolerance, they would be included with the recipients of the hidden manna and white stone. I don‘t know what these two mean exactly, but I know it‘s going to be good)
18-19: And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; 19: I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20-23: Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21: And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22: Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23: And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24-28: But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25: But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 16: And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28: And I will give him the morning star. 29: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(He comes to the Church a Thyatira emphasizing His office as the son of the living God. He mentions his flaming eyes and brass feet. Apparently the flaming eyes cannot look on things such as Jezebel is doing and the feet of brass address how Christians should walk. Brass is used in musical instruments, it is used to note high-ranking offices, and it is used as a term to describe the bold. Jesus notes their works, which are impressive--works of charity, service, faith and patience.
Then He tells them what He thinks of those who teach others to behave lewdly or commit adultery and He reveals the punishment that is coming on those who practice these things. He wants the church to know just how bad an abomination these things are. He warns them that He searches the heart and know what’s hidden there.
He encourages those who are holding fast to the truth to continue to do so till He comes. He assures them that their reward will be to rule with Him and enforce the truth forever.)
Rev: 3:3: And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. 2: Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. 3: Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
4-6: Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 5: He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. 6: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(To the church at Sardis, Jesus points out that He is the fullness of the Spirit and that that church was not living up to their calling in any way. He tells them to pay attention and to do their homework otherwise they are about to lose it all.
He then encourages the few who have not defiled their garments, telling them that they will walk with Him in white. He again promises to confess the name of those who overcome to the Father and that their names will be found listed in the book of life.)
7-9: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8: I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9: Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10-13: Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11: Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12-13: Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(He shows Himself as holy and truth to the church of brotherly love. He finds no fault with them. He tells them that He has opened a door to them and that no man can shut it. Based on what Jesus said, I think the key of David is reverential fear and awe of the Lord. Once one is fully armed with it, God can open doors for them, because he or she will heed the holy and true.
He tells them that because they have been true to Him, He will spare them from going through the great tribulation. He assures them also that those who say they belong to God but don’t obey Him will bow down to those who do revere and obey Him.
This time the over-comers are promised to be publicly acknowledged to belong to God, having Jesus in their heart, and that they are citizens of the new Jerusalem. And not only a citizen, but an important citizen--a pillar [support] of God‘s temple.)
14-17: 14: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16: So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18-19: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20-22: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
(Jesus addresses the church at Laodicea presenting Himself as the Amen--the last word, the faithful and true witness, and the beginning of creation. Apparently their lukewarm works were evidence that they were not a faithful and true witness. Here He makes it completely clear what ill happen to those who are not faithful and ture--who are luke warm in their heart and their behavior toward God. They will lose their way. They will not overcome. They will not be acknowledged as belonging to Him.
According to Peter it is the Christian’s faith that is tried to see if it is gold. So Jesus is telling them to shape up and be faithful and true to Him and to put on their white [pure] garments. The New Testament tells of what to put off and what to put on. Christians that don not heed these things that Jesus is referring to will be caught naked and vulnerable. He tells them to tend to the matter of seeing with their spiritual eyes. True to character, He then assures them that He is being hard on them because He loves them.
He gives us a picture of Him standing at the door of our heart knocking, if we let Him in, he will give us spiritual food and share its true meaning with us. And He finishes by promised that the over-comer will sit with Him on His throne.)
There you have it church. Heed these seven letters and you will overcome. You will eat of the tree of life and live forever. You will be given a new name--a fitting and highly honorable name. You will be given heavenly garments, acknowledged as prominent citizens of the New Jerusalem, and you will sit with Jesus on His throne and reign with Him.
© Sylvia Huffnagle
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