Editor's Note: a lightly edited transcription of the attached audio file will be found at the end of this originally written daily study guide. Appreciation for this transcription work goes to Marilyn Fine.

Many of us tend to shy away from the book of Revelation – partly because it’s hard to understand, and partly because it can be a bit frightening if one is not sure of his salvation. However, the book of Revelation is filled with bright hope for the future for those who have placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In this study we are only going to look at the first three chapters of this book. My prayer is that these chapters would whet your appetite for the rest of the book and that you would not quit reading at the end of Chapter 3.

This week we will look at the setting and lay the foundation for what lies ahead in the seven letters. I have enclosed a map at the beginning for you to refer back to each week so that you will have a picture of where each church is in relation to the others. I have also included a chart that you may find helpful to fill in each day as you study a section of the letter. There are times I will ask you to compare or contrast letters and the chart will be helpful for you to refer back to.

Don’t get discouraged if the passages are hard to understand. We will take each section verse by verse and look at various interpretations. Focus on what God wants to teach you through His Word. Together, let’s rekindle the fire in our hearts for Christ as we study these letters to the seven churches.

DAY 1: THE INTRODUCTION

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 1:1-3

1. The author identifies himself four times in the book of Revelation. Who wrote this book (1:1, 4, 9; 22:8)?

2. List the five personages in verses 1-4 in the “chain of communication” of this revelation; i.e., God the Father to …

3. What do we know about the author from these passages?

Matthew 4:18-22

Matthew 17:1-2

Mark 10:35-37

Mark 14:32-33

John 19:26-27

4. What was the purpose of this revelation?

5. What should be the readers’ (and our) response to this revelation and why (v. 3)?

II. Looking Upward

6. “Blessed is he who reads… hears… heeds” these things (v. 3). What is the difference in reading, hearing, and heeding? Which is most difficult for you and why?

7. The angel told John in 1:3 that “the time is near,” and yet we are still waiting today to see this prophecy in the book of Revelation fulfilled. How do you explain that to someone who is skeptical, and what Scripture would you use to support your answer?

8. If you knew Jesus were to return tomorrow, how would you spend your remaining time on this earth? Are there any relationships to reconcile, wrongs to right, people to share Christ with?

III. Looking Deeper

Revelation 1:3 is the first of seven beatitudes in the book, beginning with the word, “Blessed.” It means much more than happy. The word, “blessed” describes the favorable circumstance God has put a person in.¹

List the other beatitudes.

Revelation 14:13

Revelation 16:15

Revelation 19:9

Revelation 20:6

Revelation 22:7

Revelation 22:14

How would you summarize who is blessed and why?

IV. Looking Reflectively

We don’t know the exact day Jesus will return, but we know He will. Live every day as if He’s coming tomorrow.

Are you ready for His return? If not, what do you need to do to be ready?

DAY 2: THE SALUTATION

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 1:4-8

1. To whom did John write this letter? List them. (Revelation 1:4, 11)

2. What three titles are ascribed to Jesus Christ in verse 5a and what is the significance of each title? (Also look at John 18:37, Colossians 1:17-18, and Revelation 19:16).

3. What three “things” describe His relationship with us in verses 5b-6?

4. What does it mean that “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God”? (See also 1 Peter 2:5, 9 and Rev. 5:10.)

II. Looking Upward

5. Verse 7 is considered by many to be the key verse of this book. What is it referring to and why would it be the key verse?

6. Which attributes of God are evident in this passage? Which attribute most encourages you today and why?

III. Looking Deeper

Jesus referred to Himself in verse 8 as “the Alpha and Omega…who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Why are these names and descriptions especially appropriate for the theme of this book?

According to Isaiah 11:2, what is one possibility of whom or what the “seven Spirits” mentioned in Revelation 1:4 refer to? (You may also want to look at a commentary or Study Bible.)

IV. Looking Reflectively

“There are two hundred and fifty-six names given in the Bible for the Lord Jesus Christ, and I suppose this was because He was infinitely beyond all that any one name could express.”²

He alone is worthy to be praised.

Take some time to praise Him for who He is and for what He has done, using today’s verses to guide you.

DAY 3: THE PATMOS VISION

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 1:9-16

1. Where was John when he received this revelation and why was he there?

2. In what three areas was John a fellow-partaker? What does it mean to be a partaker in these things?

3. Describe what John saw and heard when he turned to see the voice that was speaking to him.

4. Which attributes of God does John’s description of Christ emphasize?

II. Looking Upward

5. In what ways have you shared in “the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance” of Christ?

6. How would you describe Jesus Christ to a non-believer?

III. Looking Deeper

How does the description of Christ in Revelation 1:12-16 depict Him as both a priest and a judge? (See also Leviticus 16:1-4 and Hebrews 4:12-13.)

IV. Looking Reflectively

It is hard to adequately describe Jesus Christ in all His glory.

Fall on your knees and worship Him in light of these verses.

 

DAY 4: THE RESPONSE

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 1:17-20

1. What are some possible reasons why John fell at His feet like a dead man when he saw Him?

2. Which attributes of God does Jesus’ description of Himself point to?

3. What does it mean that Jesus has the “keys of death and of Hades” (v. 18)?

4. What do the seven lampstands and the seven stars represent (v. 20)? Who are the angels of the seven churches?

II. Looking Upward

5. What causes you to fear God or to fall before His feet?

6. How does the fact that He is the first and the last, the living One, alive forevermore, holding the keys of death and Hades impact your life personally?

III. Looking Deeper

The number “seven” occurs 54 times in the book of Revelation. In the Bible, it is associated with completion, fulfillment, and perfection.³ How do these verses support that association?

Genesis 2:2

Exodus 20:8-11

Leviticus 14:7

Acts 6:3

IV. Looking Reflectively

“Help us believe the intensity, the eternity of the love that has found us. Then love will cast out fear; and our troubled hearts will be at peace, trusting not in what we are but in what Thou hast declared Thyself to be.”⁴ – A.W. Tozer

When we realize all that God is, we should respond with a reverential awe and worship Him.

Take some time to reflect on your own view of God and your response to Him. Do you have a reverential awe for God? If not, why?

DAY 5: THE DOCTRINE

I. Looking to God’s Word

Re-read Revelation 1

1. There is quite a bit of doctrine in Revelation 1. What do you see concerning each doctrine in these verses?

A. Soteriology – the doctrine of salvation (vv. 5-6)

B. Christology – the doctrine of Christ (vv. 5, 8, 17-18)

C. Eschatology – the doctrine of end times (vv. 1, 3, 7)

D. Trinitarianism – the doctrine of the Trinity (vv. 4-5)

II. Looking Upward

2. What are some lessons for life or personal application that you can draw from this chapter?

3. What made the biggest impact on your life from Revelation 1?

III. Looking Deeper

Read: 2 Peter 3:8-15

Describe the coming day of the Lord.

What is Peter’s exhortation to his readers concerning the return of the Lord?

What similarities do you see between the messages in this passage and Revelation 1?

IV. Looking Reflectively

It is good to understand and recognize doctrine, but if we don’t apply it personally, it is just head knowledge, not heart knowledge.

It will be vain to become occupied with 'sevens,' 'hundred-forty-four-thousands,' 'six-sixty-sixes,' the restoration of the Roman Empire, the person of the antichrist, the two wild beasts, the 'millennium,' or even the new Jerusalem; unless, along with God the Father, who has subjected all things unto Him, Christ is ever before our eyes!⁵

That is why we have spent much of this week worshipping Jesus Christ. Is your focus on Him more than anything else?

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Introduction to the message for Lesson 1: The Setting [Begin Transcription]

Good morning! Do you ever think about what your response will be the first time you see Jesus face to face, when you see Him in all His glory? Have you ever thought about how you are going to respond? Well, I love the song that came out a few years ago called, “I Can Only Imagine.” I thought about singing it, but it is a little hard to sing with the CDs. The words go,

I can only imagine what my eyes will see when Your face is before me.
I can only imagine.
Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel?
Will I dance for you, Jesus, or in awe of You be still?
Will I stand in Your presence or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing hallelujah? Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine.

We can only imagine what that day is going to be like when we see Him face to face.

Today, as we begin our study on the seven churches of Revelation, we look at a chapter that gives us a glimpse of what He will look like. I do not know the impact that this chapter had on your life this week as your studied it. I will tell you though, that every time I have looked at this chapter—whether it was this summer as I wrote this study or as I looked at it rewriting the study, or whether it was when I was going through the lesson a few weeks ago or even this weekend preparing the lecture—I had the same response every time I read this chapter. It caused me to just want to worship Him, to just fall on my face before Him and say, “God, I just praise you. I worship you.” So, today as we look at this chapter, I want to point out four reasons why we should worship Him.

First reason: Worship Him because of His revelation

We see this in verses 1 to 5. We begin this book, chapter 1, verse 1, “The revelation of Jesus Christ.” This word “revelation” comes from the Greek word from which we get our English word “apocalypse.” It literally means “an uncovering, an unveiling.” This book is the unveiling of Jesus Christ. It is the uncovering of Jesus Christ. As He is uncovered, as He is unveiled, it should move us to want to worship this king, this Lord.

The name of the book is called, “The Revelation to John.” That is what my Bible says. Many people have called it by the wrong name. They will say it is the revelation of John. It is not. It is not about John. It is not from John, even though John is the one who penned the words. He is not really the one it is from or about. It is about Jesus Christ. This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, the unveiling of him. Another mistake people often make is they will say, “We are studying the book of Revelations.” No, it is not plural. It is not Revelations. It is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

So, I want to just look at four things about the revelation in these five verses. The first thing is the process. In verses 1-4, we see the process of how this revelation came down. You did this in your study this week. God the father is the source of it. He passed it down to Jesus Christ. Then, Jesus communicated it by His angel to John and then John communicated to the seven churches and, ultimately, to you and me, to all believers. That is the process of this revelation. God is the divine author; John is the one who penned it, but there was definitely a series of steps.

The purpose of the revelation I want to look at next. We talked about this briefly last week. In chapter 1:1, the purpose of this revelation is to show “the things which must soon take place.” I am interpreting this book, this lesson, this study, from the viewpoint of the futurist view. As we talked about the different viewpoints of interpreting Revelation last week, the futurist viewpoint is the view that all the events in Revelation 4-22 are future. None of them have happened. So, what God wants here is for His people to know what is going to happen in the end times when Jesus comes back.

But, in what sense can we understand that these events will happen “soon”? Generations have lived and died reading these same words and going, “What! It is ‘soon’? But why is it not happening in my lifetime?” Well, the Greek word for “soon,” or “shortly” as some translations read it, can mean either of two things: It can mean either in the immediate future, i.e. it is imminent. It can happen at any time. We talked about that last week. I do believe that the coming of Jesus Christ is imminent and that nothing else has to happen before He comes back. So, that is one meaning, one translation, of how we can understand that word “soon.” It can mean that it can happen at any time.

A second meaning of this word it can mean rapidly, quickly, speedily. Once these events begin to unfold, they will happen very quickly. Many scholars take this view that that is what this means when it says, “soon take place.” I believe there is validity in both meanings. I think both are true.

We also have to keep in mind that our timetable is not God’s timetable. What is soon to us is not necessarily soon to God, because He says in II Peter 3:8,

“One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

So, to the Lord, a thousand years is an instant in light of eternity. You know, I will tell you. I hope that I will be alive when He comes back. I would love it to be in our lifetime, but I do not know if it will be. My mom has said that this is her next milestone in life. She has lived through her 90th birthday. She has lived through the year 2000 and now her next milestone is that she would just like to be alive when Jesus comes back. I would too, but I do not know if it will happen.

Well, the third things is the promise of the revelation. In verse 3, He gives a promise. He says,

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

This verse reflects the early form of worship where a reader would stand before the congregation and he would take the written word and read the letter from beginning to end. So, John would give this letter of revelation to a carrier who would take it to the church. The pastor or leader of the church would start in Revelation 1 and read to Revelation 22 to the congregation. “Blessed is he who reads.” He also says to “those who hear.” These are the people in the congregation who listen to the reading. They are responsible to hear and to respond what is being read.

Then, the third blessing is to those who heed the things that are written in it. That word “heed” literally means “to apply, to obey.” In this context, it is the idea of personal application and obedience. You know, it does us no good if all we do is read the book of Revelation or if you just hear me speak on the lecture about Revelation. So “heeding” has been my prayer for you and for me. It is so easy to get caught up in all the things about the book of Revelation. Oh, yes, it is fascinating. I want to think about the numbers, the 7’s, all the symbolism. Ladies, that is not going to do us any good if that is where we stop. What are we going to do with this study? What are you going to let God do in your life personally? We have got to take it to that third step. How are we going to apply the Word of God?

Well, that is the promise of blessing, and He says at the end of that verse, “For the time is near.” Again, the time is at hand. The time he is referring to is the return of Jesus Christ. It could happen at any time. It could happen today. Are you ready? Are you prepared? Are you excited? Are you kind of not so sure?

Let’s look next at the preface of the revelation. As a letter is begun, most of the writers will give a little preface to it. This is usually a kind of laying out the author, the recipient, and greetings. That is what he does here. He starts out in verse 4 with the author, John. Now, I will tell you that there have been some arguments about if this is really John, the apostle, John, the disciple. Most scholars agree this is John, the disciple of Jesus Christ, and that is the view that I take. John is the human author.

Then, he lays out the recipient of this letter, the seven churches that are in Asia. We know by looking at verse 11 who the seven churches are. That is what we are going to be studying for the next seven weeks. We will take one church a week. But, the question is, why did John address only seven churches? There were more than seven churches in existence at this time. Why only seven, and why these particular seven churches? We really do not know, but many commentators see these churches as representative of churches in every age. There is something about each of these churches that every church can identify with – their sins, their struggles, their strengths, and their persecutions. So, they see these seven churches as representing what every church throughout the ages deals with. We have a lot to learn from these. Other people see these seven churches as representative of the seven stages of church history, with Ephesus starting as representing the apostolic age. In Laodicea then, the last church, we find representation of the church age, the age that we are in today before Jesus Christ returns. There are different views. Whatever your view, what matters is that there is a lot we need to learn and apply from these churches. There is something in every letter that we can take to heart and that we can apply personally to not only our church but to our lives.

Also, there is the comment in your notes about the order of the churches listed. So at the beginning of your notebook, I put a map in there. If you see Ephesus and go through the churches to Laodicea, it makes a half moon, sort of a semicircle. So, it made it an easy journey to travel from church to church to church to church. The seven churches. You will see this number 7 come up a lot in the book of Revelation.

Well, the next thing under the preface is the divine author and this is God. God is really the source of this book. If we read verses 4-5, we get a beautiful picture of the Trinity involved in this letter. He begins with the Father in verse 4,

Grace to you and peace from Him Who is and Who was and Who is to come.

That is referring to the Father, not Jesus Christ, even though later we see that also as a reference to Jesus Christ, but here it is the Father because two phrases it says, “And from Jesus Christ.” So, this is referring to God the Father. This description He “is and Who was and Who is to come” stresses that the same God is eternally present with His people. Throughout the ages, the same God who led the Israelites out of Israel, out of bondage, is the same God Who leads us today. He is eternal. He is everlasting.

The second part of the Trinity which is mentioned here is the Holy Spirit. He says, “And from the seven spirits who are before His throne.” Now, there has been some discrepancy about who these seven spirits are. Some believe that they are seven angels, but I agree with the scholars who in looking at the context believe that this is a reference to the Holy Spirit. That number seven, which if you did your looking deeper this week you will have already seen, is representative of completeness. So, this is a reference to the Holy Spirit – the sevenfold characteristics that make up the fullness of the Holy Spirit, according to Isaiah 11:1-2. If you did the looking deeper and you looked at those verses and the seven characteristics of the Holy Spirit. That is what I believe this is referring to because of the context of the Father and the Son with the Holy Spirit being mentioned in the middle.

In the third part this is said to be from Jesus Christ. He becomes the focus. Normally, He is not mentioned last in the Trinity, but because this whole book is about Him, He is put last so that the rest of the book can expound on who is Jesus Christ. He is the focus of this letter.

Second reason: Worship Him because of His identity

So, we should first be moved to worship Him because of the revelation. But secondly, we should worship Him because of His identity. We see that beginning in verse 5. It says, “From Jesus Christ” the first thing that is mentioned is “the faithful witness.” Witness is the Greek word for martyr. A witness is someone who witnesses for and who testifies without concern for his life. He speaks the truth and “if I lose my life then so be it!” That is what it means to be a faithful witness and Jesus Christ was. The question for us is, are you a faithful witness? Are you willing to witness for the truth to testify for the truth, regardless of what it means for you? Whether it is in your work, or in your family, are you willing to be a faithful witness? The second part of this identity that is mentioned is that He is “the firstborn of the dead” in verse 5. He is the first to be resurrected and never to die again. He will never die again. He has been resurrected and that gives us hope because although we are all going to die we will be raised again as we follow him. Then, the third part of His identity. He is the ruler of the kings of the earth. He is the authority; He is in control; He is sovereign. Verse 6 John says, “To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.” He is the focus of this book. He is to be worshipped. He is to be praised.

Third reason: Worship Him because of His actions

Because of His revelation, we worship. Because of His identity we worship, and thirdly, we worship because of His actions. Again, we see His actions in verses 5-6 and three things that He has done for us: first, He loves us…

Editor’s Note: Unfortunately the extant recording for this lesson and the previous one end incomplete. Thankfully the following messages were better preserved.

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¹ Ken Barker, Zondervan NASB Study Bible (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1999), 1849.

² Billy Sunday, in a sermon, “Wonderful,” quoted in The Real Billy Sunday.

³ Charles Ryrie, The Ryrie Study Bible, Expanded Edition (Chicago: Moody Press, 1995), 2013.

⁴ A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy (San Francisco: Harper, 1961), 104.

⁵ William R. Newell, The Book of the Revelation (Chicago: Moody Press, 1935), 31.

Editor's Note: a lightly edited transcription of the attached audio file will be found at the end of this originally written daily study guide. Appreciation for this transcription work goes to Marilyn Fine.

Pergamum had served as the capital of the Roman province of Asia Minor for over 25 years and was an important religious center for a number of pagan cults. It was the first city in Asia to build a temple to Caesar and it became the capital of the cult of Caesar worship.¹ Of Pergamum an ancient writer said it was “given to idolatry more than all Asia.”²

The book of Acts makes no mention of the founding of this church. According to Acts 16:7-8, Paul passed through the region of Mysia, where Pergamum was located, on his second missionary journey, but there is no record that Paul either preached the gospel or founded a church there during that time. Most likely, Paul founded this church during his ministry at Ephesus (Acts 19:10) when the gospel was preached throughout Asia.³

Many writers have noted that Pergamum comes from the Greek word gamos that means marriage. This letter pictures a church married to the world rather than to Christ.⁴

The church at Pergamum was surrounded by a pagan culture, just as we are surrounded by an increasingly godless culture. As you study this letter, be attentive to what God wants to teach you through His Word.

DAY 1: THE DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:12-17 (Today we will focus on verse 12, but read the entire letter to get an overview of the message and the church.)

1. Jesus describes Himself as the “One who has the sharp two-edged sword.” What two things is the “sword” symbolic of according to these verses?

Ephesians 6:17

Revelation 2:16

2. How does Revelation 19:11-16 support this symbolism and purpose of the sword?

3. Why is this description of Christ especially appropriate for this church?

4. Describe the Word of God in Hebrews 4:12-13.

II. Looking Upward

5. How does the Word judge the intentions and thoughts of the heart?

6. Can you give an example of a time when God’s Word convicted your heart of an attitude or action?

III. Looking Deeper

What do you learn about Jesus as the Judge in these verses?

1 Corinthians 4:5

James 4:12

James 5:9

How do these verses impact your life personally? What personal application can you draw from the truths of these verses?

IV. Looking Reflectively

Jesus Christ is the one and only Judge. It is not our place to judge others.

Are you presently judging someone else? If so, confess it.

Jesus knows the true motives and intentions of our hearts.

Take some time today to ask God to search your heart and to show you sin and wrong motives in your heart that you may not be aware of. Allow His Word to penetrate your heart. (Psalm 139:23-24)

DAY 2: THE COMMENDATION

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:13

1. What did Jesus commend this church for?

2. How would you summarize this commendation in one word?

Note: “Where Satan’s throne is” is referring to the fact that Satan “ruled” from Pergamum as it was the official center of emperor worship in Asia.⁵

Note: Antipas was the first martyr of Asia. According to tradition he was slowly roasted to death in a bronze kettle during the reign of Domitian.⁶

3. According to Ephesians 6:10-18, how are we able to stand firm for Christ? List the specifics that we are instructed to do.

II. Looking Upward

4. Are you taking full advantage of what God has made available to you in order to stand firm?

In which of the areas of Ephesians 6 are you strongest?

In which areas do you need to improve in order to stand firm against the schemes of the devil?

5. Pergamum was a place where Satan ruled. In what areas of our society today are we allowing Satan to rule or gain power?

6. What are some examples of ways we may “subtly deny” Christ?

III. Looking Deeper

In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold before which the people were to fall down and worship. Whoever would not fall down and worship would immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. As you read Daniel 3:12-30, what observations do you make about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their steadfast faith in the midst of tribulation?

How did their steadfast faith impact Nebuchadnezzar?

IV. Looking Reflectively

It’s possible to hold to the truth in the midst of Satanic power.

“Revelation prohibits us loving our lives more than His gospel; it summons us to follow the model of Antipas as faithful witnesses, no matter what the cost.”⁷

How are you doing in the area of steadfastness and faithful witness for Christ?

What “cost” are you being asked to pay for the sake of Christ?

Meditate on 1 Corinthians 15:58. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”

DAY 3: THE CRITICISM

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:14-15

1. What was Jesus’ concern or criticism about this church? How does the church at Pergamum differ from the church at Ephesus (2:2)?

Note: The story of Balaam is found in Numbers 22-25. Being fearful of the Israelites because of what they had done to the Amorites, Balak, king of Moab, hired Balaam to curse them. After trying unsuccessfully three times to curse Israel, Balaam came up with another plan. He decided to corrupt them by his counsel. He counseled them to have Moabite women seduce Israelite men into intermarriage, resulting in the blasphemous union of Israel with fornication and idolatrous feasts.⁸

2. What do we learn about Balaam and his teaching from these verses?

2 Peter 2:15-16 (The story of the donkey and Balaam is found in Numbers 22:21-35).

Revelation 2:14

3. In 1 Corinthians 5:1-8, we read about a similar situation in the Corinthian church. How was the situation similar to the church at Pergamum?

How should the Corinthians have responded?

Paul rebuked them for becoming “arrogant.” Why would arrogance keep them from dealing with the situation appropriately?

4. We are not to follow teachings contrary to God’s Word nor tolerate those who do. How does Paul instruct Titus in Titus 3:9-11 concerning those who are not teaching truth and trying to undermine the believers’ faith?

II. Looking Upward

5. Jesus rebuked this church for tolerating those, like Balaam, who were undermining people’s faith. What are some stumbling blocks we need to be on the lookout for which could potentially undermine our faith?

6. In what ways does the world tempt us to compromise with our values and integrity?

III. Looking Deeper

Jesus rebuked this church for tolerating those who were following the false teaching promoting idolatry and immorality. Instead, they should have confronted them. The church at Pergamum failed to obey the biblical mandate to practice church discipline. According to Matthew 18:15-18, what is the proper way to practice church discipline?

Why do some churches, like Pergamum, shy away from this?

Have your seen church discipline exercised in your church? If so, what were the results?

IV. Looking Reflectively

We are not to turn a “blind eye” to wrong doctrine in the church. Jesus wants His church to stand firm on the truth of His Word and to confront those who don’t.

Moral integrity is essential to the spiritual vitality and health of a church. If it is compromised, the church is in serious danger.

Are you aware of anyone around you who is teaching false doctrine? How are you dealing with it?

Are you turning a “blind eye” to someone in the church who is blatantly disobedient and compromising with the world?

DAY 4: THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNING

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:16

1. What is Jesus’ instruction to the church at Pergamum?

2. What is His warning and what does it mean?

3. Compare and contrast His instruction and warning to the Pergamum church (2:16) with the instruction and warning to the Ephesian church (2:5).

4. Why were the warnings appropriate for each specific church and its shortcomings?

II. Looking Upward

5. Those who were following the teachings of Balaam and the Nicolaitans were to repent. They were not to be corrupted by immorality and idolatry. How do we see these two areas in our society today?

6. How do we as individuals and as a church balance being “in the world” but not “of the world”? How do we protect ourselves from being pulled into the world’s way of thinking?

III. Looking Deeper

How does Paul’s message to the Thessalonian church in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 relate to Jesus’ message to the Pergamum church?

What was the decision by the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:20, 29 regarding things contaminated by idols and immorality?

IV. Looking Reflectively

“Compromise with the world draws divine discipline.”⁹

Are you compromising with the world in any way? If so, how?

“We need to make sure that we are influencing the world with the kingdom’s values, not embracing the world’s values where they conflict with those of the kingdom.”¹⁰

Are there areas where you are embracing the world’s values instead of kingdom values? If so, follow the instruction to this church: confess and turn away from it.

 

DAY 5: THE PROMISE

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:17

1. What three things did Jesus promise to the one who overcomes?

2. We don’t know for sure what the “hidden manna” is referring to, but in light of John 6:31-35, 47-58, what is one possibility?

3. Scholars differ on the meaning of the “white stone.” This is perhaps the most difficult to interpret of all the rewards in Revelation 2 and 3. Warren Wiersbe gives two possible explanations: “In those days, a white stone was put into a vessel by a judge to vote acquittal for a person on trial. It was also used like a ‘ticket’ to gain admission to a feast.” ¹¹ How would these two explanations apply to a believer in a spiritual sense?

4. Scholars also differ on the meaning of the “new name.” In light of Isaiah 62:1-5 and 65:15, what is one possibility? In light of Revelation 22:3-4, what is another explanation?

Note: Regardless of which view you hold concerning the “hidden manna” and “the white stone with a new name,” one thing is certain. The promises revolve around the Lord Jesus Christ and they are well worth the wait. We may experience a small glimpse of these promises in this life, but the fullness of these promises will not be grasped until we see Him face to face!

II. Looking Upward

5. How does Christ nourish you and sustain you spiritually on a daily basis?

6. In the Bible, names reflected one’s character. If God were to rename you based on your character, what would you want it to be and why?

7. How do these three promises to the overcomers encourage you to view life from an eternal perspective rather than from a temporal, earthly perspective?

III. Looking Deeper

God gave new names to several people in the Bible. What are their new names and why were they given those names? What promises did He give them when He renamed them?

Genesis 17:5-6

Genesis 17:15 -16

Genesis 35:9-12

IV. Looking Reflectively

“The Pergamum church faced the same choice that every similar church faces. It could repent and receive all the blessedness of eternal life in the glory of heaven. Or it could refuse to repent and face the terrifying reality of having the Lord Jesus Christ declare war on it. Maintaining the path of compromise ultimately leads to judgment.”¹²

I pray that we would be a church that takes a strong stand for God’s truth, refusing to compromise with the world.

What is one “lesson for life” that you can apply to your own life from this letter to the church at Pergamum?

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Introduction to the message for Lesson 4: Pergamum, The Compromising Church [Begin Transcription]

This is the halfway point in our study. I realize that Revelation is a heavy study. Hopefully you are not getting too stressed out or too burdened down by some of the messages in this book. It is a great book to study and I hope you are enjoying it.

In 1978, 913 followers of a man named Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple committed a mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana. I realize that some of you probably were not born then or were just a little baby. I do remember this. Jim Jones was an ordained minister and in the 1950s, he began a church in Indianapolis with a large following. He later moved that church to San Francisco. It was called the “Peoples Temple.” Because of increasing suspicions from the government about the activities of his church, he finally moved it to a place in Guyana that he called “Jonestown.” He had strong control over his followers and its members became increasingly cultist.

In 1978, U.S. Congressman, Leo Ryan, went to Jonestown to investigate these abuses that they had heard about on the people who were part of the Peoples Temple. He flew down there and he spent one day. As he tried to leave the next day, along with some members who wanted to defect, Jim Jones found out about it. He ordered that they be killed. So, as they were trying to leave the airport, Ryan and four others were shot and killed. When Jim Jones realized that this would probably not go over well in the United States to hear that a congressman was killed, he realized that his utopia of Jonestown would soon be coming to an end. He put into action a plan that he had had in mind for months. They had practiced it and they had rehearsed it. He called it a revolutionary death. He prepared a large amount of fruit punch which was laced with cyanide. After having the more than 200 kids drink it first, the adults finally drank it. Then, after they were all dead he took a gun and he shot himself. When it was all done, 914 people had died at Jonestown that day.

In 1980, they came out with a movie made for TV about the Peoples Temple and about Jim Jones. I watched it because I had remembered seeing all this on the news. I wanted to know more about this man and his church. I know that movies are not always accurate. I know that there are some things which are probably made up. I do not know how much of this movie was true or not, but I will tell you, there was a theme in that movie that still haunts me today. It was not of the mass suicide. The scene that still stays in my mind all these years later is when he was preaching before his church in Indianapolis. He seemed, at least in the movie, like he started out right. I mean he was more of a social justice preacher, but he preached from the Word. He appeared to love Jesus. One day when he was preaching he held up the Bible and said, “Is this the Word that you listen to? Is this the Word you obey?” Of course, his congregation said “yes, it is, we listen to God’s Word.” He threw the Bible down on the floor and stepped on it. He said, “From this day forth you listen to this mouth and what Jim Jones says, not that book!” I was stunned and I will never forget it. It is etched in my mind because I thought: “How do you get to a place that first of all you would even say that? But also, how do you get to a place as an audience, as a congregation that you would just sit there and say ‘okay. You want to be the final word, fine with me, we will listen.’?” They should have gotten up and walked out and said, “we are done with you.” Would we if somebody came in here? I hope so. I hope that if anybody ever comes into this church and tells you that this Word is no longer the final authority you will say, “I’m done. I am out of here.”

I do not believe that our biggest danger in this room is following a false teacher, but there is a very real danger lurking out there. That danger is the subtle deception, a compromising with the world. It is the beginning to embrace the values of the world more than we embrace God’s values. Those kinds of false teachings and compromise with the world were found in this church at Pergamum. The message to us from this letter is no compromise. I refuse to compromise. I am not going to compromise with the world. But, how do we do that? How do we live in a world like we live in today and not compromise our values? I would like to offer three suggestions this morning as we look at Revelation 2:12-17.

1. Perceive the Problem

The first suggestion I would like to offer is that we need to perceive the problem. If we are going to stand firm against compromise with the world, we need to know the problems that we are up against. This church had two problems. It had an external problem and it had an internal problem. So, I want to begin first by looking at the external problem.

A. External Problem

Look at Revelation 2:13, where Jesus said,

I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. (NASB)

Pergamum was a wealthy city located about 100 miles north of Ephesus. [I have a map on the Power Point for you today to show you where these cities are. You start and see Ephesus down on the coast. We moved up about 40 miles to Smyrna last week. Now we have moved inland and further north to Pergamum, 100 miles north of Ephesus.] It sat on the top of a tall hill overlooking the valley. It sat on a high hill, but it had no strategic location. It was not on the coast. It was not on a major trade route. There was however a cultural center. It was known for its famous and huge library. It held the official honor of being the capital of Roman Asia, although this honor was also claimed by Ephesus and Smyrna. There was always a little rivalry between these three cities. It was a center for many pagan religious cults, just like Smyrna and Ephesus. Their emperor worship, though, was more intense in Pergamum than any of the other surrounding cities. The other cities just were required to worship the Emperor once a year. Here, it was like every day you had to worship the Emperor. It was very intense here. Pergamum was perhaps the worst of the seven cities. The external problem was the circumstances where they lived. Pergamum was the place of Satan’s throne. It was an oppressive city. I have spent some time in Communist countries. I can remember walking through a city and thinking and feeling the oppression on that city, knowing it was under the stronghold of Satan. I believe that is probably what this city felt like as this stronghold of Satan.

Jesus tells this church, “I know.” We have seen that every week when He says “I know.” He tells them “I know where you live. I know it is not easy. I know you live right in the middle of where Satan’s throne is.” There are different opinions on what Satan’s throne is referring to.

Some believe it is referring to that magnificent altar of Zeus because this altar was huge. It sat on the top of the hill and from a distance people would say it looks a throne. Maybe this was it and they were referring to the pagan worship as the throne of Satan.

Alternatively, others believe it may have been referring to Asclepius, the god of healing. People came from all over the ancient world to Pergamum seeking to be healed at his temple. He was depicted as a snake and the symbol that represented him was a snake coiled around a rod. We see that today with medicine. Now, I wonder if people realize that that this is the symbol for this pagan god?! Nonpoisonous snakes roamed freely in this temple. People would come and they would spend the night. They would lie down on the floors of the temple and these snakes would roam freely. They would hope and pray that one of these snakes would rub up against them and heal them because that snake symbolized this god of healing. Perhaps this was the throne of Satan because Christians identified the serpent as Satan. He is the serpent of old and here was a temple represented. This god was represented by a serpent. Maybe this was the throne of Satan.

There is a third explanation, and it is the one I lean toward. However, I do not think anybody really knows for sure on this. The third reason is perhaps they are referring to the practice of emperor worship. This worship was so prevalent in Pergamum and posed the greatest threat to the Christian. Therefore, they were doing the work of Satan. They were attacking the church. If you do not worship the emperor, then you a patriotic traitor. They would possibly even face execution if they did not worship the emperor, but they did not face persecution if they simply did not worship the other pagan gods. That was okay. So, this was much more intense and much more used by Satan to attack the church because they were possibly up against losing their lives if they did not worship the emperor. As a matter of fact, Jesus mentions somebody here who had already faced death for his faith:

Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan lives. (NASB)

We do not know anything about Antipas. He is not written about anywhere else except in Jewish literature. Jewish tradition tells us that he was put in a brass bowl alive and roasted alive. That is how he was martyred under the persecution of Vespasian. We talked about him last week. He was a wicked Roman emperor who hated the Christians.

Witnessing and martyrdom come actually from the same Greek word and they have almost become synonymous because if you witness for Jesus Christ, it is very possible you are going to die for Him. That was the nature of that time. If you were a witness, martyrdom accompanied it. Those meanings had a close correlation.

Well, all these reasons could justify Pergamum being called a city where Satan’s throne is and where he lives. It was a difficult place to live. I think we could easily say today that we live where Satan’s throne is. I am not talking about Memphis, Tennessee. I am talking about our world today, the time we live in. This is a place where Satan’s throne is. In II Corinthians 4:4, Satan is referred to as the god of this world. This is his world and he is wreaking havoc. You will see him come up again next week in the letter to Thyatira. He played a huge role in the attack on these churches. We see his reign on this earth every day. There is so much corruption. You cannot turn on the television without hearing about a corruption scandal either here in Memphis or somewhere else in the U.S. Immorality is everywhere. There are the things you see allowed on TV today. I was watching the news the other day and they were advertising in the commercial a sitcom. I was just stunned that we have this on our TV and we just kind of passively accept it. The breakdown of marriages is prevalent. Now, it is okay for the same sex to marry. This is being pushed in many states.

Satan is definitely on the throne. He is wreaking havoc in the world that we live in. It is hard to us to live today in this environment. We cannot even pray before football games or at a high school graduation or any public forum. If we do, we surely cannot use the name of Jesus. You have to keep it generic. Political correctness – you do not want to offend somebody, you know.

Are we compromising? One of the hardest things for me lately has been Christmas time because people cannot even say “Merry Christmas” any more. You buy something and the clerk will go, “Season’s Greetings.” It just irks me. It is a pet-peeve and I will turn around and go, “Merry Christmas.” Are we compromising with the world’s values? Are we subtly being guided into just accepting it? As for me, I do not believe that is what we should do. I am not telling you to become a political activist. I am just saying that we need to be careful to not be subtly deceived and become apathetic with what is going on around us. Are we beginning to accept things as OK now which years ago we would have just been appalled at? I think we are.

Well, the external problem that the church of Pergamum faced is a problem that we, obviously, do not face today. They lived where Satan’s throne was, where he dwelled and so do we. We are constantly pushed toward worshipping things other than Jesus Christ. We are pushed toward worshipping materialism. Where do you live? What do you drive? How much money do you have? How thin and fit are your bodies? You start that going down that trail and you start to worship it. Our outward beauty means more than the inward heart beauty. On and on it goes. We are pushed to worship the wrong things, things that get us away from worshipping Him. We need to be aware of the problem and we need to say “no compromise.” “I am not going to compromise.” “I will stand firm.”

If Satan is the father of lies, (and according to John 8:44 he is a deceiver) are you listening to the god of this world? Are you listening to the lies that he is trying to tell you about yourself? That you are not worth anything? That you are not pretty? That you do not have the body that you need to have to be somebody? Be careful. Do not compromise. Do not listen. Well, that’s the external problem. Living in a world where Satan has a stronghold, but now lets turn to the internal problem.

B. Internal Problem

Verses 14 and 15 say,

But I have a few things against you ,because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. (NASB)

1. False Teaching

There were really two internal problems in this church. First, there was the problem of false teaching. There were some in this church at Pergamum who were mixing with the pagan system. They were going to these idols and these feasts at these pagan temples and they were teaching that it was okay to go. “It is okay to eat the food sacrificed to idols. It is okay to partake in these sexual feasts and festivities that take place at these buildings. It is okay. You have freedom in Christ. God forgives you. You are under grace. It is okay. You just ask forgiveness.” Yes, we are free in Christ. We are forgiven. We are free from the penalty of sin, but that does not mean that we are free to go and do anything we want to do and then ask forgiveness!

A number of years ago, when I was working on staff at my church in Dallas, we had a huge singles’ ministry with about 800 people. A lot of situations would come up. I was counseling one time with a young girl who was just really eaten up with guilt. She had been dating a guy in our ministry who had convinced her that it was okay for them to have a sexual relationship because God wanted them to enjoy those pleasures of life today. “All we have to do was just confess it. He has forgiven us.” She knew in her heart there was something not right with this, but the guy was so convincing that she gave in. But it just ate at her. She finally came into my office and said she did not know what to do. We talked about it and my single’s pastor and I had to sit down with the guy and confront him. We had to do this a lot with the singles. I love the singles’ ministry, but I will tell you it is an area in which Satan will wreak havoc. This is the kind of belief that goes through the mind of people when Satan wants you to just be caught up in this freedom “to do whatever you want to do.”

That is what was going on here in Pergamum. They were being taught it was okay. If someone tells you something contrary to God’s Word and you just have this feeling that something is not right about it, then run. Get out of there because you know God is telling you it is wrong. This young girl was pretty messed up for a while. I discipled her for about two years and she ended up coming out of that and having a great life. She suffered greatly at the hand of that guy though.

Here Jesus uses the example of Balaam, who was a notorious Old Testament prophet for hire. His story is found in Numbers 22 and 25. We do not have time to look at it in detail, so let me just refresh your memory on Balaam and Balak. Balak was the king of Moab and he hated Israel. Israel was an enemy. He wanted to destroy Israel. So, he hired this prophet for money to curse Israel. Every time that Balaam tried to curse Israel it would not work. A blessing would come out instead. Finally, he came up with another idea. He had been paid for this and wanted to give his money’s worth. He came up with an idea and went to the king and said what you need to do is to teach your women how to seduce the Israelite men. They will intermarry and they will start worshipping the pagan gods. It worked, and there were indeed negative consequences for Israel as they did that.

These false teachers here were teaching and luring believers in the church at Pergamum into the world system. They were saying that it is okay. “It is okay to get in there in these festivities and to do these things that you might think are wrong, but they are really not. God gives you freedom in Christ.” Then Jesus talks again about the heresy of the Nicolaitans in verse 15. We read about that first in the letter to Ephesus. I told you that week that we do not know who the Nicolaitans really are. We can guess some though from how it says here in this verse, “In the same way, the Nicolaitans.” They are probably teaching the same thing, that it was okay to be involved in immorality and idolatry. We know that God hated what they taught.

2. Complacency

The first internal problem was false teaching, but the second internal problem was complacency. They were not confronting the false teachers. They were saying “oh well, you know, we are just going to let them go. We are walking with the Lord. Just let them do what they want to do.” This is a problem because we have a responsibility as believers to not only stand firm on our faith and for our faith, but we also have a responsibility to defend the faith. If somebody is abusing it like that guy in Dallas, we need to confront them. I have spent many an hour in my single minister’s office with him and usually another guy. I am not saying the girls did not do anything wrong, but it seemed like it was only the guys he and I would need to sit down with and confront about something they were doing to pull down the young ladies in our church. We have a responsibility. We just cannot turn a blind eye and pretend it is not there. We need to face it. That is what church discipline is about. These believers in Pergamum however just stood by. They let it happen. They did not do anything and they were still held accountable for not confronting it. So, the first thing if we are going to stand firm and not compromise, the first suggestion I have made is that we would perceive the problem, that we would know the problem that we are up against.

2. Consider the Consequences

A. Conviction

The second is that we would consider the consequences. We see two consequences in this letter. First – conviction. In verse 12, Jesus describes Himself as the one who has the sharp two-edged sword. This description of Jesus Christ refers to the Word of God. In Hebrews 4:12, we are told that

the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing as far as the division of the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow; and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (NASB)

It is two-edged in the sense that it is very sharp. It exposes. It judges our innermost thoughts, our motives. It is never dull, never has a dull edge. When is the last time that God’s Word convicted your heart, pierced it, stunned it? I will tell you what it seems like every day he pricks me with His Word either about an attitude or just a thought. Thoughts like, “you know I really should not be thinking that about that person!” God, thank you. If we ever get to the point that His Word does not prick us, I think we are in danger. It is a sword that will sharply expose what is inside.

B. Judgment

The first consequence of compromise with the world is that His Word will convict us of sin. That is why we need to be in the Word. The second consequence is judgment. Verse 16 tells them,

Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth. (NASB)

If they do not repent, if they do not turn away from the way they have been going and go the opposite way, He is going to come and He is going to judge them. He is not talking about the Second Coming here. He is talking about imminent judgment. This picture depicts Him as a judge, an executioner. Worldly thinking has to be dealt with now, immediately or it eats into our lives subtly and begins to destroy our walk with the Lord. Notice the change in that verse in the pronoun from you to them. I am coming to you quickly and I will make war against them. By using that pronoun, he is referring to that entire church. The entire church is accountable—not just those who are teaching falsely, but also those who are holding fast to God’s Word but are not doing anything about the false teaching. It appears that this church did repent because God did not remove their candlestick like He did in Ephesus. They did lose their light-bearing abilities. Today, there is a Christian church that has continued into today and I have a picture of the modern city of Pergamum and there is still a Christian church there today.

3. Remember the Reward

In order to stand firm against compromise with the world, we need perceive the problem. We need to consider the consequences and, third, we need to remember the reward. Verse 17,

…To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but the one who receives it. (NASB)

A. Hidden Manna

He makes three promises here. Actually, two promises and the second promise has two parts. He first promises them some of the hidden manna. We do not really know exactly what this hidden manna is referring to. In the Old Testament, the manna stood for God’s faithfulness to the Israelites to provide and sustain them through the wilderness for years and years. In memorial to God’s faithfulness a portion of that manna was placed in the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies and, thus, hidden. As you know, during the Babylonian captivity, the Ark of the Covenant disappeared. We do not know where it is today. It is perhaps still hidden. We need to remember that we have something so much better than what the world has to offer. We have Jesus Christ, the bread of life, the one Who will always sustain us. He will give us all that we need. He is the real manna. He is hidden from sight right now, but one day He will be revealed to us in all His glory. We need a feast from Him and what He provides for us. We do not need a feast from the world. He offers so much more.

B. White Stone with a New Name

The second thing He promises them is a white stone with a new name on it. This is the hardest symbol to interpret in these promises. I will tell you this summer as I was writing this study and I got to this church of Pergamum, I thought, “I am just going to have to give this one up!” No one agrees and scholars will say we have no idea what He is really talking of here. There are a lot of thoughts. The white stones were used for a number of purposes. They were used for an invitation or admission to a banquet. They would take their white stone and that stone would have their name on it and they would present it at the door to get admit into a banquet. It was also used as an award given to a winner of an athletic contest. You won – here is your white stone. It was used in the ancient courts for jury verdicts. If you thought somebody was guilty, you put a black stone in the jar. If you thought they were acquitted, you put a white stone in the jar. If there were more white stones than black stones, they were acquitted. There are a lot of different thoughts from what this means. We do not know. I do like the thought that we are acquitted in God’s eyes and that we are not guilty in His eyes. Perhaps that is what this white stone is. We do not know. I do believe that that this white stone symbolizes our acceptance and approval by God and that that new name that is written on either refers to the name of Jesus Christ, implying that we now are His. We belong to Him. Or the other thought of the new name and, again, nobody understands fully what this means, is that that new name will be a new name that He gives you when you stand before Him. It will be a new name based on your character. I will tell you what I would like either one. It does not matter. It is something that we need to look forward to. We do not need to feast with this world and get engaged in all the fleshly desires. We need to look forward to the reward that is so worth waiting for, the manna, the white stone with His name on it. Whatever those fully mean, they are worth it. Thus we need to be careful to not disqualify ourselves ahead of time.

Conclusion

Thus Pergamum represents the church that got married to the world. Historically, this church could represent the time in Church history soon after Constantine. I will try to tell you each week the church age that the church might represent.

A little review here: when we studied Ephesus, Ephesus represented that period of Church history known as the apostolic age. This was the period of time when the apostles were there on earth. Then, we looked at Smyrna last week. Smyrna represented that state of Church history in which the Christians were martyred under the severe Roman persecution.

Today, we looked at a church that represents the time in Church history soon after Constantine. Constantine was the first Roman emperor that did not persecute the Christians. He actually legalized Christianity in A.D. 313. We do not know if he was a Christian or not, but he legalized Christianity in 313 and he declared it the official religion of the Roman Empire. The tables are turned now. It was popular to be a Christian. He pushed it. The Roman Catholic Church had a number of its roots starting here as Constantine brought the Church and the Roman Empire together and married them together and they melded. The Church became married to the world at that point instead of married to Christ. Paganism began to be merged with Christianity. Pagan temples became Christian churches. The pagan priest did not want to lose favor with Rome. They had been in Rome’s favor all this time so they made their temples now churches. They still worshipped the idols, but they just renamed them. Now, instead of them being a god’s name, they were a saint. Ah, now we are worshipping saint so and so. The same idol, the same statue, but a different name. Lines were blurred and it became hard to distinguish the true Christians from those who just said they were. You could not tell them apart. The Church and the world were married.

Does that sound familiar today? Have we blurred the lines between Christianity and the world to where we really cannot even tell today the difference? Do we stand out as different or are we just kind of married to the world? This letter pictures that kind of Church, a Church married to the world instead of to Jesus Christ. I think that is a question we have to ask ourselves. Am I married to the world today? Or, to Jesus Christ? Is He my first love? Am I married to Him? The answer we should say emphatically is “no compromise.” “I am not going to compromise my values to fit in with the world.” Well, we need to perceive the problem that we are facing. We need to consider the consequences. We need to remember the rewards. I pray that we would be women who refuse to compromise with the world. I pray that we would be women who remain faithfully married to the Lord Jesus Christ and never give in.

Let’s pray.

Father, you alone know what is in our hearts today. You alone know what we are worshipping. Father, I pray that we would take a moment now and we would ask You to search our heart and to show us that there is an area that we are worshipping, that we are looking to for fulfillment instead of to You.

I just want you to take a moment of silence and ask God to search your heart. Is there an area, is there a lie that you are believing that Satan is deceiving you into believing?

Father, we want to be the proud bride of Jesus Christ the Savior. I pray that we would not stay in ourselves, that we would not turn our love and devotion away to the world, but that we would stand firm and that we would not compromise. We pray these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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¹ MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson: 2006), 1965.

² C.F. Pfeiffer, The Wycliffe Bible Commentary: New Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1962), Re 2:12.

³ MacArthur, NT Commentary on Revelation, 84.

⁴ Thomas L. Constable, “Notes on Revelation,” in The Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas L. Constable [CD-ROM] (May 2004 Edition), 33.

⁵ Barker, Zondervan NASB Study Bible, 1851.

⁶ Ibid.

⁷ Craig S. Keener, The NIV Application Commentary on Revelation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000), 129.

⁸ MacArthur, MacArthur Study Bible, 1965

⁹ Mark Bailey and Tom Constable, Nelson’s New Testament Survey (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1999), 615.

¹⁰ Keener, The NIV Application Commentary, 128.

¹¹ Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Rev 2:12.

¹² MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 91.

Editor's Note: a lightly edited transcription of the attached audio file will be found at the end of this originally written daily study guide. Appreciation for this transcription work goes to Marilyn Fine.

Thyatira was the smallest of the seven cities, but the one that received the longest letter. It lay about 45 miles to the southeast of Pergamum and was famous for its textiles, especially the production of purple dye and its trade guilds.¹

This church was doing many things well, but they were being led astray by someone teaching false doctrine. Evidently a woman claiming to be a prophetess had been influencing some in this church to join the local trade guilds without which a tradesman could not work in Thyatira. This meant participation in the guild feasts that included immoral acts and the worship of idols.²

Sometimes the pressure of “fitting in” with the world is overwhelming, but we are to stand firm in our faith, trusting God to provide and to take care of us. We are also to stand firm on the truth of God’s Word and not tolerate those who disregard and distort it. As you study this letter to the church at Thyatira, be open to what God wants to teach you through the message to this church.

DAY 1: THE OVERVIEW AND DESCRIPTION OF CHRIST

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:18-29

1. What is your overall impression of this church?

2. This is the only time in the book of Revelation that the expression “Son of God” appears.³ What does this name infer and what are some possible reasons why it is used only with this church?

3. Christ is described in 2:18 as “the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze.” (See also 1:14-15.) Flame-like eyes suggest discerning and severe judgment. “Burnished” means highly reflective.⁴ Why would this description of Christ be appropriate for this specific church?

4. The founding of the church at Thyatira is not mentioned in the Bible. However, as a note of interest, according to Acts 16:14, who is from Thyatira?

II. Looking Upward

5. What do these passages reveal to us about the character of God?

Genesis 16:13

Jeremiah 11:20

Jeremiah 17:9-10

Jeremiah 20:12

Acts 1:24

Acts 15:8

6. In what situations in your life does it bring comfort to know that God sees and knows your heart?

When does it bring anxiety?

III. Looking Deeper

As you read Psalm 139:1-16, list all the ways that God sees you and knows
you.

IV. Looking Reflectively

“A church may feel satisfied with itself, have a good reputation in the community, or even with other churches. But the penetrating eyes of the Lord Jesus see it as it really is.”⁵

As God searches your heart and mind today, what would He find? What does your heart and mind dwell on?

As God looks at us with His penetrating eyes which see all things, would He be disappointed with us as a church? Would He be disappointed with you as an individual? If so, why?

 

DAY 2: THE COMMENDATION

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:19

1. What did He commend this church for and why are these qualities so vital to spiritual growth?

2. Compare and contrast this commendation with the commendation to the church at Ephesus (2:2).

3. What similarities with the commendation to Thyatira do you see in Paul’s exhortation to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:11-12?

II. Looking Upward

4. How are the qualities of love, faith, service, and perseverance related?

5. In which of these qualities are you the strongest? In which are you the weakest?

6. What can you do to strengthen where you are weakest?

III. Looking Deeper

How does Paul’s commendation of the Colossian church in Colossians 1:3-8 compare to the commendation of the church at Thyatira?

In 2 Peter 1:1-9, what qualities does Peter encourage believers to pursue and why?

IV. Looking Reflectively

The Christian life should never become stagnant, but always dynamic and growing as we become more like Christ.

In what ways do you see progress and growth in your walk with God?

Thank Him for all He is doing in your life. If you feel you are stagnant in your walk, be honest with God and ask Him to “rekindle the fire.” What steps do you need to take?

DAY 3: THE CRITICISM

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:20-23

1. What is His criticism of this church and how does it compare/contrast with His criticism of the church at Pergamum in Revelation 2:14-15?

2. What does this passage tell us about the woman “Jezebel”?

3. It is most likely that this woman’s name was not Jezebel, but she was called by that name because of the similarities to the Jezebel in the Old Testament.

A. What do we know about the Old Testament Jezebel from these passages?

1 Kings 16:30-31

1 Kings 18:4

1 Kings 18:19

1 Kings 19:1-2

1 Kings 21:25-26

2 Kings 9:22

B. How are the two women similar?

4. What will be the results for her and for those who follow her if she continues in her lack of repentance? What lesson can we learn from this?

5. What is the purpose in His judgment and why would that be important?

II. Looking Upward

6. There are those in the Thyatira church who are not only tolerating Jezebel, but they are also engaging in the sinful acts she is encouraging. How does a believer get to that point where he/she becomes so easily swayed by lies and sin?

III. Looking Deeper

Jezebel refused to repent and there would be consequences. Paul addresses repentance in Romans 2:4-11.

List the attributes of God in this passage and how they relate to repentance.

What are the results of an unrepentant heart?

IV. Looking Reflectively

Knowing that Christ will judge us for our deeds should bring fear to those who teach and practice false doctrine, but comfort and hope to those who love God and follow Him wholeheartedly.

Is He pleased with your deeds?

Are you causing another believer to stumble in any way?

Is there an area in your life where you are unrepentant?

Ask God to search your heart (Psalm 139:23-24). Confess any unconfessed sin (1 John 1:9). Meditate on Romans 2:4.

DAY 4: THE INSTRUCTION

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:24-25

1. What is His instruction to the faithful “remnant” in the church and what does this instruction mean?

2. What are some possible meanings to the phrase, “the deep things of Satan”?

3. We looked at Ephesians 6:10-17 when we studied the letter to the church at Pergamum and you listed practical ways to stand firm. Look at this passage again and describe the struggle we are up against as long as we are on this earth.

II. Looking Upward

4. What are some lies that the “world” and Satan convey to us that are contrary to God’s truth? Why do we sometimes believe them over God’s Word?

5. How have you experienced spiritual warfare in your life? How did you overcome it?

6. How do we in a practical sense “hold onto” or “hold fast” to what we have until He comes?

III. Looking Deeper

In Revelation 2:25, they were instructed to hold fast what they have until He comes (NASB). The NIV says, “Hold onto what you have…” What do these verses have to say about “holding fast”?

Deuteronomy 11:22-23

1 Corinthians 15:1-2

1 Timothy 6:12

Hebrews 10:23

IV. Looking Reflectively

“The one thing that keeps the conscience sensitive to Him is the continual habit of being open to God on the inside.” – Oswald Chambers⁶

Be careful. Don’t be subtly deceived by the practices and teachings of the world and Satan which are contrary to God’s Word.

What things in your daily life are you exposed to or involved with that might subtly distract or pull you away from a closer walk with the Lord? Yield these to the Lord and allow Him to have control.

Hold fast to Jesus Christ and the truth of His Word.

Are you holding strong or are you wavering? Meditate on Hebrews 10:23. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” (NIV).

DAY 5: THE PROMISE

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:26-29

1. In verse 26, as Jesus begins to lay out the promises to the one who overcomes, what is different this time from all the previous verses addressed to the one who overcomes? What are some possible reasons why He included this in this letter?

2. What two things does Jesus promise to the one who overcomes?

3. According to Revelation 5:10; 20:4-6; and 22:5, what does it mean that He will give them authority and that they will rule?

4. In Revelation 2:28 He promises the “morning star” to those who overcome. According to Revelation 22:16, who is the morning star?

5. What exactly is He promising? (See also 1 John 3:2-3.)

II. Looking Upward

6. How does your life reflect the morning star?

III. Looking Deeper

The quote that Jesus used in Revelation 2:26-27 is from Psalm 2, a Messianic Psalm which tells how the Father gave the Messiah the rule over the nations of the world. This psalm is frequently quoted in the New Testament, where it is applied to Christ as the great Son of David and God’s Anointed.

What do you learn about His future reign from these passages?

Psalm 2

Revelation 11:15-18

Revelation 19:11-16

IV. Looking Reflectively

No matter how dark life gets on this earth, we can always look forward to the hope of our future.

Are you ready for His return?

Ask God to show you an area of your life that needs refining and polishing in order to more fully reflect His radiance and glory to the world. Ask God to make you willing for Him to work in your life as He needs to.

Spend some time praising Him in light of today’s lesson.

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Introduction to the message for Lesson Five – Thyatira – The Tolerant Church [Begin Transcription]

I want to show you a picture of my flowerbed in my backyard. It did not start out like this. It started out as a beautiful flowerbed which had mulch in it. The flowers and the plants were very well manicured. There was not a single weed in it just a short time ago back in the spring. It looked great.

One day I looked out the window and I noticed there was a weed growing in the flowerbed and I thought, “gosh, I have to pick that weed.” So, I went out and I pulled that little weed out. I was proud of myself, and went back in. A few days later I looked out and there was another weed over here. I thought, “I have got to go weed that out.” The process went on for a while.

Then one day, I looked out and there was a weed. I thought, “You know, I’m just tired today. I am so busy. I will worry about that when I get home from work tonight.” I got home from work and forgot about it. Then, I would look out on the weekend and I would go, “Oh there are a few weeds out there, but I just have too much to do. I cannot handle the weeds now. I will handle them later.”

Finally, after I don’t know how many months went by, I finally looked out there and I looked at this picture. At first I put gloves on and said, “Today is the day we are going to pull the weeds out.” I went out with my gloves on and I stood there and looked at this flowerbed. I just thought, “I cannot do it. Just forget it. I am just going to let it go.”

So, it had gotten so bad that to even pull a weed out was going to rip out the good plants—not that there was much left any more. So, it destroyed this whole garden. This whole flowerbed is destroyed by weeds. The problem was really two-fold: one, it was the weeds that were growing and the second problem was my lack of discipline and my lack of commitment to stay up with the weeds and to pull them out.

Well, this is a picture of what happened at the church at Thyatira. This church was very similar to the church at Pergamum that we studied last week. I found myself asking, God, “What is the lesson that You want us to learn from this church that you did not already teach us from the church at Pergamum?” I mean, what is different about this church that we did not see last week? I think to answer that we need to look at the overall progression of the churches. Starting with Ephesus, each church gets a little bit worse, except for the exception of two churches, Smyrna and Philadelphia. Smyrna was the suffering church and Philadelphia we will look at in two weeks. All the other churches got progressively worse as we go through these lessons. There was a downward spiral and that spiral finally hit its lowest point when we get to the very last church at Laodicea.

We started with the church at Ephesus, and they hated the teaching and the deeds of the Nicolaitans. They did not tolerate it. They were a church that stood strong and they did not tolerate evil men. They did not tolerate the teachings. Then, we move to the church at Pergamum and there were some there who held the teachings. They did not just hate it. They kind of moved downward and started to hold the teaching and believe the ideas of Balaam and the Nicolaitans. They compromised with the world.

Now, we move to the church at Thyatira. There are those in this church who not only believed that false teaching, but they are acting it. They are acting it out. They are living on it. The rest of the church is tolerating it, just like I did those weeds in the garden. This church has moved further along. It has gone a step further than the church we looked at last week. Apparently, they were not just a few people in this church that were engaging in these activities. It had begun to take a lot of root. In the last two churches, Satan had a great influence. If Satan cannot destroy the church by persecution, which he tried to do in Smyrna, and if he cannot destroy the church with heresy and false teaching, as he tried in Pergamum, he will try to destroy the church by corrupting it with evil. That was his strategy here at Thyatira. So, the lesson for us to learn, I believe, from this church is that:

If we do not deal with sin immediately, it will take over.

If we tolerate the weeds, if we do not pull them up and just let them go, they will eventually destroy what once was a beautiful garden. So, that is our challenge this week is pull those weeds up as they come up. Deal with sin when it springs up. Do not put it aside because if you do it will get out of control.

Background

Well, go ahead and turn, if you will, to Revelation 2:18-29. As you are turning, I want to give you a little background on the city. Thyatira lay about 45 miles to the southeast of Pergamum. I have a map again to show you. We started down on the coast at Ephesus, moved up to Smyrna. Pergamum is the northernmost city that we have gone to. Now, we turn the corner and are coming back down to Thyatira. It was the smallest of the seven cities, but it was the one which received the longest letter. It did not have a strong political distinction like the other cities. It was not known for any great Roman temple dedicated to the emperor, but it was a prosperous trading center. It boasted numerous trade deals, which are like our labor unions today. Each field has its own patron deity, its feasts, its seasonal festivities which included sexual revelry. This was much more harmful than going to our office parties today. When we go to your husband’s work parties or when I used to go to the hospital parties, I would have to put up with a lot of drinking and alcohol and maybe some conversations that were not pleasant, but I never had to tolerate anything like what they had tolerated. There was immorality. There was idolatry going on. It was a hard place for Christians.

According to Acts, Lydia, one of Philippi’s most notable convert, came from Thyatira. She was a seller of purple fabrics and we find out that actually they were not purple, they were just called purple. They were really red fabrics. Thyatira was known for this “purple” fabric. She had evidently gone to the city of Philippi to do some business. While she was there, Paul was there and he preached the gospel. She came to Christ and was baptized and came back to Thyatira. By the time Revelation was written, this prosperous city had a prosperous church.

Well, this letter begins, as the other letters do, with a description of Jesus Christ. In Revelation 2:18,

And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this: (NASB)

Every letter begins with a description of Christ that is especially relevant for that church. There are three things I just want to point out really quickly about this description of Jesus Christ.

Jesus as Son of God

First, He is called the Son of God rather than the son of man. This is the only occurrence in the book of Revelation where that phrase, Son of God, occurs. Why this particular church? Why was He not called the son of man in this letter like he was in the others and everywhere else in the book of Revelation? The phrase, Son of God, emphasizes His deity. He is God. Because He is God, He has the right to judge and this church needed judgment. The title, son of man, is a side of His humanity. He is a high priest that sympathizes with us. He emphasizes with us. He can understand our struggles, but that is not what He was doing with this church. This church did not need comfort by Christ. They needed his judgment. So, he was coming not as a high priest but as a divine judge.

Jesus as having eyes like a flame of fire

The second thing about His description is that He has eyes like a flame of fire. This symbolizes the penetrating power of His vision. He sees the deepest part of our heart. He sees right through us, right into us. He knows our deepest thoughts. He knows our struggles. I was talking to a friend yesterday morning and I was telling her that probably the two words that have most hit me in this study are the words “I know.” I love it that He knows. Even when He knows my sin, I am really thankful because I do not want to go on ignorant of the sin in my life. I do not necessarily like to see it. It discourages me when I see it, but I want Him to show it to me. He has eyes. We might fool somebody else and we may make somebody else think that we are a certain way or that we have the right motives or that we are thinking the right things, but God knows. You cannot fool Him. He penetrates the heart. He knows every thought, every motive, and every attitude. Even though we may be saying words that make it sound like we are spiritual, God knows what is in our heart. He is the one who counts. So, this description emphasizes His omniscience, that He knows everything. What is Jesus seeing when He looks into your heart? Does it scare you? Do you fear or does it comfort you?

Jesus as having feet like burnished bronze

The third thing about his description is that He has feet like burnished bronze, shining bronze. These feet of bronze indicated strength for executing judgment. These bronze feet can trample sin under foot, severely punish that which is wrong. We talked about this the first week that bronze often symbolizes judgment in the Old Testament, particularly in the Old Testament tabernacle with a bronze laver. It is a symbol of his judgment and that is the emphasis here.

Three Characteristics of Thyatira

As we look at this letter to Thyatira today, I want to point out three characteristics of this church and why it is so important to deal with sin immediately. Why it is so important to pull those weeds up and soon as you see them spring up?

A Progressing Church

The first thing about this church which I want to point out is that it was a progressing church. Revelation 2:19 says,

I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. (NASB)

He commends them here in four areas: they were progressing; they had loyal faith; they were laboring; they were long suffering. These are great qualities. These are qualities that we should all want in our lives and in our churches. What makes it even better is that He says the deeds you are doing now are even better and greater than the deeds you did at the beginning. You are progressing. You are growing. We are seeing some spiritual fruits, some spiritual growth. It is a progressing church and if you stop here you would say, “I want to be part of this church.” It is the only one of the seven churches that was commended for its love. None of the other churches was commended for their love. What a great church to be a progressive, growing, loving church!

Yet, it is so vital to not let the weeds spring up and begin to infiltrate and take control. Jesus talked about this in Mark 4:19 when he talked about the parable of the soil. He talked about the thorns that choke out the Word: the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, the desire for other things and that the result of this is that the Word becomes unfruitful. This church has to be careful because any progressive, growing church, if it does not deal with the weeds as they come up, will be moved by those weeds to an unfruitful state. That is why it is so important to keep the weeds out.

A Problem Church

Well, that leads us to the second characteristic of this church. It was a progressing church but secondly, it was a problem church. There were some problems in this church. All was not well. The first problem that we see is the tolerance of sin. In Revelation 2:20, he says,

But I have this against you that you, tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immortality and they eat things sacrificed to idols. (NASB)

Tolerating Jezebel

The problem in this church centered around a woman called Jezebel. She was a dangerous weed that had begun to grow in this church. She was multiplying. She was spreading because they tolerated her. They did not nip it in the bud. They did not go out there and pull that weed up and she spread. She was evidently a very dominant leader. She probably had a very strong and persuasive personality that could cause people to follow her in such a way that they believed anything she said. They wanted probably to be with her. We do not know for sure, but, obviously, she was somebody with a strong enough personality that she could pull people and sway them away from the truth.

It is unlikely that her real name was Jezebel because most women would never name their daughters, Jezebel. If any of you are named Jezebel, forgive me. I hope you are not, but if you are, please forgive me. Jezebel has a negative connotation. So she probably was not named Jezebel. She was a wicked and dangerous influence in Thyatira like Queen Jezebel had been in the Old Testament.

If you did your study lessons this week you looked at some passages that describe Queen Jezebel. She was considered the most evil woman who ever lived. This is a wicked woman. She married the King of Israel, Ahab, and he should have never married her because she was involved in a pagan cult. She was probably a priestess in this cult. She killed off as many of the prophets of Yahweh as she could. She brought paganism into Israel. After Elijah had this great victory over the prophet of Baal he found out Jezebel was coming to kill him and he ran for his life. This man who was such a victor right beforehand all of a sudden is scared to death! This must have been some wicked woman. She is known for her evil, her witchcraft. She sought to contaminate Israel. Ahab, her husband, lacked the moral conviction and courage to stop her. He did not confront her. So, the name Jezebel suggests that this new Jezebel was corrupting the church in Thyatira much like Ahab’s wife, Jezebel, corrupted Israel in the Old Testament. She was probably influencing many in the church of Thyatira to engage in these immoral, idolatrous activities.

Thyatira had the opposite problem that Ephesus had. The church at Ephesus could not tolerate evil men or false teaching, but they did not have love. Now, here is a church that had lots of love, but they had become tolerant to false teachers. There needs to be a healthy balance in our lives and in our churches. We need to love, but we also need to not tolerate sin. I think Paul gives us a great guideline to live by in Ephesus 4:15 when he says, “Speak the truth in love.” Sometimes that is hard to do, but I believe God has called us to do that.

Well, they tolerated this woman in her sin and now these weeds are spreading throughout this otherwise healthy church. It starts with one little weed and then it takes over like that picture I showed you at the beginning.

Lacking Repentance

The second problem in this church was the lack of repentance. In Revelation 2:21, he says,

I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. (NASB)

All of us have sin in our life every day. I do not think a day goes by that I do not have to confess something. Maybe it would be a thought or an attitude, but we all have sin and every church has problems. Every church has sin, but what matters is, how do we deal with it? What do we do with that sin we see? Do we ignore it? Do we tolerate it or do we confess it and turn away and leave in the opposite direction? Do we pull up the weeds when they come up?

God gave Jezebel time to repent, but she did not want to. She had a stubborn heart toward God. When you have someone in your church that you go to and you confront their sin and they refuse to repent and want to continue in sin, then we as the church have a responsibility to practice church discipline. That is where we pull the weeds up. We cannot just ignore it.

We also cannot just ignore sin in our lives. When God shows us sin, we need to decide if we are going to ignore it. Am I going to rationalize it and not call it sin? “Oh, that’s not sin.” “I am concerned about this thing, so I am going to gossip.” Do we rationalize it or do we just hit it head on and go, “You know what, that is a weed and I am going to go and pull that weed up. I am going to get it out of here.”

God does not show our sin to discourage us. There have been times which it has discouraged me because I think, “Oh, God, I hate what I see.” He does not show it to us to discourage us. He shows us sin so that we deal with it and so we will confess it and that we will move forward and move on. If we are going to move forward in our spiritual growth as an individual, as a church, we have got to deal with the problems as they come up. We cannot let them fester. We cannot let them spread like weeds. We have to pull them up as soon as we see them.

A Precarious Church

The third characteristic about this church is that it was a precarious church. It was a church which found itself in a dangerous situation. It was in a precarious situation teetering between two outcomes. The outcome would depend on who they chose to follow. Let’s look at the choices that they were facing. They could follow first Jezebel. Revelation 2:22-23 say,

Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. (NASB)

He wanted them to repent. That was his charge to Jezebel and her followers. For those who would not repent, this is what is going to happen. This is what you choose – sudden and immediate judgment and intense suffering. The judgment would be so dramatic that he said all the churches will know that I am the one who searches hearts and minds. This is serious.

So, they are in this precarious situation choosing: “Am I going to follow Jezebel and this is the result or, as the second choice is, do we follow Christ?” Revelation 2:24-25 say,

But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who did not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them-- I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come. (NASB)

Thankfully, there were some in this church who had not followed Jezebel’s teachings and they have not engaged in these immoral acts that she was leading people to do. All He asked them to do was to hold fast until I come. Hang in there. Do not give up because I am coming back. Stand firm.

This is the first mention in Revelation of the Lord’s coming for the Church which what I believe is the Rapture. He is referring to the Rapture here when He comes back for His Church before the seven years of tribulation.

He says that they have not known the deep things of Satan. We do not know exactly what He is referring to here by “the deep things of Satan.” Some have said it could be that she (Jezebel) is teaching them “that the only way to confront Satan is to enter into his stronghold. To experience the very depths of sin so that you will in turn know the very depths of God’s grace. So, come on, you have to know who God is by knowing what you are dealing with in sin.” Perhaps that is the kind of thing being referred to here. I like the other view though that pertains to the pre-gnostic teaching. Remember if you were here for our study of Colossians, we talked about the philosophy of Gnosticism. It was a philosophy that believes that the spirit and the body are separate. They are not together. So, she may have been teaching that “:you can go to the depths of immorality with your body and you will come out spiritually unscathed because your body is separate from the spirit.” That is the view I tend to lean toward, but I do not know for sure what he is referencing here. I know we do not want to go there. We do not want to hold those beliefs that take us into the “deep things of Satan.”

Two Promises to Thyatira

Well, he had two promises for those who chose to follow Christ. In Revelation 2:26-28 it says,

He who overcomes and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS; AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON, AS THE VESSELS OF THE POTTER ARE BROKEN TO PIECES, as I also have received authority from my Father; and I will give him the morning star. (NASB)

Privileged to Reign

Two promises are given by Him to those who make the decision to follow Christ. First is that they are privileged to reign. I believe He is talking about that privilege to reign with Him in the Millennial Kingdom when He comes back after the seven years of tribulation and He brings His church back with Him. As I shared the very first week, I believe in the literal thousand-year Millennial reign on this earth and that we will reign with Him. That is what He is talking about here. The word in verse 27 “for rulers” in the Greek really means “to shepherd” so it is not just talking about administering justice and being a tyrant. It is talking about being a shepherd, and using that rod both to deal with the sheep and to protect them. I do not understand how this is going to work out in the Millennium, but I know that I look forward to whatever God has there for us.

Given the Morning Star

The second promise he gives them is the gift of the “morning star” in verse 28. The scriptures do not explain this expression, but it may refer to the Rapture-- when Jesus comes back for His Church before the darkness of the Great Tribulation. When I lived in Dallas, I worked in Fort Worth my first three years. Fort Worth from my house to the hospital was a good hour drive. So, I would get up every morning and leave at 5 a.m. and it was dark. I would drive out of my garage, headed east to begin with, and I would always see the morning star. The light was shining in the darkest, coldest hours of the night. That may be what He is referring to here: “When you think it is the darkest, coldest hours in the Church, I will come back. I am the morning star. I will be there. You will see Me.”

This expression also referred to just Jesus Christ. He calls Himself the morning star. So it may be His return. But it also might be that when He comes back for us that we will be like Him and we will see Him in all of His fullness and glory. So He would be the gift itself.

I do not know what he is referring to exactly though, but I know I cannot wait. That is the one thing this book has made me long for more than ever. I cannot wait for His return, but at the same time there are people I love that I want to come to know Him first. So, there is that struggle.

Conclusion

This was a progressing church. It was a problem church. It was a precarious church because they would decide their destiny. They were teetering. Which way would they go? It is not known how many in the Thyatira church responded to the warning of Jesus Christ. But, tragically, this church as a whole, apparently, did not heed it because history records that this church fell prey to a heresy. They went out of existence by the end of the second century. This church’s light was completely snuffed out. When we have the tendency to look at this letter and just blow it off. We say, well, you know, I am not engaged in sexual immorality. It really does not pertain to me. I am not a false teacher. I am not following a false teacher. I am not worshipping idols. I do not think this letter has much in here for me. But, let’s not pat ourselves on the back too quickly.

Let me give a little history here. Commentators have pointed out that spiritual conditions during the Middle Ages were similar to those that existed in this church. In every church, I have tried to tell you a period of history that the church parallels. In this instance, it was the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages were that period that preceded the Protestant Reformation. They are also called the Dark Ages because during those years not much good happened. Paganism and corruption were rampant. During the Middle Ages, the teaching of those in the Roman Universal Church exalted Mary, the mother of Jesus. People began to worship Mary. They began to worship statues of Mary. Many believe that the prominence of this woman, Jezebel, in Thyatira foreshadows that exaltation of Mary that began in the Middle Ages. Spiritual adultery began to take place in that time because people began to love someone else in the place of Jesus Christ— the one who they claimed to love. Every time that someone prays to Mary, every time someone places Jesus to the side and begins to worship or love or adore someone or something else, we have committed spiritual adultery— because as the Church we are married to Jesus Christ. He is the one who deserves our love or devotion, our faithfulness. When we begin to shift that worship and that focus and meditation to something else, we are guilty of spiritual idolatry and spiritual immorality.

Two Questions

Do you love anything more than Jesus?

So, in closing I want to give you two questions for you to ponder this week in your own life. First, do you love and worship someone or something else more than you love and worship Jesus Christ? When you put other things or people ahead of Jesus Christ whether it be a person that you just think is the most wonderful person in the world and no one can ever replace that person, be careful. It might be success. It might be power that need to be in charge. It may be materialism, financial security. It could even be ministry. Whenever we put something in His place, He becomes jealous because we are being unfaithful to Him. He should be our first and only love because He created it. He loves us. He died for us and one day He is coming back for us. He will not tolerate other lovers.

Do you have weeds in your life?

The second question – are there some weeds growing in your life that you need to deal with? Some weeds that maybe you have just sort of ignored and said, you know what, I just do not have the energy to deal with that right now. Tomorrow I’ll deal with it. Be careful because just like that garden at my house, it becomes overwhelming. The longer you wait the more it hurts. These weeds may be something just like a negative, critical spirit that just creeps in. Maybe they are jealousy or rebellion. Maybe they are gossip or just a lie that Satan has planted in your mind that is just starting to sprout and take root in your life. Pull the weeds up and do it today because if you do not, this picture of my garden is exactly what you are going to have in your life. You do not want that.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. (Revelation 2:29, NASB)

Let’s pray. Father, I think you so much that you are a God who loves us just the way we are. Yet, You love us too much to let us stay there. Lord, I pray that if there are any weeds in our lives today that You would show us. That you would not allow us to tolerate them. That we would come before You and, Lord, that we would deal with those weeds today, that we would pull them up. Father, we love You so much. As we sing now, I pray that we would make this song our prayer in our commitment to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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¹ Tom Constable, Expository Notes on Revelation [CD-ROM], 33.

² Beasley-Murray, George Raymond. The Book of Revelation. New Century Bible Commentary Series (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1983), 89-90

³ Barker, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, 1146.

⁴ Constable, Expository Notes on Revelation [CD-ROM], 33.

⁵ MacArthur, New Testament Commentary, 97.

⁶ Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, May 13.

Editor's Note: a lightly edited transcription of the attached audio file will be found at the end of this originally written daily study guide. Appreciation for this transcription work goes to Marilyn Fine.

Jesus sent a personal message to seven first century churches in Asia Minor. Even though these messages were sent to specific churches of that time, they can also apply to the church today. We can learn from each of these messages and heed the warnings of Jesus so that we might avoid the problems that they fell prey to.

We begin with the church at Ephesus. At the time this letter was written, Ephesus was a major city of Asia Minor and a seaport. Paul had visited Ephesus around A.D. 53, about 43 years before this letter in Revelation was sent to them.

Ask God to open your heart to hear what He wants to say to you through the message to the church at Ephesus.

DAY 1: JESUS AND THE CHURCH

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:1–7. Today our focus is on verse 1.

1. How is Jesus described in verse 1 and what does this description imply?

2. As you read Paul’s farewell address to the elders of the church at Ephesus in Acts 20:25-32 some 43 years earlier, what was his exhortation to them? What was he most concerned about for this church?

3. According to Paul’s instructions to Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:3-7, what were some earlier issues in the church of Ephesus?

II. Looking Upward

4. How would you recognize a “false teacher” in the church today?

5. How can we protect our church from being “led astray” by false doctrines?

6. God is in control of all that happens in and around us. How have you seen His sovereign hand at work in your life recently?

III. Looking Deeper

What warnings and descriptions are we given in these passages concerning false teachers?

Matthew 7:15-16

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

2 John 7

IV. Looking Reflectively

Be on guard against false teachings. Stand strong on His Word.

Are you grounded in God’s Word?

How susceptible are you to being pulled away from the truth?

DAY 2: THE COMMENDATION

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:2-3, 6

1. What was the church at Ephesus commended for?

2. In light of Paul’s farewell message to the elders of this church in Acts 20:28-32, which you read yesterday, how has this church done over the years in following Paul’s exhortation?

3. What does it mean that one “cannot tolerate evil men” and why would that be considered a strength? How would you define an “evil man” today?

II. Looking Upward

4. What is the balance between not tolerating an “evil man” and loving the sinner? How do we work this out in a practical way in our lives?

5. This church was commended for their perseverance and not growing weary. Is there currently a situation in your life that is causing you to grow weary? If so, how are your handling it?

6. How does one practically persevere and not grow weary?

III. Looking Deeper

We don’t know who the Nicolaitans are. There are several viewpoints but they are simply speculation. What do we know for sure about the Nicolaitans based on the Scripture itself in Revelation 2:6 and 2:14-15?

Jesus commended them for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which He also hates (2:6). What else does God hate according to these verses?

Proverbs 6:16-19

Jeremiah 44:2-4

Zechariah 8:17

Are you guilty of any of these things in your life?

IV. Looking Reflectively

God desires for His children to persevere and not grow weary, to exhibit spiritual discernment, and to hate what He hates.

Which of the commendations mentioned in verses 2-3 would He be able to commend you for?

DAY 3: THE CONCERN

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:4

1. What is the criticism of the Ephesian church? Why is that surprising in light of how Paul concluded his letter to the Ephesians more than 30 years earlier (Ephesians 6:24)?

2. What was He referring to when He said, “… you have left your first love”?

Read Mark 12:28-31

3. What does it mean to “love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength”?

4. According to these verses, how do we show our love for Christ?

John 14:15, 21, 23

John 4:19-21

II. Looking Upward

5. What are some possible causes of someone leaving his first love? What would be some warning signs that one is moving in that direction?

6. What role, if any, do emotions play in loving Christ?

III. Looking Deeper

Read 2 Corinthians 11:1-4

In a similar way, as Jesus was concerned about the church at Ephesus, Paul was concerned for the Corinthian church and their relationship with Christ. Describe Paul’s concern for the Corinthians.

What does it mean to be led astray from “the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ”?

IV. Looking Reflectively

“Beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service to Him.” --Oswald Chambers¹

“The Divine Lover still sorrows when His love is unrequited, and pines for our continuing, deepening, maturing adoration.”²

Have you ever left your first love? If so, describe the process of how it happened. How did you rekindle your first love?

Are you in danger of leaving your first love now? What are some potential areas in your life that could cause you to leave your first love?

DAY 4: THE INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNING

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:5

1. What are His instructions to the church at Ephesus?

2. Why would it be important to remember from where they had fallen?

3. What is repentance and why is it necessary? What is the difference between remorse and repentance?

4. What is He implying when He says, “or else I … will remove your lampstand out of its place”?

II. Looking Upward

5. What “deeds” might fan the flames of your love for Christ and others?

6. What are some principles we can draw from Revelation 2:1-7 concerning how we should confront others in an area of concern?

III. Looking Deeper

Read John 15:4-6

What similarities do you see in this passage and the warning to the church at Ephesus?

Read Hoses 6:6

Why would this be true?

IV. Looking Reflectively

The church that loses its love will soon lose its light, no matter how doctrinally sound it may be.³

“One cannot stand erect spiritually and see one’s sin as God sees it. It has to break the heart. Has yours been broken?”⁴

Does your love for God need “rekindling”?

Is there something in your life that you need to repent of?

DAY 5: THE PROMISE

I. Looking to God’s Word

Read Revelation 2:7

1. There is disagreement among scholars as to what this verse means. Some believe that the “overcomers” are a special class of believers. However, I agree with the view that the “overcomers” are all believers. How do these Scriptures support the second view that He is referring to all believers?

1 John 4:4

1 John 5:4-5

Revelation 21:5-7

2. What insight do we gain from these passages concerning the “tree of life which is in the Paradise of God”?

Genesis 2:8-9

Genesis 3:22-24

Luke 23:43

Revelation 22:1-2

3. So, what exactly is He promising to those who overcome when He says, “I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God”?

4. Why might this promise be especially relevant to the Ephesian church?

II. Looking Upward

5. As you look back over the letter, how would you summarize His message to the church at Ephesus?

6. What are some lessons for life that you can draw from this passage that can be applied in your own life?

III. Looking Deeper

In this world, we will have many adversaries, and yet Jesus promises us victory to overcome them all as we abide in Him as overcomers. According to these verses, who or what are our adversaries and what are the means for overcoming them?

John 16:33

Galatians 5:16-17

Ephesians 6:10-13

1 Peter 5:8-9

IV. Looking Reflectively

“The cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough to it for its sparks to fall on us.”⁵

Is your love for Jesus an undying love or is it “dying out”?

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Introduction to the message for Lesson 2: Ephesus, the Loveless Church [Begin Transcription]

This summer I was listening online to a podcast of one of my professors from seminary. He was speaking in their chapel service. He shared how he had received a letter recently from a recent graduate. This student had expressed gratitude in the letter for the education he had received while he was at seminary, but he went on to write something that was deeply disturbing. He told Dr. Constable that when he arrived on campus he was deeply in love with the Lord Jesus Christ. But, when he left he was more in love with the biblical text. He left seminary loving the Bible more than he loved the Savior. He said it took him a while after graduating to recognize his drift and what he needed to do to reorient his life back to where Jesus Christ was the first love of his life. He told about another conversation he had had with a student. This student had just finished his first year at seminary and he told Dr. Constable “I am not returning in the fall.” The reason was because during that year in seminary his walk with the Lord had dried up. He just felt that he was not willing to make the sacrifice in order to get a seminary degree. So, he stopped. Dr. Constable went on to share some other conversations that I will not go into. They are all basically the same though: students who ended up loving other things more than Jesus Christ.

These students have something in common with the church at Ephesus. They had left their first love. They had lost focus of what was most important in their life. Thankfully, these students made the necessary corrections before it was too late. I can see how this losing focus can happen. I can tell you that as a seminary student it would be very easy to get so busy and always be under the pressure of having things to do, papers to write, books to read that the focus gets misplaced. I can see where it would happen. I am thankful that I was not one of those that it happened to, but it could happen to any of us.

What is most important in your life? Relationships, material possessions, recognition, knowledge--how much you know and maybe how much you know about the Bible--? Well, Jesus tells us what should be most important. You do not have to turn here, but in Mark 12:28 and following one of the scribes asked Him,

“What commandment is the foremost commandment of all?” Jesus answered, “… ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (NASB)

The foremost commandment of all is to love the Lord with all your heart, to love Him first. It has been emphasized this past year here that we are a church that is known for two things. I am sure you have heard this. We are a church that is known first for the excellent expository Bible teaching. We are also known for our missions. Those are the two things that this church is known for. But, do you know what I pray that we would be known for? That we would be known as a church that deeply loves the Savior. That is what I want people to say about this church. “They love Jesus Christ more than anything else.” I pray this because all those other things will fall into place if that love for Him is first. That is my challenge today to us is that we would love Jesus Christ with an undying love.

Overview of the Seven Letters

Before we look at the letter of Ephesus today, let us begin by looking at an overview of the seven letters. Go ahead and turn to Revelation 2. As I mentioned last week, these seven letters were sent to seven actual, literal churches in the first century. But, the messages to these churches do not just apply to that specific church. They apply to all believers throughout all the ages. As a matter of fact, when the carrier took the letter of revelation to Ephesus and the person at Ephesus read the letter, he read beginning in Revelation 1 all the way to Revelation 22. So the church at Ephesus heard every letter read, not just their letter. God wanted every church to hear all the messages. Today, He likewise wants us to hear the messages that were written to these churches.

All seven letters follow a pattern and I am sure you have seen the pattern. There is always a greeting at the beginning which is the same greeting. Each letter begins, “To the angel of the church in blank.”

Then, it is followed by a unique description of the Lord Jesus Christ. This description is drawn mainly from the vision of Jesus Christ that we looked at last week in chapter 1. Each description used in each letter is specifically appropriate for that church. It is always related in some way to the needs, to the problems, to the condition of the church and that is the description of Christ that we see in the beginning of each letter. It is a reminder that Jesus Christ is the only solution for any of our needs, for any of our problems.

A third thing that we see in the letters is a commendation. Every letter contains commendations of something good about the church, except one letter. There is something good said to start us off. Only one letter has absolutely nothing positive for commendation, and that is the letter to Laodicea. It the last letter that we look at. All the others have a commendation.

Then, fourth we see that they all have a rebuke. There is something negative said to every church. There is something that they need to work on or something that is not pleasing to the Lord. All but two letters, that is, got a rebuke. The two letters that did not get a rebuke are the letter to Smyrna that we will look at next week and the letter to Philadelphia.

Fifth, we see an exhortation in every letter. There are really two kinds of exhortations. There is always a specific exhortation in which he instructs that specific church to do specific things pertaining to their situation. There is also a general exhortation that is the same in every letter, just in a different place. As we get about halfway through. He always says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Then, the last thing is the promise. There is always a promise. It is made to the overcomer. These promises are often metaphorical, they are symbolic, and, as a result, they are very difficult to interpret. I realized that this summer as I was writing the study, “Oh, wow, this is hard because scholars do not even agree on how they interpret these promises!” Scholars that I respect do not even agree. So, it is hard to know what do these promises really mean? Well, there is one thing they agree on. All these promises allude to our eternal future with Jesus Christ. They all allude to that eternal space seen in Chapters 21 and 22 in Revelation. There we have the new heaven and the new which we can look forward to.

There are several views concerning these promises and who is the one who is the overcomer. There are actually four views. I do not have time to go through those with you, but if you are interested, come up to me afterward and I will be glad to tell you what those different views are. The view that I hold as to the identity of the overcomer is that he is the believer—that is, any believer. Anyone who has put their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior is an overcomer. I base this on another letter that John wrote, where in I John 5:5 John asked a question,

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he who believeth that Jesus is the son of God? (KJV)

The overcomer is the one who believes that Jesus is the son of God. We become overcomers the moment that we place our faith in Jesus Christ and believe who He is. So, in this view it is our faith that is the primary focus, not our faithfulness. Some of the views sort of lean toward the idea that you have to be faithful, then you will get these promises. I take the view that if you are a believer your faith makes you inherit these promises. So, these promises are intended to spur these believers on: persevere, hang in there because I tell you the end is worth waiting for. That is why every promise alludes to that eternal future hope. Hang in there, guys. Do not give up. It is worth it!

The Letter to the Church at Ephesus

Well, now let us turn our attention to the letter to the Church at Ephesus. We begin by looking at the city and the church, verse 1 of chapter 2,

To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand. The one who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: (NASB)

Again, we see the description of Jesus Christ. This is taken from that vision of chapter 1, specifically verses 13 and 16. It talks about holding the seven stars in His right hand. We talked about that last week that the seven stars are really the pastors, elders, or the leaders of the church, the “angels of the church.” God is sovereignly in control of these leaders of the churches. You know, that gives me great comfort because I love the fact that I am not in charge of this ministry and that pastors are really not the ones in charge. He is the one in charge. It comforts me to know, “God, You are the one who is sovereign; You hold this church in your hand; You hold Your leaders in Your hand; You are in charge, not us.” It also gives great comfort because He says that He walks among the lampstands. He is infinitely involved. He is right in the middle of what has happened. When we went through a difficult time this past year in this church, Jesus Christ was walking right in the middle of everything. He knew exactly what was happening. He is involved and that should really encourage us.

So, why was Ephesus the first letter? We really do not know. Perhaps it was the closest church to the island of Patmos. Perhaps it was because it was the most prominent city in Asia. It was the capital of the Roman province. It was prosperous. It was a great business center. Maybe it was because this church was special to John. You know Paul spent two and a half years in Ephesus on his third missionary journey. After he left, he put Timothy in charge of the church at Ephesus to be the pastor. Then, early tradition tells us that the apostle John replaced Timothy near the end of the first century. John became the pastor to the church at Ephesus at the end there. He probably addressed the letter of I John to the church at Ephesus. As a matter of fact, John was living in Ephesus when the Emperor Domitian sent him into exile on Patmos. So, maybe that is why he started with this church. Any of those reasons are valid, but we really do not know why. Forty years earlier Paul wrote the letter of Ephesus to this church from his first imprisonment in Rome and he ended that letter with the words in Ephesus 6:24.

Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. (NIV)

It seems ironic that this church, which was known 40 years earlier as a church who loved the Lord with an undying love, is the church now that is criticized for leaving its first love. How does a church get to that point? How do we as individuals get to that point that we once maybe were so fervently in love with Christ and now it is just “uhh.” What happened? What can we do to prevent that from happening? That is what I want to talk about today.

Three suggestions to Keep us from Leaving our First Love of Jesus

Realize your Foremost Priority

As we look at this letter, I would like to offer three suggestions to keep us from leaving our first love. The first suggestion is that we need to realize your foremost priority. Listen to what Jesus says about this church in verses 2 and 3, it says,

I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary.” (NASB)

He begins verse 2 with the words, “I know.” He knows everything. He knows everything there is to know about the church. He knows everything there is to know about you and me, He knows, good and bad.

Four Outstanding Characteristics

I want to point out four outstanding characteristics of this church that it was commended for. First – they were a diligent church. He speaks about their toil in verse 2, “I know your deeds and your toil.” The Greek word for toil refers to a labor to the point of weariness and exhaustion. It describes an all-out effort, demanding all that a person has to give physically, mentally, emotionally. You are giving all that you have. They rolled up their sleeves. They got involved in the work of the Lord. They worked themselves to a point of exhaustion. Some of you may be feeling that way, even day, you may be saying, “I am so tired. I am working, Lord, and doing this and doing that and I am just worn out.” Sometimes you wonder if it is worth it. Well, you may wonder, too, does anybody even notice what you are doing? He does. He knows. He knows exactly what you are doing. A hard work for the Lord is good and I do not want you to quit your volunteer position. That is not what I am saying, please do not misunderstand me. A hard work for the Lord is good, but should it be our foremost priority?

Second, they were a determined church. He talks about that “I know your… perseverance.” Perseverance comes from two Greek words which together means “who abide under.” It refers to the ability to endure under pressure or pain over the long haul. They were determined. They are not going to quit. No matter how hard life got, no matter how exhausted they got, we are not quitting. We are hanging in there. We are not going to throw in the towel. It was not easy living in Ephesus as a Christian. There were many other religions in that city at the time and people worshipped the emperor. They worshipped gods. They worshipped goddesses. Christians were not popular at that time. They were hated. They were despised. Some of the merchants found it hard to have a business because they lost customers because they were Christians. They had trouble shopping because some of the businesses did not want to sell to them. It was tough. Life was hard, but they persevered. They hung in there. Perseverance is good, but should it be our foremost priority?

Third, they were a disciplined church. In verse 2, he tells them “you cannot tolerate evil men.” They held to a high, holy standard of behavior. They were sensitive to sin. They did not turn a blind eye. They did not just sort of ignore it. They saw sin and they did not just push it under the rug. They practiced church discipline. Churches today tend to shy away from church discipline. Part of it is because there is such a loud shout of tolerance, but also there is this fear of lawsuits in churches today. A good friend of mine, who is a pastor of a large church in Dallas, got sued last year because his church practiced church discipline and the guy sued them. But, you know we should never back away from what God’s Word tells us to do. This church was a disciplined church and they took a stand against sin. This is a good quality. But, should it be our foremost priority?

Fourth, they were a discerning church. Verse 2 says, “You put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false.” They had spiritual discernment. They were committed to the truth of God’s Word. They did not just believe anybody who came and said, “Hey, I am an apostle of Jesus Christ. Listen to what I have to say.” They did not. They put them to the test and they made sure that they were who they said they were or not.

He adds a final commendation in verse 6 when he says, “Yet this you do have, but you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans which I also hate. We do not know for sure who the Nicolaitans are. There has been a lot of speculation. Some of the early church fathers believed that they were disciples of Nicholas, who was mentioned in Acts 6 as one of the seven deacons who were chosen along with Stephen to help the apostles with ministry. It was believed that later he turned apostate and then he led these men astray. Some believe that the Nicolaitans were followers of this Nicholas. Others believed, based on the letter to Pergamum, that this was a group that taught that you are free in Christ. You have spiritual liberty. So, because you have scriptural freedom, you are free to engage in spiritual immorality and idolatry. Others take the literal meaning of the word, “Nico” meaning “conqueror” and “laity” meaning “the people”, as any system that pushes the idea that the clergy rule over the people. We do not know who these people were, but one thing we know for certain is that their teaching was wrong and God hated their deeds.

What a great church. From all outward appearances, they were dynamic. They were effective in the ministry. They were working hard for the Lord. They took a strong stand on biblical doctrine, but those things are not the foremost priority in the eyes of Jesus. They were missing one thing and that is where he goes on in verse 4. He says,

“But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.” (NASB)

The English Standard Version reads, “You have abandoned the love you had at first.” This is the foremost priority: your first love. This is more important than all the works that you do for the Lord. This is more important than anything else, your first love. What is this first love that he is referring to? There is some disagreement on what this is. There are some who say that it is really referring to the original love that the Ephesians had for one another. In Ephesians 1, Paul commends this church. He says, “I have heard of your great love for one another.” Some believe that that is what this is referring to, your love for one another. That is your first love.

Others see this first love as that devotion to Christ that characterizes one’s life when one first comes to Christ. It is like that love of a newly married bride for her husband. When you get married and you are just so in love. Just as a side, I’ve never been married but I can imagine what it is like. It is just that ahhh, you know, you are just so in love. Someday. I believe that he is primarily referring to their love for Jesus. I base that on the parallel to the Old Testament scripture where it talks about Israel being wedded and betrothed to God and they left that devotion of their betrothal of their youth and they played the harlot with these other nations. That is basically what he is saying that we are leaving. We are leaving that first love that we were meant to be in. So, that is why I believe this is referring more to our love of Jesus Christ, as it parallels the Old Testament. I think both could be true because when we stop loving the Lord our love for each other is affected. I believe he was saying you no longer love me the way you once did. Your priorities are wrong. They were diligent serving Christ but they were doing it at the expense of loving Him. Our service is no substitute for our love for Jesus Christ. Our service, let me say it again. Our service is no substitute for our love for Jesus Christ! He is more concerned about your love for Him than what you do for Him. He made this very clear in the story that we are all familiar with of Mary and Martha. In Luke 10, Martha was serving so fervently and so distracted by all the things she needed to do for Jesus. Mary is just enjoying Him. Jesus made it very clear. “Mary has chosen the good part.” Do not let your service take priority over your love for Him. Well, that is the first step to keeping your first love.

Rekindle your First Love

Second, rekindle your first love. When we find that we have lost our priority in loving Jesus, then we need to rekindle that first love. Jesus instructs the church at Ephesus to do three things in order to do that. He first said in verse 5,

“Remember from where you have fallen.”

The first thing is to remember. Remember the way it used to be in your relationship with Me. This word, remember, here literally means keep on remembering. Keep on remembering what it was like. Don’t you remember what it was like when you first came to Christ? I do. I remember as a young girl when I first came to Christ that I was so in love with Him. I could not wait to spend time with Him and with other believers. I could not wait to share my faith with other kids. Then, of course, you know my story. I went to college and I left my first love for two-and-a-half years. Then, when a girl brought me back to the Lord and discipled me, oh, I remember that first love then and how excited I was. I was so on fire for the Lord. I just loved Him with all my heart. The girl who discipled me I asked her, “Bonnie, will you take me out every Tuesday afternoon. Let’s go share Christ every Tuesday.” Every Tuesday afternoon, we went to share Christ. I could not get enough of the Word. I couldn’t get enough of just ministry. I loved the Lord. I wish I could stand here today and say that I am still that fervent as I was in college. I blame it on age, but I am not sure. I do not have the energy I had then, but I think it is good for us to go back and think. Remember, remember when I was so excited? Remember when you first got married. I want to rekindle that love for Him.

The second things he tells them to do is to repent. That word repent means to change direction. You are going in one way, one direction, and you realize it is wrong. You turn around and you go in the exact opposite direction.

The third thing he tells them to do is return. Do the deeds you did at first. The third thing is return. Do the deeds you did at first. This is not a call to do more Christian service. They were doing plenty of that, but they needed to recapture and return to the richness of those things they started with: that richness of Bible study, that devotion to prayer, that specialness of worship. Return to those things. Go back to the things that got you started in your relationship with the Lord. Then, in verse 5 he gives them a warning. He says, “Or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent.” Either change your ways or you lose your light-bearing capacity.

Eventually, the Ephesian church passed out of existence, but it did not occur until the fifth century. So, apparently, for a while they must have made some correction because they continued to exist for a while. But, the site of the city of Ephesus has been virtually without inhabitants since the fourteenth century. The church of Ephesus does not stand today. Its light has been completely snuffed out. We would do well to listen and heed this message. I do not want our church to die out because we have left our first love because we have gotten our priorities wrong. I hope that that does not happen to this church here. I also do not want to be put on the shelf as an individual. I do not want to hear God say to me one day, “Crickett, I can’t use you any more because you do not love Me the way you used to because you have gotten your priorities wrong. I am not your first love any more so I am going to have to put you on the shelf.” I do not want to hear that and I do not think you do either. Well, that is the first two things that we need to do to prevent leaving our first love.

Relish your Future Hope

The third thing is relish your future hope. In verse 7, he says,

To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the paradise of God. (NASB)

What exactly is he promising them here? Well, the Tree of Life is first mentioned in Genesis 2 as one of the many trees that were given to Adam and Eve for food. But, that earthly tree was lost in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve chose to sin. We see that tree again in Revelation 22 in the near heavens and the new earth. It symbolizes eternal life. That Tree of Life will last forever. It is never going to be lost again. The paradise of God is that new heaven and that new earth that we look forward to that you read about in Revelation 21 and 22. We can look forward to that Tree of Life that we will never lose. That paradise of God in the future is so much better in the Garden of Eden because there will never be any chance of sin in that new paradise. So, what he is promising them is that you have eternal life. Relish it. Look forward to that new future, that new heaven, that new earth. Relish your eternal hope. It is there. Persevere. Live for it.

Conclusion

What is most important to you in your life? I asked that at the beginning of this message. Is your love for Jesus more important than anything else in your life today? Or, have you left your first love? Has your Christian life lost some of its excitement, some of its joy? Maybe you need to rekindle the fire. Are you finding the work that you are doing for the Lord becoming more drudgery than delight? Does it make you more irritated than enjoyable? If so, maybe you have abandoned your first devotion that you had for Jesus Christ.

I love what I do. I love this job and I will tell you (and I almost do not want to tell you). I do not feel this is a job. I have always felt that God has wanted me in full-time ministry. I love what I do. It does not feel like a job because it is my life. I love being involved in your lives. I love the things that God allows me to do, but I pray, and this is how you can pray for me, that I will never get so busy doing, running this ministry, preparing lectures, doing other things, that I leave my love and passion that drives me to do this. I pray that for you, that we would never lose sight of that first love. I pray that every one of us in this room will love him with an undying love. But we have got to do those three things. Realize your foremost priority; rekindle your first love; relish your future hope.

Let’s pray. Father, I do love You, but I know there is always that chance that things will distract us and overwhelm our thoughts to where we have less and less time for You. I pray that does not happen to any of us in this room. Father I pray that You would help us to keep our focus on You, that our love for You would be more important than anything else we do. I pray that for these women. Lord, I pray that for me. We love You and we want to worship You together now. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s stand and close in worship.

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¹ Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (Westwood, N.J.: Barbour & Co., 1935), Jan. 18.

² John Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church: An Exposition of Revelation 1-3 (Mill Hill, London: Monarch Books, 2003), 28.

³ Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, Vol. 2 (Wheaton: Victor Books, 1989), 572.

⁴ Dan DeHaan, The God You Can Know (Chicago: Moody Press, 1982), 22.

⁵ Stott, What Christ Thinks of the Church, 33.