Have you ever finished something and immediately wanted to experience it again? It might be when you stepped off a theme park ride, finished a good book, listened to a great album, visited a new city, or ate a good steak.
I felt this way when we finished our recent sermon series through the seven letters of Revelation 2–3. These chapters were both personally challenging and profoundly encouraging. Here are seven lessons I learned from the seven letters.
Jesus Loves the Church
He who walks among the seven golden lampstands is attentive to his church; he knows what is going on and he cares deeply (Rev 2:1). He cares enough to provide specific encouragement, stark warnings, and glorious promises. What about us? Do we love the church? Are we devoted to the church? Are we attentive to the church? You might say yes with your lips, but what do your prayers say? Your priorities, schedule, bank account? If we love Jesus Christ, we will love what he loves, which includes his people.
Deeds Are Not Enough
Most of the churches the Lord Jesus addresses in these letters were busy and hardworking. Jesus says repeatedly to the churches “I know your deeds” (2:2, 19; 3:1, 8, 15). But for some, these deeds were deceptive. They masked a hollow, heartless faith. Their activity covered up a lack of reality. Ephesus were hardworking but loveless. Sardis, busy but spiritually lifeless. If you peeked beneath the many rosters and full calendar of these churches, there was no beating heart of genuine love for Jesus.
This is a perennial danger. We must continually foster a sincere relationship with Christ Jesus. Like all real relationships, we do have to work at it, spending time with him in the word, in prayer, and with his people. We must seek to live with soft hearts and open ears to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22).
Truth Really Matters
For Ephesus, Sardis and Laodicea the problem was a failure to genuinely live out the truth of the gospel. For Pergamum and Thyatira the problem was a failure to defend it. They allowed false teachers to gain influence in their churches and to lead their people astray. The one who has the sharp double-edged sword condemns their carelessness with choice words (Rev 2:14–16, 20–25). He calls on Pergamum to repent, lest he come “to fight against them with the sword of my mouth” (2:16). Defining and defending the truth of the gospel against contemporary distortions and dilutions is an important duty for Christian ministers in every age.
Persecution Is Not Permanent
Two of the seven letters were written to churches facing overt persecution for their faith in Jesus Christ. Philadelphia had been weakened by external opposition (Rev 3:8); Smyrna were being slandered and were facing prison, even death (Rev 2:9–10). Jesus encourages these downtrodden churches by reminding them that persecution is not permanent. He assures them there is a great reversal coming when the victims will become the victors (Rev 3:9) and the martyrs will be made into royalty and will be given “the crown of life” (Rev 2:10). Our circumstances may not be as dangerous as theirs, but this lesson is still vital.
Endurance Is Essential
The blue whale is the largest animal on the planet, growing to thirty metres in length. This majestic creature travels up to seven thousand kilometres every year and can dive to a depth of five hundred metres. But did you know that the humble barnacle can travel the same distance and depth. How? Simply by holding on to the blue whale.
So it is with us. Through all the ups and downs of life in this world, we are to hold onto Christ and never let go, to trust him and to keep trusting him. To the “one who is victorious”, Christ promises, “I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels” (3:5).
The Lord Jesus repeatedly and in various ways calls his wayward or weak churches to turn to him (or return to him) in wholehearted trust (Rev 2:10, 25, 3:3, 11, 19–20). He calls on them to endure to the end, to overcome, even if this means, as in the case of Smyrna, to be faithful “to the point of death” (2:10).
Our Battle Is Spiritual
Some of the letters mention certain groups and individuals causing trouble for the church: the Jews, the Nicolaitans, a woman referred to as ‘Jezebel’. But this opposition is ultimately attributed to Satan, our spiritual foe. The Jews’ place of worship is described as “a synagogue of Satan” (2:9, 3:9), the city of Pergamum as the place “where Satan’s throne is” (2:13), and the teaching of Jezebel as “the deep things of Satan” (2:24). Our struggle, to use the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 12, “is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Our Future Is Bright
Each of the seven letters follows the same pattern. They begin with a description of Christ, drawn from Revelation chapter 1; followed by a compliment (except for Laodicea); a criticism (except for Smyrna and Philadelphia); a command to correct the situation; and then a promise for “those who are victorious.” Each of the promises reveal some aspect of our bright and glorious future. They can serve to encourage us to keep going and to not give up until that day when King Jesus returns to gather his people to himself once and for all. Jesus Christ promised the church at Laodicea, “To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne” (Rev 3:21). This is a promise we can rely on and run towards together.
