The Seven Churches Of Revelation

Text: Revelation 1-3

Introduction:

1                 Over the course of the last three weeks, we have discussed becoming a people of  “Great Grace.”

2                 You have probably noticed that most of the scripture in those sermons came from the book of Ephesians.

3                 It is there that we find the great passage

(Eph 2:8-10 NKJV)  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, {9} not of works, lest anyone should boast. {10} For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

4                 A church so steeped in teaching about God’s grace must have been a powerful positive force for God – elaborate.

5                 But did you know that there is another letter to the Ephesians church?

6                 This one was dictated by Jesus himself and written by John the apostle.

7                 This morning we are going to look at that letter and the letters to 6 other churches.

Discussion:

I.                The context.

A.              A proper understanding of the letters requires that we start in chapter 1.

B.              There we see Jesus As the awesome one who walks among the churches with their messengers in his right hand.

C.              This tells us that Jesus is in the churches and knows what is going on.

D.              He then addresses letters to 7 churches in Asia Minor.

E.              The book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature, which means that numbers normally have a symbolic meaning instead of their numerological value.

F.               We see an example of that in chapter 1 where the Holy Spirit is called the seven spirits of God even though Ephesians 4 says there is only one spirit.

G.              Even though there were at least 9 churches in Asia, Jesus mentions 7 as if to say I am describing through these churches the essential strengths and weakness found in all congregations.

H.              So it is fair to say that we should read these letters and ask, which congregation or group of congregations do we look like and what should we do about it.

I.                Each book follows a general pattern

1.               Jesus introduces himself with a short self-portrait.

2.               He commends the positive.

3.               He exposes the negative.

4.               He warns of what will happen if the problems are not corrects

5.               He closes with promises to the faithful who overcome.

II.              Ephesus.

A.              The positives.

1.               They have remained doctrinally pure.

2.               They would not tolerate false teachers

3.               They had continued to work with perseverance.

B.              The negatives.

1.               They have lost their first love.

2.               The recipients of Paul's letter of grace (Ephesians) had now become  1^st century Christian Pharisees, legalists, and theological headhunters.

(1 Cor 13:1-2 NKJV)  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. {2} And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3.               Far too many churches are graceless negative nit-picking places.

4.               They’re quick to judge the minutest points of what others believe. They are so busy criticizing how others dress or talk That they don’t have time to make Jesus known because they barley know him themselves.

5.               They know his doctrine but they know not the one who gave the doctrine.

6.               Even though the Pharisees were a minority in Palestine, Jesus reserves his harshest words for them. Why? Because just a hand full of negative people can stop a good work.

7.               Some of Jesus’ harshest words to the Asians churches are addressed to the Ephesian church that had become a graceless church too busy judging to love.

8.               They were so busy straining gnats and swallowing camels that they didn’t have time to notice that their love was slipping and their souls were in jeopardy.

C.              Warnings.

1.               Repent or I personally will take your out.

D.              Promises

1.               The tree of life in the paradise of God.

III.            Smyrna

A.              The positives

1.               Works, tribulation

2.               You are poor but rich.

B.              Negatives

1.               None.

C.              Warnings

1.               None.

D.              Promises

1.               Crown of Life

2.               Victory over 2^nd death.

IV.           Pergamos

A.              The Positives

1.               They have been faithful in testimony of their faith even in the face of persecution and death.

B.              The negatives

1.               You tolerate those who hold false doctrines.

2.               You tolerate those who live sexually immoral lives.

C.              Warnings

1.               Repent or I will fight against you

D.              Promises

1.               Hidden manna (eternal bread of life).

2.               White stone with a new name (citizenship in heaven).

V.             Thyatira

A.              Positives

1.               Their Works love faith and endurance continues to grow.

B.              Negatives

1.               Some are tolerating the presence of immoral false teachers.

2.               Those who are faithful must remain so.

C.              Warnings

1.               They will suffer the fruits of their evil deads and be judged by Christ.

D.              Promises

1.               Those who remain faithful will not b blamed for the sin of others in the congregation.

2.               Give them authority over the nations

3.               Shine like the morning star

VI.           Sardis

A.              Positives

1.               None.

B.              Negatives

1.               You look alive but are near death.

C.              Warnings.

1.               Remember my words obey and repent or I will come against you when you least expect it.

D.              Those who have remained faithful will  walk with Jesus in white robes, not be blotted out of the book of life and be acknowledged by Jesus before the father.

VII.         Philadelphia

A.              Positives

1.               Your strength seems small but you have persevered.

B.              Negatives

1.               None.

C.              Warnings.

1.               None.

D.              Promises.

1.               Your opponents will bow before you.

2.               Protect you from the hour of trial.

3.               Make you a pillar in the temple of God.

4.               A new name.

VIII.       Laodicea

A.              Positives

1.               None!

B.              Negatives.

1.               Wealth has made you complacent and lukewarm.

C.              Warnings.

1.               Buy real riches.

2.               Repent

3.               Allow me in your heart.

D.              Promises

1.               I will come into your life

2.               You will sit at my right hand on a throne of true riches.

Application.

1)              Jesus is here among us this morning.

2)              He is warning us to remain faithful in our

i)      Faith

ii)    Doctrine

iii)  Love

iv)   Service

v)     Perseverance

vi)   Zealous commitment to Christ.

3)              If we do not, we are just playing church and will be judged unless we repent.

4)              If we repent Jesus will

i)      Be with us.

ii)    Protect us,

iii)  Give us eternal life

iv)   A new name and citizenship in heaven

v)     Vindicate us in the presence of our opponents.

vi)   Acknowledge us before the Father.

5)              OUR TASK

i)              To know him and make him known.

ii)              Only then can we each win 1 in 02