Revelation (Apocalypse) #2: The Letters of the Son of Man to the 7 Churches of the Apocalypse

sermon Book of Revelation 2 : Pierre Constant, 2022_10_04, AB Lausanne church

Revelation Bible Study #2: The Letters of the Son of Man to the 7 Churches of the Apocalypse

Introduction

The Son of Man who stands in the midst of the candlesticks writes to the angels of each of the Churches. The titles used in each of the letters repeat descriptions used by John during his first vision of a “Son of man”; he who knows the Churches now and addresses to them messages appropriate for their circumstances. Each Church receives a letter which is addressed to it in particular, but all the Churches have read all the letters (cf. Rev. 1.4, 11);
certain teachings are given so that “all the churches know . . . (2.23).

Everybody reads everybody’s mail
In short, we have a series of 7 epistles specifically addressed to each of the churches (Ephesus, Smyrna etc.) but the content is read and shared with all the others, so that everyone can take note of the words of the Lord and apply them to his life.

In the same intention, this series of epistles concerns all believers of all times and us too…

The 7 letters written on the same model

The writing of these 7 epistles follows the same model of writing in 6 steps:

Write to the angel of the Church…
Here is what it says…
I know…
But…
A challenge or a warning
The one who wins…

The order of churches

The order in which the churches are listed corresponds to that of the logical tour of a courier (someone who would bring the courier) who would do so on foot or on horseback.

No clue in the Bible shows that the order of the churches would be from different periods of Church history.

Lexicon

The overcomer: He is the one who leans with perseverance on Christ. The victory has already taken place and it is Christ who has won it. The battle we lead as believers is to have a living and persevering faith in the face of ourselves (discouragement, weariness) or in the face of external circumstances (persecution etc.).

The tree of life. See Genesis 2.9; 3.22-24 Ezekiel 48 and Revelation 21-22 especially Rev 22.2

End of time, last hour, last day. This seems to describe the time between the first and second comings of Jesus.

The Nicolaitans. We do not have precise facts to say who they are and their doctrine. By the association with Balaam, one could assume that there were sexual disorders.

The hidden manna, the white pebble, a new name. It is Jesus Christ who gives it to someone in particular, perhaps a mark of citizenship.

The ancient city of Ephesus
The nearest town to Patmos (100 km),
one of the great cities of the Roman Empire at the time of John,
seat of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,
fertile soil, excellent climate,
seaport but large quantities of silt silted up the port,
one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Asia Minor.

First Century Church of Ephesus

Active, just at the doctrinal level,
persevering in suffering, tenacious,
left his first love early (Acts 19),
summoned to remember, to repent, to practice his first works.

We too can, after years of Christian living, “function as believers” without emotional involvement with Christ. Revelation 1.5 speaks to us of “He who loves us”. Love is at the heart of the relationship with God. The least of the answers is to love and cherish our Lord and Saviour.

The ancient city of Smyrna

60 km north of Ephesus,
today Izmir in Turkey, 2nd port in importance,
a very important seaport that prospered for millennia before Christ,
a city once renowned for its sciences and medicine,
the most beautiful of the 7 cities of the Apocalypse,
20 seat theater,
temples of Zeus and Cybele,
little excavated archaeological site (nearby town),
where Polycarp (a disciple of John) was put to death in the year 155,
large seismic region, Smyrna destroyed by an earthquake in the year 178.

First century church of Smyrna

Tried and poor (though rich),
slandered and persecuted by the Jews. By doing this, they take on the role of the enemy of God (hence the term synagogue of Satan),
does not receive any criticism (!) (that does not mean that she is perfect, but that there is nothing major to reproach her),
is about to suffer even more with a tribulation of 10 days (symbolic number that indicates a period of time not too long,
called to be faithful unto death, to persevere, Mark 8. 38-39 (renounce self).

The ancient city of Pergamon

About 60 km north of Smyrna, the most beautiful of the cities of Asia Minor,
a city dating from around 1000 BC,
very prosperous, able to compete with Alexandria and Antioch,
acropolis, installed 400 m above the valley (built after that of Athens),
had the 2nd largest library at the time,
many temples (Athena, Dionysos, Zeus),
medical center (temple of Asclepius – god of healing – one of the 7 wonders of the world

e), by way of comparison, certain aspects could make one think of the sanctuary of Lourdes,
capital of Asia until the time of Caesar-Augustus (who preferred Ephesus),
site of the first temple of worship to the Roman emperor,
where the scrolls were invented (after a break with Egypt),
theater with 10,000 seats, the steepest of theaters at the time,
one of the only cities authorized to carry out the death penalty.

First century church of Pergamon

Pergame in Greek Πέργαμον / Pérgamon, literally “citadel”.
Jesus describes this city as “the throne of Satan“, either referring to the temple of Zeus or to the cult of the emperor or to the religions of… mystery (Athena and Asclepius),
faithful, suffered (Antipas was put to death): persecution that leads to death is not necessarily synonymous with failure,
doctrine of Balaam, see Numbers chapters 22 to 24, the Israelites mate there at Baal Peor (mixture of worship and sexuality) hence the understanding of the doctrine of Balaam with an aspect of sexual immorality, people who “maintain the doctrine of the Nicolaitans” (of which we know next to nothing), called to repent, or the sword from the mouth of him who has the sharp two-edged sword will strike it.

Key Bible Passages

Revelation 2 / KJV Bible

1. Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3. And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
6. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
8. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
9. I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
10. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
11. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;
13. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.
14. But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
15. So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
16. Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
17. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
18. And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
19. I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
20. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.
21. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
22. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.
23. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
24. But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.
25. But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.
26. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27. And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.
28. And I will give him the morning star.
29. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.