LETTER TO EPHESUS
POSITIVE REVELATIONS
This Church has been very successful in resisting evil. They tested false Apostles and rejected them and hate the false compromise doctrines of the Nicolaitans.
Revelation 2:2-3 DBY 2 I know thy works and thy labour, and thine endurance, and that thou canst not bear evil men; and thou hast tried them who say that themselves are apostles and are not, and hast found them liars; 3 and endurest, and hast borne for my name's sake, and hast not wearied:.
This congregation sets a wonderful example of standing for the true worship of the true God. They have the endurance and the strength to reject false teachers.
NEGATIVE REVELATIONS
This church seems to have had only one negative but it was an important shortcoming says Jesus Christ.
Revelation 2:4-5 DBY 4 but I have against thee, that thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works: but if not, I am coming to thee, and I will remove thy lamp out of its place, except thou shalt repent.
All churches must fear losing our first love for God and becoming somewhat robotic and must struggle to get that love and enthusiasm back.
LETTER TO SMYRNA
POSITIVE REVELATIONS
This church has nothing but positives messages from Jesus Christ. They do not have the wealth handicap but just the opposite. Their poverty seems to keep them humble and strong spiritually.
Revelation 2:9 DBY 9 I know thy tribulation and thy poverty; but thou art rich; and the railing of those who say that they themselves are Jews, and are not, but a synagogue of Satan.
They (the synagogue of Satan) are a rival congregation that has apostatized to Satan's society, and are heavy critics of the Smyrna Church, which only contrasts and proves the righteousness of the Smyrna Church. Under pressure they developed into wonderfully dedicated believers.
ONLY AN ENCOURAGEMENT BUT NO REAL NEGATIVES GIVEN: Jesus just reminded them that the affliction would not be long and reminds them to:
Revelation 2:10 DBY 10 Fear nothing of what thou art about to suffer..
Jesus is saying to them, and us if need be, due to persecution, to be fearless and have faith in God to the end.
LETTER TO PERGAMUM
POSITIVE REVELATIONS
Jesus says of them that they are holding on to belief in Christ in spite of living in a very Satanic environment.
Revelation 2:13 NKJV 13 "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells..
NEGATIVE REVELATIONS
They had a lot of negatives. They had the false doctrines of Balaam and the false compromise doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Balaam used prostitutes to lure Israelite men into worshiping idols. This was his way of putting a stumbling bloc between God and his people. The false doctrine of the Nicolaitans was very similar and the two seem to work together. The Nicolaitans were a heretical sect within the church that had worked out a compromise with the pagan society. It allowed many members to make higher incomes. Their adherents taught that spiritual liberty gave them sufficient liberty and leeway to practice some idolatry and immorality.
Revelation 2:14-15 NKJV 14 "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
It is reported historically to have worked in this manner. Those brethren in the skilled guilds in order to retain their membership and high income had to attend group meetings. Those meetings worshiped the god or goddess of that guild and had temple prostitutes on hand to help with the pagan celebration. Those in Nicolaitans sects and the Balaam sects, allowed these kinds of compromises with the pagan society. Someone named Nicholas started this movement within God's Church. The Ephesians successfully rejected this movement.
LETTER TO THYATIRA
This church had a lot of endurance, service and their level of works were getting stronger not weaker.
Revelation 2:19 NKJV 19 "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.
Some of them are doing well and get praises from Christ, but others are caught in the grip of pagan evil.
NEGATIVE REVELATIONS
A leader within the group is given the awful title of JEZEBEL and she is leading them deeper into paganism. The members in 96 CE who received this letter undoubtedly knew who their Jezebel was.
Revelation 2:20-21 NKJV 20 "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 "And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent.
Thyatira was also into the horrible Nicolaitans compromise but Jezebel took them deeper into God rejecting paganism. Those involved had to repent or they would not receive eternal life in God's family.
Revelation 2:22-23 NKJV 22 "Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 "I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
Jesus knows our hearts and if we reject pagan compromises, 'spiritual adultery', and Babylon we will be saved. If any of us find ourselves in a church with a lot pagan compromises, Christ is saying remain faithful and loyal to the true worship of Jesus, following the appropriate things in both OT and NT. We must defy group pressure.
Revelation 2:24-25 NKJV 24 "Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 "But hold fast what you have till I come.
Jezebels' leadership had led a lot of the brethren to new lows with regard to getting into devilish paganism.
LETTER TO SARDIS
SARDIS HAD NO POSITIVES. Accept for a few, this church was dead spiritually.
Revelation 3:1 NKJV 1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
Jesus Christ is giving them an urgent call to repent and wake up.
Revelation 3:3 NKJV 3 "Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.
Those in dead churches need to repent immediately because they do not know when Jesus will call them into account.
CONCLUSIONS
Anyone who reads Revelation Chapter Two and Three must conclude that a certain level of faithfulness, love and loyalty to God is required before any believer will be able to enter into the God family. God has standards. Society now believes in eastern mystic religious concepts that claim all nature including people are gods. Trees and animals and crystals are all god. However it is clear from these above above verses that one has to develop a certain level of love and loyalty to God to given the gift of membership into the God family. All believers must attain certain levels of faith, love and loyalty to the true God of the Bible.
