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                    THE BOOK OF REVELATION

CHAPTERS. 2-3.

THE SEVEN CHURCHES

The Church of Ephesus:
Rev 2:1-7

The church of Jesus Christ was founded on the testimony of
His personal deity (Matt. 16:18).  He said of it, `The gates
of hades shall not prevail against it.'  He could speak
prophetically of the future destiny of the Church because He
intended to see to it personally that the Church He
established would be protected.  Nowhere is this seen more
clearly than in John's heavenly vision, which we have already
examined, portraying Christ walking among the lampstands (the
churches), shinning forth the light they received from Him to
a lost world floundering in darkness.

Chapters 2 to 4 of Revelation give the message of Christ to
the seven churches of Asia and go beyond them to the church
which `shall be hereafter'.  Christ's divine commendation,
complaint, counsel and challenge are just as vital today as
they were in the day they were written.

THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH; A.D. 30-100.

Commendation:  "I know thy works, and thy labor, 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; and hast borne, and hast patience,
and for my names sake hast labored, and hast not fainted
...Thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also
hate."

Complaint: "Thou hast left thy first love."

Counsel:  "Remember from where thou art fallen, and repent."

Challenge:  "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the
             tree of life, which is in the midst of the
             paradise of God."

Ephesus was located a few miles inland form the Aegean Sea.
It was on the Cayster River,  Silt has long since filled that
harbor.  The city of Ephesus had one of the seven wonders of
the world, the temple of Artemis (Diana to the Romans).  It
was considered by many to be the most amazing of the seven
wonders.  The worship of Artemis included shameless and vile
practice such as prostitution and mutilation in the rituals.
The temple and the city were destroyed in 252 A.D.

The key in these verses pertaining to the church at Ephesus
is found in the expression "Thou hast left thy first love."
Christ goes on to say that they are to remember  from whence
they are fallen and repent, and do the first works for He
would come quickly and remove the candlestick out of his
place.  They had left their first love.  Many Christians have
done this.  This was the situation when Jesus said He had
`somewhat against them.'  Jesus must come first!  There is a
marvelous promise to those who overcome.  They "will be
given to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of
the paradise of God."  This also reveals that the saints will
eat when in a glorified state.  Ch. 2:17, 19:9, Matt 26:19,
Luke 24:29, 30, 41-41, John 21:5-14.

Nicolaitanism:   One more subject in the letter to the church
at Ephesus needs consideration for it is basic to conditions
in our present day.  Verse 6 reads:  "But this thou hast,
that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also
hate."

Who were these Nicolaitans?  They have been variously
identified, but to me the best explanation lies in the
meaning of the word "NICOLAITANS" itself.  It comes from
nikao which means `to conquer,' and laos which means
`people.'  It is from laos we get our word `laity.'

Now it is not wrong for special gifted men to be found in the
churches.  God placed them there.  We have noted on previous
occasions here in these studies that God `gave some,
apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some
pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for
the work of the ministry.'(Eph 4:11-12)  God called some of His
servants to full-time teaching, preaching and leadership in
various ways in order to train His people to do His work.  But
this sin of Nicolaitanism has so laid hold of many Christians
down through the centuries that a wrong place was given their
leaders.  Today many Christians relegate soul winning to the
pastor only, or perhaps to some evangelist.  But God's plan
is that every member of the Body of Christ should be a
witness.  God hates this false division among His people.
And He commended the Ephesians for also hating it.



The Church Of Smyrna:
Rev 2:8-11

The church in Smyrna was a much-persecuted church in a
wealthy city that had little time for Christians.  The city
itself, founded about three centuries before Christ, was a
well-planned accomplishment of Alexander the Great.  The
commercial centre of Aisa Minor, it was on the direct trade
route from India and Persia to Rome.  The large variety of
coins found by archeologists in the city clearly indicates
that it was a wealthy city.  The Jewish segment of the
population seems to have been most irreligious and neglectful
of spiritual things.  Few specific details are known of the
history of the Smyrna church other than that which is given
here in the book of Revelation.  It can be safely deduced,
however, that it was a most faithful church in the face of
persecution.  From the account here in Scripture, the known
characteristics of the conditions in the church at Smyrna
indicate that the judgment seat of Christ will reveal this
church to be one of the most outstanding local bodies of
believers in all of church history.

THE PERSECUTED CHURCH; A.D. 100-312

Commendation:  "I know  thy works and tribulation, and
                poverty (but thou art rich)."

Complaint:  Not one word!

Counsel:  "Fear none of those things which thou shalt
           suffer...be thou faithful unto death."

Challenge:  "He that overcommeth shall not be hurt of the
            second death."

The Smyrna period of church history was probably the greatest
time of persecution the Church of Christ has ever known.
Satan unleashed a violent attack on the church in an effort
to obliterate it, for it became evident to him that the
apostolic church, because of its faithful preaching of the
Gospel, had become a serious threat to his world-wide godless
empire.  That he was unsuccessful in this attempt is easily
seen in a study of church history, for God over-ruled and
Satan learned a valuable lesson.  The more he persecuted the
church during this period, the more the church overcome the
one condemning characteristic of the apostolic age, that of
having left its first love.  Not one word of complaint was
hurled by Christ at this church.  From this Satan learned a
great secret: persecution will not stamp out the Church of
Christ!  Consequently, the age ended with the easing of
persecution, then Satan used what turned out to be one of his
most effective weapons to weaken the Church, that of
indulgence or endorsement.

Some Persecutions Of This Age:  As predicted by the Lord
Himself in verse 10, "Ye shall have tribulation ten days."
This church age saw eight of the ten periods of persecution
under Roman emperors:

NERO                      A.D.     54-68  Paul beheaded and
                                          Peter crucified.
DOMITIAN                  A.D.     81-96  John exiled.
TRAJAN                    A.D.    98-117  Ignatius burned at
                                          the stake.
MARCUS AURELIUS           A.D.   161-180  Justin Martyr
                                          killed
SERVERUS                  A.D.   193-211
MANIMINIUS                A.D.   235-238
DECIUS                    A.D.   249-251
VALERIAN                  A.D.   253-260
AURELIAN                  A.D.   270-275
DIOCLETIAN                A.D.   284-305

Diocletian is considered the worst emperor in Rome's history
and the greatest antagonist of the Christian faith.  He led a
violent attempt to destroy the Bible from the face of the
earth.  Under his leadership many Roman cities had public
burnings of the sacred Scriptures.

During the second and third centuries this persecution age
saw hundreds of Christians brought into the amphitheaters of
Rome to be fed to hungry lions while thousands of spectators
cheered.  Many were crucified; others were covered with
animal skins and tortured to death by wild dogs.  They were
covered with tar and set on fire to serve as torches.  They
were boiled in oil and burned at the stake, as was Polycarp
in the city of Smyrna itself in A.D. 156.  One church
historian has estimated that during this period, five million
Christians were martyred for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

There is no rebuke given by the Lord to this church.
Obviously the fires of persecution had a purifying effect on
the church.  Though through the persecution they had material
poverty, yet they were rich in faith.

The name Smyrna means Myrrh - the fragrant perfume.  Surely
the suffering of these believers arose to God as a sweet
perfume.

The Lord promised that the overcomers in this situation would
be given a crown of life.



THE CHURCH OF PERGAMUM:
Rev 2:12-17

Pergamos was an important cultural centre which had developed
a library of over 200 000 volumes - all copied by hand.  It
was also the centre of worship of the heathen idol
Aesculapius- the god of healing.  Sick were able to spend the
night in the temple where snakes crawled over them.  The
snake was the symbol of Aesculapius.  this is a reference to
"Satan's Seat" - a false lying emphasis on healing as a
counterfeit of the true ministry of Jesus Christ.

Pergamos was also the most devoted centre of Emperor worship
in the Roman Empire.  In most other places, Christians were
in jeopardy once a year when a pinch of incense had to be
offered in worship to the Emperor, but at Pergamos it was
required every day.  Those refusing to do so were in danger
of their lives constantly.

THE INDULGED CHURCH; A.D. 312-606.

Commendation:   "I know thy works, and where thou dwellest,
even where Satan's throne is; and thou holdest fast my name,
and hast not denied my faith, even in those days in which
Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you,
where Satan dwelleth."

Complaint:   "But I have a few things against thee, because
thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who
taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of
Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit
fornication.  So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine
of the Nicolaitians, which things I hate."

Counsel:   "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly,
and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

Challenge:   "To him that overcometh will I gave 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 except he that
receiveth it."

The church at Pergamos received both commendation and rebuke.
They had held fast to being called, `christians' and had not
denied their faith even when the martyrdom of Antipas took
place.

They were rebuked because they had tolerated two false
doctrines and practices:

1.  The Doctrine Of Balaam - which is identified in Numbers
25:1-3 as fraternizing with the world.  it is trying to be
compatible with wordly people - using wordly methods and
adopting wordly standards.  Balaam, the false prophet of
Israel, interested only in wealth by any means, gave Balak,
king of the Midianites, the idea of snaring Israel when he
couldn't get them cursed.

2.  The Doctrine Of The Nicolaitans - this is the same
problem as mentioned to the church at Ephesus.  However,
Ephesus was commended for hating this practice while the
church at Pergamos had tolerated it.  Twice the Lord said He
hated this thing.  this doctrine eventually led to the
priestly class, and the developed mediatorial structure of
the Roman Catholic church.

The overcomers in this situation are to receive:

a.  The hidden manna.  This is a reference to the `manna'
which was hidden in the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle
of Moses.  It speaks of receiving revelation instead of the
formalised or wordly ideas which were creeping into the
church at Pergamos.

b.  A white stone with a new name written on it.  The white
stone was a sign used in courts of the accused being `not
guilty'.  Man's disapproval doesn't mean God has cast us off.
He approves us.  There is no condemnation, despite the
persecution of the enemy.

Prophetic view: - Pergamos is a picture of the Christ of the
Imperial age, 313-476 A.D.  Pergamos means `married'.  It was
during this time that the union of church and state took
place, through the Emperor Constantine, and the doctrine of
Balaam began to take place - a marriage of the church and the
world - Satan's Seat became the counterfeit church.


THE CHURCH OF THYATIRA:

The city of Thyatira was probably founded by Alexander some
three hundred years before Christ.  It was a wealthy city in
Macedonia, noted in ancient world for its outstanding colour
dyes.

It has been suggested that the city was evangelized by the
Ephesian church or perhaps by Paul's first convert in
Philippi, Lydia (Act 16:14).  The main characteristic of
this church seemed to be its `works' towards men rather than
doctrinal belief.  In fact, as we shall see, it was indicted
for permitting a false teacher to spread her soul-damming
heresy.

Rev: 2:18-29

THE PEGAN CHURCH; 606 to the Tribulation - (Dark Ages).

Commendation :  "I know thy works, and love, and service, and
                faith, and thy patience, and thy works, and
                the last to be more than the first."

Complaint:  "Thou allowest that women, Jezebel, who calleth
            herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my
            servants to commit fornication and to eat things
            sacrificed unto idols."

Counsel;  "That which ye have already, hold fast till I
           come."

Challenge:  "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works
            unto the end, to him will I give power over the
            nations; 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.  And I will give him the morning star."

The Lord had some good things to say about this church, but
He also had a bad thing to say because they allowed that
woman Jezebel, who claimed to be a prophetess, to seduce His
servants and to commit fornication.  Then He made a
horrifying statement, "I will kill her children with death"
(v23).  The matter of major concern was the allowing of this
woman Jezebel to influence the church.  Either there was a
woman in the church named Jezebel, and that could well have
been, or the Lord just likened her to the evil person Jezebel
that lived in the time of Elijah.  It doesn't make any
difference.  This woman was operating in the church in
Thyatira.  She was allowed to teach false doctrines.
Declaring herself to be a prophetess, she was telling the
people it was all right for them to commit fornication and to
eat things offered to idols.  The Lord said that He would
judge her.  The church was allowing these ungodly activities.

The assurance He gave to this church was that the overcomer
would have authority over the nations as promised to Christ
(Ps 2, Rev 19:15), the manchild (12:5), Tribulation saints
(20:4-6), and all saints of all ages (Ps 149:6-9, Rev 20:4-6,
Dan 7:18).


THE CHURCH OF SARDIS:

There is nothing worse than a dead church!  It is like a man
dying of thirst in the desert who sees a well off in the
distance, only to find upon arrival that it is dry.  Many
thirsty souls stumble through the desert of this world and
then finally see what they think is hope in the form of a
church, only to find upon entering that it is completely
dead.  Such is the picture this test gives us of the church
of Sardis and the age she represents - the Reformation.

Sardis, the capital city of Lydia, was prominent in Asia
Minor.  Noted for its carpet industry, it was a wealthy city
that was finally destroyed by an earthquake.  The local
church there seems to have had an acceptable name in certain
areas but was really dead.  This is tragic in view of the
fact that life is a characteristic of the born-again
Christian.  Jesus said, "I am come that ye might have life,
and that ye might have it more abundantly."(Jn 10:10)

There were, however, a few faithful believers there who
refused to `defile their garments.'

Rev 3:1-6

The church at Sardis is a picture of the Reformation Church
from 1517 A.D. on.  Although it was a period where many good
things happened, the church of that  period stopped short in
the restoration of true faith.  The Protestant reformation
didn't move very far from the Papal Church of the dark ages -
still retaining many of its trappings and rituals - i.e.
infant baptism, the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes in its
clergy and formal services.  It was a period of imperfect
restoration, which the Lord said was all outward form, but
inward death.  The seven aspects of the Holy Spirit are
mentioned here.  Note the reference to the sevenfold Holy
Spirit in Zechariah 4:6-10 during a period of restoration.
The people of that day had only gone so far in the
restoration of the Temple.  They needed the help of the Holy
Spirit to complete the rebuilding.  The church in Sardis also
desperately needed a full release of the Holy Spirit in their
midst.  Orthodoxy without Him is merely respectable death.

THE DEAD CHURCH; 1520 To The Tribulation

Commendation:  "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that
               thou livest..."

Complaint:  "...(thou) art dead...I have not found thy works
            perfect before God."

Counsel:  "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which
          remain, that are ready to die...Remember,
          therefore, how thou hast received and heard, and
          hold fast and repent.  If, therefore, thou shalt
          not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou
          shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."

Challenge:  "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in
            white raiment; and I will not bolt his name out
            of the book of life, but I will confess his name
            before my Father, and before his angels."




THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA:

Having found the study of the three preceding churches
somewhat depressing, we find it refreshing to consider the
church of Philadelphia.  This sixth church is a throwback to
the first and second churches, Ephesus and Smyrna, of the
first three centuries.  Your heart will be stirred as you
study this passage, and you will find yourself desiring to be
identified with this kind of church.

The church of Philadelphia was located in a centre of Greek
civilization.  Founded only 189 years before Christ, the city
had a surprising influence on that area of the ancient world.
This church must have been very vital, for Philadelphia
remained an independent Christian city until the close of the
fourteenth century, when it was conquered by the Turks.

THE CHURCH CHRIST LOVED; 1570 To The Rapture

Commendation:  "I know thy works, behold, I have set before
               thee an open door, and no man can shut it;
               for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept
               my word, and hast not denied my name."
Complaint:  Not one word!

Counsel:  "Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which thou
           hast, that no man take thy crown."

Challenge:  "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the
            temple of my God, and he shall go no more out;
            and I will write upon him the name of my God, and
            the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem,
            which cometh down out of heaven from my God; and
            I will write upon him my new name; He that hath
            an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto
            the churches."

Literally this city did have before her an `open door'.
Geographically it was placed upon one of the greatest trade
routes in the country so that it had easy access to all places
in the great plateau of Central Asia Minor.  Both for
commerce and the proclamation of the Gospel it was ideally
situated.  God gave to it the privileges of A MISSIONARY
CHURCH.  An open door was before it, and human hands could
not shut it.

Rev 3:7-13

The strength of the Philadelphian church was little, but the
strength of God was great.  In her weakness God was her
strength, and mercifully gave to her an open door.

The name "PHILADELPHIA" literally means `brotherly love'.



THE CHURCH OF LAODICEA:

Rev 3:14-22

The last of the seven churches is the most disappointing.  In
fact, it is disgusting!  our Lord compares it to the
nauseating experience of drinking anything lukewarm.  In this
sense it is a graphic prophecy of the modern day church.

Laodicea was a wealthy inland city about forty miles from
Ephesus.  Steeped in Greek culture and learning, it was a
thriving centre of industry.  The local church must have been
wealthy, as evidenced by the fact that among present day
ruins there are three churches dating back to the early days
of Christianity.  In spite of her wealth, nothing is known of
the ministry of this church in preaching the Gospel
throughout the region around it, as was characteristic of the
church of Ephesus.

THE APOSTATE CHURCH OR THE PEOPLES CHURCH; 1900 to the
            Tribulation
Commendation:  Not one word!

Complaint:  "Thou art neither cold nor not; I would thou wert
            cold or hot.  So, then, because thou art
            lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew
            thee out of my mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am
            rich, and increased with goods, and have need of
            nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched,
            and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked."

Counsel:  "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the
          fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment,
          that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of
          thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes
          with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."

Challenge:  "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with
             me in my throne."

This church was in a city famous for its commerce and its
banking.  Laodicea was a tourist centre with hot mineral
baths.  The sheep on the hillsides were glossy, raven-
coloured beauties, virtually unmatched anywhere.  They
manufactured an ophthalmic that was widely sought.  In view
of these assets it is interesting and enlightening to hear
our Lord's admonition to buy of Him `gold tried in the
fire...  and white raiment"... and to anoint eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see." (v18).

Not one good thing is said about this church.  It is a
church which is self-sufficient, complacent and rich, but in
reality is wretched, poor, blind and naked spiritually.

"LAODICEA" means `the people's rights'.  (Laos-people, dike-
rights).

Congregational government can never work in a church.  The
body of Christ is a Theocracy and must by governed by those
God has set in the church. 1 Cor. 12:28-29.

The Laodicea overcomers are promised a place in His throne.
Perhaps the obstacles to overcome in Laodicea are the most
difficult ot overcome of all the problems mentioned in these
two chapters.

Prophetic view:  Like Philadelphia, Laodicea is a picture of
                 the End-time church, but it is the very
                 opposite of Philadelphia.  It is the
                 lukewarm worldly self-satisfied church of
                 modern times which is spiritually blind,
                 having no revelation, feeling that it has
                 arrived-`having need of nothing.'

                 The Lord stands `outside' this church
                 knocking and trying to get in and have
                 fellowship with them.  This is obviously
                 where the failure point - lack of personal
                 relationship with the Lord.  All the
                 amassing wealth and influence will only
                 become a problem without the fire of God in
                 the midst of the church.  he wants His
                 church HOT or He will cast them out.

The words of Jesus are very strong and stern.  Real
commitment ot the things of God is the exhortation.  Being on
fire for God means studying His word and worshipping the
Lord.  It involves setting aside time for prayer and devotion
each day.  It means a dedicated commitment to Christ!

Serving Jesus Christ demands everything you have.  He wants
your heart, your life, your soul, your spirit, your mind;
thoughts, your dreams; your past, your present and your
future.  In this message to the Church, the overcomer is
promised a throne. (v21).