A Church Jesus Sees

Tonight, we will be in Revelation 2:1-11.

The title of my message is “A Church Jesus Sees.”

• We are now embarking on a three-part series focusing on Jesus’ letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.
• The next three times that I will be speaking on Sunday night I will be focusing on these chapters.

 

PRAYER

 

So, before we just dive into Revelation 2, I believe it is important for us to get our grounding with the book we are going to be reading tonight.

 

Many people are confused and overwhelmed by the book of Revelation. I used to be one of those people. I remember my professor in bible college instilled that fear in my class at the beginning of my Revelation course.

 

QUOTE: At the beginning of this class, you will have many questions about this book and few answers. At the end of this class, you will have more questions and even fewer answers.

 

While I learned many things from that professor, I do not agree with his stance or beliefs now. If we can study and learn the meaning of all the other texts in the Bible… what makes this book different!

 

It is this fear of Revelation and its misunderstanding that leads many Christians to miss out on the immense blessing. Revelation is the only book of the Bible that actually promises a blessing just in its intro:

Revelation 1:3— Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

 

Many think of the book as a secret code impossible to understand. Or that it is all allegory or symbolism that is scary, or maybe even not important to understand.

 

The word for Revelation in Greek is apokalypsis

This is the root word we use for apocalypse.

When we think of this word, we think of catastrophic, world-ending events. And many at face value see the judgments in Revelation during the seals and judgments as the reason it might be called this.

 

But that is not what apokalypsis meant in the Greek.

It meant “to reveal, to disclose, and to tell.”

 

Revelation 1:1—The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place

 

This book is meant to reveal Jesus. And in the section we are going to read in this series. Reveal Jesus’ heart for his church.

 

So chapter 1 begins Jesus’ revelation.

John, in exile on the island of Patmos, is writing down everything Jesus is revealing.

 

So let’s begin with Revelation 1:10-20

 

Revelation 1:10-20— I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, 11 saying, “Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. 14 His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. 16 In His right hand, He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. 19 Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

• John is given a vision of seven lampstands, and among the seven lampstands is the glorious Son of Man, Jesus.
• We don’t have to wonder what the lampstands represent or the seven stars. They symbolize the seven churches Jesus told John to write to. The seven stars are the seven angels of these churches.
• Why are churches lampstands? Well, it makes sense. Jesus has commissioned his church to be light in darkness.
• Matthew 5:14-16— “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
• We are called to be light in darkness. A good church is not hidden or quarantined from the world but seeks to transform the world by sharing Christ’s love.
• What I wanna focus on in this series is: What kind of church does Jesus desire us to be? What kind of follower of Jesus is Jesus’ desire for you to be?
• Where is Jesus? He is amongst the lampstands.
• He keeps his promise to believers that he will be with them to the end of the age.
• Jesus is among his church and specifically in this vision these seven churches.

Why seven churches? Why these seven?

• Seven is the number of completion and fullness in the Bible. You could trace that for yourself. So this is the “fullness” of Christ church.
• Jesus is the head of his church and among his church.
• Why these seven churches? Why not the church in Jerusalem or Rome, which at the time would have been much more prominent?

1. Jesus had a special message to these four historical churches.
   • These churches were indeed seven historical churches. What Jesus addresses in these short postcard letters was a reality to what was going on in their time.

2. Jesus may be speaking to eras of church history.

• There is good scholarship and many pastors, including Chuck Smith, who believe there is historical significance to each of the churches tracing from the apostolic age all the way through to our current church age.
• I don’t personally think there is anything wrong with the view but I do think that the third point reason makes all of it sort of add up.

3. Timeless church application

• I believe that no matter what time you live in or which church you are part of… each church has a lesson to teach.
• Each of the historical churches had challenges, failings, and a great need for Jesus.

So Jesus is amongst his church, and so their issues are not foreign to Him. Just like the issues we are facing are not foreign to Him. If we listen closely to these postcards, I believe we will be challenged into a deepening of our faith in Christ.

Let’s now look at Jesus’ first postcard to the church in Ephesus.

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

 

Revelation 2:1-7—The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

2 ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; 3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. 6 Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.’

So each of Jesus’ letters/postcards to the seven churches follows the same format. This is going to help us understand and not miss a bit of what Christ is trying to reveal.

Jesus knows their works, He commends what is good, He confronts what is wrong, He commands repentance, He warns of judgment, and He promises eternal reward.”

So what does Ephesus have right?

• Doctrinally discerning
• Not tolerant of evil
• Persevering under pressure

 

1. A healthy church is watchful. It guards the flock from wolves, not naïve to their schemes.

• Paul had warned the Ephesians elders in Acts 20 that they were going to be tested and that they needed to be prepared to protect the the Lord’s flock.

Acts 20:28-32— Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood. 29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

 

• Jesus has commended the Ephesian church for not allowing these false teachings to enter into their community.
• They are testing what people are saying, and they are not being easily swayed away from the gospel.
• We need to be so very careful about what is floating around.
• In our times, I think many false teachers don’t even have to come to our church to spread lies; through books, YouTube videos, and influence, they can easily sell their lies.
• The Ephesians encountered a group of people who taught some very disturbing things: the Nicolaitans.
• This group of heretics taught that if you are in Christ that you can do whatever you want. That Jesus has covered all your sin, so… go and sin it up. Whatever feels good, sounds good, or looks good to you is good to Jesus.
• Jesus says that he hates this… and is that not the spiritual teaching of this age? We live in a world the Nicolaitans would have loved.

 

1. A healthy church doesn’t fall apart when pressured.

 

• Ephesus was the capital of the Roman province of Asia.
• A major port city that imports much of the ancient world’s culture.
• Famous for the Temple of Artemis/Diana, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Known for magic, occult practices, and pagan festivals.
• With all of this idol worship, the pressure would be there for the church to conform to the ways of the world.
• Every citizen in Ephesus once a year would have to offer incense and declare, “Caesar is Lord.” Many of the Christians in Ephesus would stand up and declare, “Jesus is Lord.” This would lead to public shame, ridicule, arrest, and even death.
• When the church starts to fall prey to the pressures, expectations, and the influence of the world… the church ceases to be the church.
• A lampstand is not placed under a bowl. We don’t hide or dim the truth and light of the gospel. Jesus commends this lampstand for shining brightly even when it is hard.

But what does he say is wrong: What did Ephesus have wrong?

 

Verse 4: But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

 

 

1. A healthy church doesn’t just know about Jesus — it loves Jesus.

 

• Notice that the verse does not say “lost your first love” but that you have “left your first love.”
• The church didn’t just suddenly lose its love… it slowly gave it away over time.
• ILLUSTRATION: Anyone who has kept a fire knows that if you do not feed the fire, it will slowly burn out.
• The church has faded in its genuine love for Jesus.
• The church needs to return to its first love. Loving Jesus has become secondary to mechanical religion.
• Loving God can become mechanical if we are careful.
• How do we prevent it?

Revelation 2:5— Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first…

• Remember from where you have fallen.
• Think back to who you were before Christ. Don’t dwell on it to shame yourself, but really realize who caught you!
• Thankfulness and genuine love for God grow in a healthy soil of remembrance and long-term memory.
• Many of us forget just how lost we were before being found in Him.
• We can grow cranky, entitled, and prideful in our religion… Jesus wants to tear those things down.
• He calls the church to repent and return to what it did at first.

 

Do you remember what it was like when you first fell in love with Jesus?

• The tears that were shed at the altar.
• The joy in your heart as he made you brand new.
• I remember waking up early every day just cause I couldn’t wait to pick up my bible or listen to a new worship song.
• I remember just endlessly asking questions and questions to my youth pastor and youth leaders because I just wanted to know Jesus and be close to Him.
• When did it stop? He is inviting you right here today back to what you did at first. Just to be in his presence.
• I pray we may be a Mary in a Martha world… and honestly, in a church culture that is sometimes built on performance rather than presence.

 

Revelation 2:8-11— “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

9 ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.’

• As you will notice each of these postcards starts with “I know deeds.”
• But for this church, Jesus says, “I know your tribulation.”

 

1. Jesus is not unfamiliar with suffering or trials

 

Jesus knows Smyrna

• Their physical poverty
• Their slander from hostile groups
• Their social and political pressure

 

• Smyrna, much like Ephesus, was a hotbed of idolatry and Roman nationalism. Smyrna was actually the first Roman city to build a large temple to Roma.
• For the same reason that Christians in Ephesus suffered… in Smyrna, the suffering was much greater because of the growing cult religion of Emperor worship in the city. To declare “Jesus is Lord” instead of Caesar would have led many Christians to their death.
• Polycarp, a famous church father and bishop in Smyrna, was burned alive for not worshipping Caesar.
• Before he was burned and given one last chance to deny Christ, he said, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?”

Unlike the other postcards in Revelation, Jesus does not challenge Smyrna but instead points out clear truths about their suffering.

1. They are poor on earth but rich in the kingdom

“The poorest man with Christ is infinitely richer than the richest man without Him.” — A.W. Tozer

• The church was suffering and lacking, but in Christ’s eyes, they had everything they needed and more.
• Our perspective should shift to what we have in him. He has been faithful how could we deny him.

2. Their suffering has an expiration date on it.

• Jesus explains that they will experience hardship of great intensity for 10 days and that they need to hold fast.
• Imagine if Jesus could just tell you when this struggle is going to be over. When is this wilderness season going to end?
• No matter how long it is though… there is a promises.

3. Jesus overcomes all troubles. Even death itself.

 

Conclusion

• Jesus sees us in our challenges and is reminding us that he is the first and the last, who was dead and is alive again forevermore.
• Do you know that the resurrected Jesus stands with you today?
• Whatever you are facing, he knows the length of it and will give you the strength to get through it.

One thing that stands out to me above all of the things we have discussed from these two churches tonight is that Jesus is here and among his people.

When we hurt. He hurts with us.

When we get lost. He guides us back.

When our love for him grows cold… He is calling for us to step towards him again. Coming back to where it all started. In surrender to Him.