Hans Christian Anderson’s fairytale story the Emperors new clothes teaches us a great lesson. In the story swindlers are working with so called invisible cloth sixteen hours a day. They say if you don’t see it you are stupid or unfit for office. The emperor is deceived himself, and wears the invisible clothes walking about naked. It took a child to be honest and say he did not have any clothes.

In much the same way the devil deceived Laodicea. A spiritual complacency was prevalent and no one in the church was saying anything about it.

Here in Revelation 3:14-22 we find a group of Christians at Laodicea that are nauseating to the risen and glorified Christ. But they were unaware thinking themselves quite alright. They actually thought things were going great in their church.

Revelation 3:14-15
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

The city of Laodicea was one of the richest commercial centers in the world. They were a center for banking, clothing, medical and center for ophthalmology (famous for eye salve). Unlike most first century churches that were small, poverty ridden and persecuted at Laodicea the church was affluent and had achieved a high level of social prestige.

This is the last of Jesus seven messages to the seven churches and Laodicea receives the highest level of condemnation of any of the churches. Their offence was that they had become lukewarm Christians. This is what our Lord Jesus hates.

As in the introductions to the other churches Jesus reveals himself with a specific aspect of his nature that is relevant to the situation at each particular church. Here he is the words of the Amen.

We use the word Amen in our Baptist churches. It means so be it or that’s right. We say it when we hear truth. Jesus doesn’t just say Amen, He is the Amen. The ultimate response to Gods truth. He is the faithful and true witness. There is no corruption in Him, He is absolutely trustworthy.

He has the title here of the Ruler of God’s creation. In Colossians 1:18 we find this,
“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”

Jesus is the source of origin. He holds the world together in His absolute power and He is ruler over the world. This is the authoritative Jesus.

Revelation 3:15
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

The church members of Laodicea were not flagrant sinners. In all of first century Asia here is the group with prestige and wealth. This affluent church did not step out of its social boundaries. This was a respectable group. But Jesus found their religiosity and spiritual complacency nauseating. Jesus said I wish you were hot or cold, one or the other.

A Christian that doesn’t do the terrible things and attends church, but has no real spiritual vitality is living the curse of spiritual complacency. This is nauseating to the Lord. The need is to gets close to the Lord and weep over this spiritual condition. Realize just how nauseating complacency, lukewarm Christianity is in the sight of Jesus.

Jesus’ evaluation of the church is exactly the opposite of what this church thinks of themselves. They think they are rich and don’t need anything. To the self satisfied you may think you can get along fine without a close walk with God. You have a good salary, investments are strong and a secure retirement is on the horizon. But if you are spiritually lukewarm you condition is wretched, pitiful, blind, naked and poor Jesus says.

The curse of our day is the spiritual complacency. Proverbs 11:20 says “The perverse in heart are an abomination to the Lord.” What a shock to think that the lukewarm Christian is more nauseating to Jesus than the perverse in heart. Your walk with the Lord is that important.

If you think you will appear before the risen and glorified Christ and say, I went to church, I attended a Sunday school once in a while and just drifted along spiritually that Christ will be pleased, study closely Revelation 3:14-20

“I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Lukewarm Christians are useless to Christ. At least a blatant sinner might recognize his spiritual condition before the Lord. But rarely does that happen with a Lukewarm Christian. He just meanders along. They don’t know it and they are deceived to think they are OK.

Revelation 3:18
I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

The city known for eye salve needs to buy a spiritual eye salve from Jesus. These affluent Christians need to trade their gold for true spiritual wealth. They are living in a banking center, but what they really need is spiritual gold refined by the fire for genuine riches.

It is an irony that the church in Sardis was poor but in Laodicea they were rich. But it is not material but spiritual riches that really count. When it came to true riches Sardis was rich and Laodicea was poor.

Revelation 3:19
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.

Jesus calls the indifferent Christian to recognize complacency for what it is, nauseating to the Lord. Serve Christ with zeal. Put the fire back into your Christian life. Otherwise you will never please the Lord. He calls the complacent to repent.

Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Jesus moves from directing the lukewarm church to the individual. To the lost. Jesus seeks the lost, open your heart. It starts with a commitment. Unless Jesus comes into your heart you are lost.

Luke warm Christian. Have you essentially shut Jesus out of your life and put him on the outside. Let a fire be set ablaze in your heart. Repent.

Revelation 3:21-22
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

The overcomer reigns with Jesus on his throne. Will you take action for spiritual complacency and open the door of your heart to Jesus?

Oftentimes life’s great opportunities last only for a moment. You must seize that moment. It is the time to grab the brass ring. Take advantage of the opportunity or it will be gone. I am talking about real life changing opportunities that we have.

These are the moments when you sense there is a current flowing and if you act on the opportunity you can Seize the day! “Carpe diem!

When you find that God has opened a door you do not want to miss the blessing of going through it. Once Jesus closes that door there is nobody who can open it. The life changing opportunity becomes a lost opportunity.

To the Church in Philadelphia, Revelation 3:7-13

Jesus message to the To the Church in Philadelphia is the sixth of seven messages to the churches. As He does to the other churches Jesus gives a unique description of himself pertaining to the situation of that particular church.

Revelation 3:7
These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

Jesus is Holy. Because of His deity He is set apart from us. He is free from the corruption of sin. God made Jesus who knew no sin to become sin on our behalf. The description says Jesus is true. Christ is completely trustworthy and totally reliable.

Here Jesus is described as the one who holds the keys of David. He is the awaited Messiah. He is the second David who is the promised one who gives eternal life. Jesus came to save his people. He is the one who opens and shuts the door. He is in control.

The city of Philadelphia was established to be the gateway city to the east. The purpose of the city was to promote the Greek culture in Asia and expand the influence of the Greek empire. It was known as the open door of the Greek world. The city of Philadelphia accomplished this purpose of influencing
the language and culture of other cities.

A society can use its influence to promote its culture. Jesus was presenting the church in Philadelphia with an open door. It was an open door to missionary service. The purpose of the city in a secular sense was to be an open door for exporting its cultural influence. Now Jesus is calling the church of that same city to take the open door opportunity with the Gospel to influence those same cities.
Paul often spoke of his missionary opportunities as an open door for effective work.

1 Corinthians 16:9, “Because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”

Colossians 4:3 “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ.”

Revelation 3:8b tells us the conditions of Philippi.
I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
The church in Philippi did not have a lot of resources, but the church stood firm. They were faithful with what they had. The Lord would offer this church an open door of mission opportunity. The reward for faithful service is greater opportunity. Being faithful brings an open door of opportunity.

When Billy Graham did a crusade in Japan he noted their success in business, they exported automobiles and electronics. He challenged the church to use that expertise to promote the gospel around the world.

Our economic situation may be an open door of opportunity. People come here from some of the most unreached parts of the world and we often can go there through business. In the past one Secretary of transportation in Washington DC would pray that the roads built would be used to carry beautiful feet of those who spread the gospel.

One thing is for certain that if we are faithful with the resources we have the Lord himself will open opportunities of service. Because of your faithfulness you may be someone that people come to with ministry opportunities. When you are faithful with what you are doing there will be other open doors of opportunity.

This was probably a small church in Philadelphia, but they were faithful with the opportunities they had. Jesus had nothing negative to say about this church. Jesus acknowledged that Christians were mistrusted in Philadelphia

Revelation 3:9
I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
Just think that persecutors will fall down at the feet of the believers. The next time you are harassed and persecuted because of your faith, you might ask yourself, I wonder how this person will fall down before me at the second coming of Christ.

What will it look like when this person falls down at my feet and acknowledges that Jesus loves me? The thought of this verse might encourage you through a difficult time. Of course we hope they join us and move from the persecutors to the persecuted in this lifetime.

Revelation 3:10-12
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
11I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 12Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
The overcomer will be a pillar. The overcomer will have a crown. The idea of a crown for the faithful is a familiar promise for an overcomer.

It would be very sad if the Lord placed an open door before you and you refused to go through it. I put my faith in Jesus Christ during my junior year in college. At that time everything changed. The Lord was speaking to me about a Christian summer project.

I sensed that my whole Christian life was in the balance depending on how I went through the open door of opportunity. If I didn’t do that I would probably not have laid the right foundation in my Christian life. I most likely would have been smothered by the world as a new believer in Christ and probably become unfit for service. You will avoid so much unnecessary trouble by walking through the open door of opportunity.

Jesus is the door of Salvation. Don’t miss the most important open door of opportunity of coming to faith in Christ.

John 10:7 & 9 (NASB)
7 Therefore Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 9 I am the door, if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
Revelation 3:13

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Has Jesus laid some open door of opportunity before you? Don’t delay. Grab the brass ring. Seize the day. Walk through that open door now.

George Barna in his book Turnaround Churches, profiles thirty churches that were about to die and made a turnaround. He compares dying churches to the Sears Catalogue. For about 100 years Sears was the symbol of mail order catalogue business. They introduced their mail order catalogue in 1894. For nearly one hundred years Sears was the catalogue retailer top dog.

In 1993 Sears announced that their catalogue would cease. What worked well in the past was no grantee of future success. The irony is that they buried their mail order catalogue when mail order business was $90 Billion business and the industry in a time of tremendous growth. That is striking that when direct marketing was at its height the most successful catalogue company of past dies out.

Barna makes a connection to the church. Today he says Christianity is growing as fast as ever and exciting things are happening and there is unprecedented church growth worldwide. In our nation more people are attending church than ever before. Yet some great churches of the past, prestigious churches that used to set the pace are dying, even closing their doors.

Sometimes the pride and complacency that comes with success often spells the fist step in decline. The paid staff grows and lay involvement becomes less. It is like a car that runs out of gas that does not come to an immediate stop but coasts along for a while.

In Revelation 3: 1-6 Jesus addresses the church in Sardis. It ran out of gas and was coasting. This church needs a turnaround. Jesus gives them a call to wake up. He exhorts them to be alive again. A church that is alive is an exciting church where people are expecting God to do great things.

When churches experience what God called the church to do it is dramatic. This is what Sardis needs. Sometimes a church comes alive and is looking for real ways to touch the world. An alive church is full of vision, purpose and a sense of God’s presence. When a church comes alive it is the place to be. When the church wakes up it is no longer the church for church sake, but it becomes the church with an eternal purpose.

The Church about to die
Jesus says you have a reputation of being alive but are dead.
Revelation 3:1
“To the angel of the church in Sardis write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Jesus calls Sardis a dead church, but vs 4 sheds light.

Revelation 3:4
You have a few people in Sardis that have not soiled their garments

Revelation 3:2
You are about to die, strengthen what remains.

The picture is that this was a great church in the past alive and did great things. They had prestigious pastors, dignified lay people, but the real dynamism is missing.

It becomes the place to be seen. A prestigious church that in reality is a place only of religious formalism. This formalism has a death grip on the church. That seems to describe Sardis.

What needs to be done? Wake up!

Revelation 3:2
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

When a church has a good reputation, much activity and past accomplishment it does not guarantee a spiritually alive church. The church in Smyrna was a sleeping giant.

Jesus calls the church to wake up. Worldly concerns had lulled this church to sleep to the point of death. Today there are churches across the landscape that are sleeping and about to die and Jesus says, Wake up!

Satan should fear a dying church. Why, because at any moment a core group in the church could hear Jesus words to wake up. They could get their church back on mission and make the gospel central. Then the church would no longer be focused on self. In Smyrna there was a small remnant there that had some life. That group needs to be strengthened and revitalized or the church will die.

How to revive the church.

Revelation 3:3
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

Jesus did not instruct Smyrna to go to a church growth conference in Philippi. He did tell them to remember what they had seen and heard. What they had heard was the basic message of the apostles. Jesus calls them back to the basics.

When Vince Lombardi tried to wake up his sleeping Green Bay Packers football team he called them back to the basics. He knew they needed to focus on the football basics of blocking and tackling. He took it to an extreme, held up a football and said; Gentlemen this is a football.

What Barna found in his study of turnaround churches is that those that did turn about got back to the basics. The return to basic theology and simple ministry was refreshing for most people, even those who had been Christian for decades. The people could agree on the crux of their faith. They were returning to what is eternally significant, practical and encouraging. This step allowed the pastor to restore the people’s confidence in the core of the churches ministry. Turnaround churches page 80

Teaching the gospel basics leads a church to renewal. The churches grow and gets sophisticated and fancy. Then it moves away from the basics to stimulate the intellectual. The problem is the church becomes too sophisticated for the basic offence of the cross. This is not suitable for the palate of the sophisticated church.

What is the solution for a dying church?

Revelation 3:4
Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.

Get the spiritual remnant left in the church strengthened and focus on the basics. Concentrate on the core essentials of the church; evangelism, missions and basic discipleship. Teach the church members about the Holy Spirit lead day by day moment by moment walk. Emphasize prayer and scripture.

Dying churches should follow Jesus advice. Wake up and emphasize the basics. Repeating the clear and basic plan of salvation over and over does not weary a church it brings it back to life. The goal is more than longevity we preach God’s love.

Waking up a sleeping church about to die will require an emphasis on the sinful state of man.
Isaiah 53:6
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

What will keep your church alive? It will be an emphasis on the cross of Christ, the resurrection of Jesus and personal faith in Jesus Christ.

During the dark ages the whole church was dying. There were a few who remembered obeyed and repented. This led to an emphasis on justification by faith in Jesus. The simple truth brought a reformation. It woke up the sleeping church. The gospel brings life.

Revelation 3:5-6
He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

What is Jesus evaluation? Is it a church that is alive or dead, awake or asleep? It is time for the sleeping church to wake up!

Intolerance has a negative connotation. Many times churches become stagnant because of intolerance. They will not accept those different from themselves. That is why it seems surprising that Jesus himself delivers a message on intolerance.

But when a church tolerates someone who teaches or practices immorality within the fellowship it can ruin a church. Take the example of The Flea and the Man found in Aesop’s fables:

A Man, very much annoyed with a Flea, caught him at last, and said, “Who are you who dare to feed on my limbs, and to cost me so much trouble in catching you?’ The Flea replied, “O my dear sir, pray spare my life, and destroy me not, for I cannot possibly do you much harm.” The Man, laughing, replied, “Now you shall certainly die by mine own hands, for no evil, whether it be small or large, ought to be tolerated.”

Unfortunately this message on intolerance is one the church at Thyatira did not learn.

This passage records Jesus’ words to the church at Thyatira. The city of Thyatira was not a politically great city like Ephesus, Pergamum or Smyrna. But it was the center of trade. They had commerce and such trades as bronze smiths.

Jesus Words

Revelation 2:18
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:
These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.

The sovereignty of God, the authority and power of Jesus are the aspect of Jesus that we find portrayed in the message to Thyatira. The title Son of God is used. When Jesus refers to himself here as the Son of God this is only time that this title is used of Jesus in Revelation.

I was examining some life-size statues of Jesus. It is very interesting to observe the eyes. The artists give Jesus sad puppy dog eyes. Here it is not the eyes of helpless despair, but we find Jesus with eyes of blazing fire.

Jesus’ penetrating eyes can discern the hearts of people. He knows the sinful motives of people when we might not be aware of them. The feet of Jesus are like burning bronze. You and I have feet of clay. Jesus has feet of bronze. It speaks of the majesty and strength of Jesus.

Jesus commends the church vs 19

These letters are to the pastors of the seven churches. Today sometimes pastors receive letters of people expressing gratitude about the positive qualities of their church. It is a joy and let me tell you the pastor loves to have people say positive things about the church. But if it were Jesus saying the good things it would be a joy beyond description. Imagine the excitement of the pastor when Jesus said:

Revelation 2:19
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

I don’t know if there would be anything he would rather hear Jesus say. (or read that Jesus said this)

Love is the key ingredient to a God honoring church. This is what Ephesus lacked, but not Thyatira. They loved both God and their fellow man and the scripture teaches that these two go together.

The church of Thyatira had faith. By faith you are saved. Faith pleases God. We are to walk by faith and live by faith. If it were not enough that Jesus commends this church for its love he also commends them for their faith. But there are still more good things that Jesus has to say about this church.

Thyatira had wonderful service. It is the church’s service to God that show their love and faith. Their love and faith was manifested in their service toward God. This church really had a ministry doing the good works God called His church to do.

The church at Thyatira had perseverance. They stayed at it. They were not easily discouraged. Trials came and their testimony persevered. They honored God as they persevered.

They were showing progress. I know this thrilled the heart of the pastor when he heard this. Doing more than you did at first. Spiritual progress where people are growing in their faith is what a church is hoping for. This church is not in a rut, but it is moving ahead.

What a beautiful combination of attributes they had. They were loving people of faith who serve the Lord and were growing Christians. It would have been the ultimate compliment if not for the next word that absolutely spoils the beauty of the moment.

In verse 20 is the word “nevertheless.” This is the lead in to the negative. Now comes the painful truth. There was a glaring flaw at the Church at Thyatira.

Revelation 2:20
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.

Here are these stinging words: You tolerate immorality. There was a deadly problem in the church.

It is like receiving a report from the doctor. Your blood pressure is OK, cholesterol fine, blood sugar right in line, the best health report you have had in a few years. You health has even improved in those categories, Nevertheless the doctor says. You have a fatal disease and unless you adjust your lifestyle you will die.

Some corrective action is needed in this church. Now this Pastor at Thyatira isn’t so elated. To confront a group in the church and their leader that promotes immorality might mean hurt feelings. They probably have friends and relatives in the church that will come to their defense. There will probably be unpleasant confrontation.

Can’t we just be happy and continue on knowing that some of the church members are making great progress? No.

The problem is this member called a “Jezebel of a Woman”. This was a nickname in reference to a powerful Old Testament figure. Jezebel was a pagan and married King Ahab.

Elijah was the prophet to confront her. Even after he called fire down from heaven he still felt intimidated by her powerful wicked influence. He ran away and wanted to quit the ministry much because of his fear of her.

Thyatira had this kind of person in their church fellowship. If the prophet Elijah was intimidated by Jezebel who wouldn’t be? But we are called to confront the Jezebels. We are not to tolerate them even when that would seem the easier thing to do.

The Christians of Thyatira with all their great qualities were turning a blind eye. But Jesus with his eyes of burning fire could not ignore this.

We need to try and strengthen our weak Christians. Help them study the Word and let God convict them in their sin. But when an influential person who is teaching immorality or living in an adulterous relationship is leading the sheep astray it is time for intolerance.

Jesus has strong words for this Jezebel.

Revelation 2:22
So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.

Those who are following Jezebel’s ways are in for intense suffering. She was going to have time to repent, but if she didn’t there would be intense suffering. This suffering was altogether different than Smyrna or Pergamum who suffered for their righteousness. She is not suffering because of her faith, but because of her immorality.

Revelation 2:23
I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

Jesus proclaims that those who are following this corrupt teaching in the church have time to repent. If they don’t there is suffering and even death ahead.

All the churches in Asia will read this and see that Jesus dealt with this sin problem through suffering and death. It is a testimony that Jesus searches the hearts and mind of every believer. He responds to each of you according to your deeds. Promoting immorality and destroying a healthy fellowship is a gravely serious matter.
Ultimately you answer to Jesus to these and He deals harshly with the Jezebels.

Promise for the over comers

Don’t forget there are still some precious and dedicated Christians in this congregation. For those who overcome for the one who does the will of Jesus to the end.

Revelation 2:25-27
25Only hold on to what you have until I come. 26To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations—
27′He will rule them with an iron scepter;
he will dash them to pieces like pottery’ — just as I have received authority from my Father.

Hold on to that Love, faith service perseverance and Christian growth until Jesus comes again. When Jesus comes it will be a glorious day for the faithful who will receive authority from God to rule over the nations.

Revelation 2:28-29
28I will also give him the morning star. 29He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

For the Over Comer
This phrase the morning star is also found in Revelation 22:16 as a title for Christ. The presence of the glorified Christ. Here is a great scriptural motivation to remain faithful to Christ. What a glorious savior that we serve.

At Thyatira they were, with all their great qualities, turning a blind eye to immorality. But Jesus with his eyes of burning fire could not ignore immorality in the church. When it comes to immorality there comes a time when the church needs to be intolerant. Jesus commands it.

It may be that right now you are undergoing suffering and hardship. You may recently have had the painful experience of being slandered. It may have come just for the simple reason you are a Christian standing on God’s principles.

In your difficulty if you ever start to wonder, does anybody really know what I am going through, be assured Jesus does.

The church in Smyrna was in desperate poverty. They were slandered for their faith and they experienced great affliction. Jesus says I know all about it.

I know your affliction
I know your poverty
I know the slander spoken against you.

Jesus calls the church at Smyrna to be faithful. Jesus walked among them at the church at Smyrna and He was well aware of their situation and how they remained faithful in those difficult conditions.

Revelations 2:8-11
“To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of 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 at all by the second death.

This message to the church in Smyrna is the second of seven messages to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2-3. We find that Jesus walks among the churches and observes and evaluates each one of them.

At the church at Ephesus Jesus walked among them and found a hard working and doctrinally pure church. The problem was that they lost their first love experience with Jesus.

In his letter to each church he addresses them; to the angel. Here in Vs 8 we find, to the angel of the church at Smyrna write. The angel was the messenger of the church, most likely the pastor. History tells us the Pastor at the church at Smyrna was Polycarp.

The title for Jesus in this message to the church at Smyrna was the title found in Revelation 1:17 of the exalted Jesus. The first and last who died and came to life.

The Evaluation Revelation 2:9
There is no condemnation for the church at Smyrna. There is for the other churches six that received messages. But even though there was no condemnation for this church it was undergoing extreme difficulty and affliction.

Smyrna was the central place of Caesar worship. Because the Christians refused to bow to Caesar they were afflicted, imprisoned and sometimes even put to death.

The pagans who worshiped Caesar were against this church and so were the Jews. The Christians were being slandered by the Jews. It was the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not. These Jews may have been physical descendents of Abraham, but not spiritual descendents of Abraham. In this message Jesus refers to them as a synagogue of Satan.

These Jews would spread vicious lies about the Christians and join in with the pagans to see Christians put to death. Life is precarious for a follower of Christ in a city of emperor worship.

This church was in poverty. Smyrna was a rich prosperous city, but the Christians isolated themselves from the prosperity by refusing to participate in the politically correct Caesar worship. They lived in destitute poverty in a rich city.

These conditions exist today for some Christians. Standing for Christ in some places can mean affliction, slander and poverty, rejection by family much like what Smyrna experienced. Take comfort in the fact that Jesus says, I know about your affliction and poverty – yet you are rich!

The riches in God’s Economy is faithfulness.

Laodicea Christians did have material wealth. But they compromised with the world and Jesus called them a church of spiritual poverty. They only thought they were rich but they were poor. The irony is the church that thought they were rich were poor and the church that thought it was poor was rich.

The Christians in Smyrna were poor and had a very hard life but they possessed true spiritual riches. When you face affliction, poverty and slander because of your Christian faith it is good to remember Jesus definition of riches.

The Challenge Revelation 2:10

What kind of message does Jesus have for the poor, afflicted and slandered Church at Smyrna? Does he say; just be faithful and you will be rich and comfortable, healthy and wealthy? No. The challenge for Smyrna is: you are faithful and get ready because you are about to really suffer. The devil is behind your intense persecution.

The time for their suffering is ten days. This is most likely a season of persecution that is coming. Jesus calls on this church to set aside fear. Fear can be a paralyzer. It is no wonder the church in Smyrna might be given to fear, given the persecution, but Jesus calls this church to stand up under the persecution. Maybe you have known a time of affliction.

There is affliction and slander for the Christian who really stands Christ. The challenge for Smyrna and for us is to be faithful even to the point of death. History bears out the challenge came and the Christians at Smyrna were faithful unto death.

Polycarp, the Pastor at Smyrna is mentioned in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, written by John Fox and first published in 1563. This book is an encyclopedia of those who have died for their faith in Christ. The story of Polycarp the pastor at Smyrna stands as one of the most prominent.

Polycarp was the pastor of Smyrna. He was apprehended as an old man. They allowed him one hour to pray, before he faced death, which was granted.

His accusers felt sorry for him and pleaded with him, what harm is it to say Lord Caesar and to sacrifice and save yourself. He was silent, but when he was pressed he said, I will not do as you advise me.

The Proconsul (governor of the province) responded; just say this and I will release you.

Polycarp said, for eighty-six years I have served Jesus and he never once wronged me. How shall I blaspheme my King who saved me?

The proconsul said to Polycarp, I will tame you with fire.

Polycarp relied, you threaten me with fire which burns for an hour and is soon extinguished. But the fire of future judgment and of eternal judgment reserved for the ungodly, you are ignorant of, but why do you delay, do whatever pleases you.

The Pagans and the Jews of Smyrna shouted unanimously that he should be burned alive.

Polycarp’s words were, Oh Father I bless you that you counted me worthy, to receive my portion among the number of Martyrs. When he said Amen the fire was lit.

Jesus said to the angel at Smyrna, be faithful to the point of death. And I will give you the crown of life. The message to the Church at Smyrna must have comforted Polycarp; the one who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

The affliction of Polycarp and the little band of believers at Smyrna challenge us to take our faith seriously. This church challenges us to a life of faithfulness.

It is ironic that the death of Christians such as Polycarp has fueled the growth of Christianity. It is not the persecution that fuels the gospel, but like Polycarp’s bold response to be faithful unto death, the bold response to persecution and the grace under pressure.

There are still those today who are slandered and afflicted. The majority Christian martyrs today remain nameless to the outside world. Their faithfulness to Jesus did not make them famous, but Jesus knows. The challenge to be faithful to the point of death remains. It calls us to be faithful even if our difficulty is far less than what took place at Smyrna.

The Reward for the faithful

Our predecessors in the Christian walk met the challenge. They received the reward, the crown of life. They were crowned with the victor’s crown.

Jesus endured the affliction of the cross because of the great joy in obedience to the Father. He suffered affliction and slander because of his desire to make a way of salvation for me and you.

The faithful often face tests. In all this we are called to overcome. They can kill followers of Christ but those who die as martyrs will not be hurt at all by second death. We read in 1 Peter 4:13; But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

Revelation 21:8
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Polycarp spoke of fire his persecutors were ignorant of. Revelation 2:18 refers to “a lake of fire” as the second death. This is what everyone should fear more than anything else.

The challenge is to be faithful. It means we follow Christ even when the cost is high. To the faithful Christian there will be true spiritual riches.

Message to the Church in Pergamum, Revelation 2:12-17

Pergamum is the third church of the seven churches in Christ’s messages to the churches that John saw in his revelation while on the Island of Patmos.

We find that Jesus Christ walks among the churches. He observes and evaluates the churches. Each church is different. Jesus commends the churches for their strengths and He calls them to repentance in their failures. He also calls every church to be overcomers.

John’s Vision of the Risen Christ, it is hardly like the pictures we normally see of Jesus. In Revelation Chapter 1 there is a dramatic description of Jesus. In the message to each church a different aspect of Jesus is depicted. Here to the church of Pergamum there is a two edge sword protruding from the mouth of Jesus.

Pergamum was a great city and served as a political capital of the Greek empire and it was a center of learning. It was also the headquarters of the Roman proconsul who yielded the authority to administer the death penalty. The power of the death penalty was symbolically represented by the sword.

Jesus is portrayed to the Church at Pergamum as the one with the sharp double-edge sword.

Revelation 1:16
In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

Revelations 2:12
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
  These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.

Jesus possesses the ultimate power over death.Now, at these words of Jesus spoken to John in his vision all the believers in Pergamum who have been wounded by the Roman sword and by their power to pronounce the death sentence (as they did to Antipus) know this.

Standing against the Outside pressures

Jesus speaks some words of tribute for the church in Pergamum.

Revelations 2:13
I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

Like the church in Smyrna this band of believers at Pergamum faced tremendous pressure from those outside the church. Intimidation was used to hinder these Christians. Yet they remained true they did not renounce their faith in Jesus.

Ultimately Satan is behind the persecution in the form of the Roman sword, the death penalty and the martyrdom of Antipas. Satan can use the evil forces of the world to intimidate and persecute the church. The threat of the sword did not derail the church at Pergamum.

Antipas was Martyred. The name Antipas means against all.

Anti – against
Pas- all

Living is a corrupt society you might feel like an Antipas. Everything seems to be contrary to the way of following Christ. Television is offensive. People at work act immorally. Community leaders bend to pressure. You may even find yourself opposing some Christians living in the world’s system.

Antipus was standing where Satan has his throne and he was opposing everybody. The story surrounding Antipas says that he was the Pastor at Pergamum. One day he was brought before an image of Caesar and told to confess that Caesar was God. When he refused, the Roman official said, “Antipas, don’t you know that the whole world is against you?” He replied, “Then Antipas is against the whole world!”

Jesus commends this church. They honored the Lord even when the pressure came on them. Antipas died for his faith.

Temptation to compromise from within

We do not have the luxury of fighting spiritual warfare on just one front. The believers at Pergamum withstood persecution. Then they got blind sided by compromise from within.

Revelation 2:14-15
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. 15Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

What Satan could not accomplish at Pergamum through outward pressure and intimidation on the outside he achieved from within. False teaching infiltrated their ranks from within. The Christians at the church at Pergamum compromised.

There is al Old Testament story that that explains what happened at the church at Pergamum. It is the story of Balaam found in Numbers chapters 22-25.

The Israelites had just destroyed the Amorites. Balak the King of Moab feared Israel and entices Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam is a religious man. At night God sploke to Balaam and said do not curse these people because they are blessed so Balaam refused. But again Balak sent a delegation this time more numerous and more distinguished to convince Balaam to curse Israel. This time Balaam went with them.

So Balaam is going with them and on the way his donkey sees the “Angel of the Lord with a drawn Sword.” The donkey keeps going off the road and then the donkey starts talking. Balaam does not know what is going on.

Then Balaam sees the angel of the Lord with Sword, refuses to curse Israel. He knows no curse should come on these people, they are blessed. But Balak came to Balaam time after time trying to get Balaam to do what he knew was not right.

With Balak’s persistence to pressure Balaam to do the wrong thing Balaam eventually caved in. Numbers 31:16 Balaam taught Balak how to lure them to sin, allow the Israelites to destroy themselves. In the end Balaam loved the wages of wickedness and acted wrongly. Balaam talked righteous talk but he did not stay the course.

2 Peter 2:15
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

Jude 11
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

Revelations 2:14
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.

Revelations 2:15
Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

These Christians at Pergamum were enticed from within to accept standards that contradicted the Gospel. These were worldly standards in their midst that urged them to follow their sinful desires of the flesh.

Do you see the irony? The World was trying to put outside pressure on them to compromise their faith. They stood and even were martyred. Then they compromise from within.

We have the difficult task to love the lost with their unholy moral standards. We love and accept those who fall yet at the same time we are to stand firm for moral purity. To keep pure the church that Jesus died for!

The believers at the first century church of Pergamum failed at this. They allowed heretics to infiltrate their church. They compromised from within.

A call to Repent

Revelations 2:16
Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

The world’s practices crept in among them and Jesus calls them to serious action. Jesus calls the whole church to repent. Those heretical members who were enticing the church to sin must repent, but not just them. The whole church is called to repent for allowing God’s holy place to become a house of compromise

What is the alternative to repenting? Yes, there is an alternative. Here is the imagery of the Sword again. Jesus says, I will soon come against you and fight you with the Sword of my mouth.

The Sword of the Spirit will set you free when the truth transforms your life. This same sword will fight against you when you choose the worlds standards. The sword of the truth becomes a sword of judgment to the immoral. God’s Word will judge the disobedient Christian.

Reward for the Overcomer

There is a promised blessing for the church or the individual that can withstand both the inward and the outward pressure.

Revelations 2:17
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

For those who refused to eat the choice food of the pagan banquets, there was something better, hidden manna of God. It is a reminder of God’s grace. It is a reminder of Gods faithfulness. Jesus food was to do the will of the Father.

The white stone with new name represents Spiritual triumph. The new name is associated with character. Saul’s name was changed to Paul. Simon’s name was changed to Peter.

One summer during college I worked at King’s Dominion amusement park. It was a theme park and I was assigned to the “lost world”. When I told someone how I spent my summer I told them I spent it working in the lost world. Their response was, “don’t we all?”
There is a sense we are all like the Church at Pergamum living where Satan has his throne. We are all in this fallen world where Satan has his throne. Where you are Jesus might say is where Satan has his throne. We can shine, overcome. You must Stand for Christ in this fallen world.

Resist the outward pressures without compromise from within. Jesus promises wonderful blessing for faithful overcomers.