by Jonathan Bennett
When reading chapters two and three of the book of Revelation, it is impossible to not ask the
questions, “Which one of these seven churches closest resembles the congregation I am a part of” and
“Which one do I resemble personally?” These are questions that impact the mind of anyone who is striving to live a faithful Christian life and does not indicate boastfulness nor arrogance. John records Jesus speaking to each church individually but at the end of the letter to each says “He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches,” indicating that these letters were not private letters but ones to be read and considered by all who read them.
Chapter two opens with the letter to the church at Ephesus, which has commendation in the beginning
for their ability to “not stand those who are evil” (Rev. 2:2a), but then in verse four admonition is given for
“leaving their first love.” The indication is that they were not fellowshipping those who are practicing sin,
but they had left their first love (i.e. Christ) and turned to running their religious center from a selfish,
narcissistic ambition. Christ instructs them to repent and return to their first love (Christ) or risk being
punished. The letter to Ephesus ends with “…To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life,
which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’ (Rev. 2:7)
The next letter is to the church at Smyrna which is a faithful church facing persecution and tribulation
by those who oppose Christ. The brethren at Smyrna are reminded to remain faithful until death and they
would receive the crown of life (Rev. 2:10b). The guarantee of not facing eternal death if martyred for the
cause of Christ is promised in this letter. There is no admonition given due to their faithfulness.
Moving onto the letter to the church at Pergamos, which is recognized for dwelling “where Satan’s
throne is.” (Rev. 2:13a) and not denying the faith when one was martyred in their midst (Rev. 2:13b). Yet,
Christ moves directly into admonishing them for fellowshipping those who practice idol worship and
ungodliness (Rev. 2:14). Christ directly condemns this behavior but also goes onto condemn the fellowship of sexual immorality, which would include adultery, fornication, homosexuality, etc. to remind them of just how out of focus they truly are spiritually. The Christians in Pergamos are admonished to repent or face the wrath of Christ (Rev. 2:16). The letter ends with the encouraging words that whoever repents will be rewarded by the Lord.
The church at Thyatira received a similar beginning in the letter to them of Christ knowing their
works, love, service, faith and patience but their works received much admonition. Christ chastises them
for allowing sexual immorality being accepted and the practice of idol worship. In all this the Lord gives
details of how He will chastise those practicing such ungodliness but then concludes the letter with words
of comfort for those who will repent and return to Godly worship and living. Sardis is the next church to receive a letter from Christ, and this letter starts with admonition for being spiritually dead (Rev. 3:1). This is not the way any church or Christian wants to be viewed in the eyes of the Lord or in the eyes of the world, yet Sardis is forever known as the dead church due to their lack of works before God. They are chastised and instructed to repent before judgement comes upon them but are reminded that even though the church there, as a collective body, is dead, there are individual members who are still faithful. It is those who are faithful, as well as those who will repent, that will not be blotted from the Book of Life and be confessed before the Father (Rev. 3:4-5).
Philadelphia is the other congregation to not receive any admonitions but words of encouragement
to hold the faith and to not relent so that no one may take their crown from them (Rev. 3:11). The details
of being recognized in Heaven as faithful servants should be enough to provoke any soul to repentance and living a faithful life. Living in Godly righteousness is how man was created and intended to live (Gen. 1:26,27; 2:7). Coming to the seventh church, Christ gives a very pointed admonition compared to the ones seen previously. The church at Laodicea is told that they are neither cold nor hot and that Christ wants them one or the other. There is no room for being lukewarm, or in other words, no possibility of serving two masters.
Christ bluntly tells them that He will vomit them out of His mouth. If they were cold, He would just deny
them and if they were hot, He would keep them, but to think they are hot and find out they are not what
they appear is cause for this rejection of the worse type. The type of living being described in this passage
Christ also addressed in Matthew 23:27-28 in His admonition to the scribes and Pharisees. None should
ever allow this type of attribute to infest their life, but must repent and come back to the Savior. The closing of the letter to those in Laodicea is one that everyone should take heed to when Christ says “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne” (Rev. 3:20-21).
Friends, which of these describes your current spiritual status? Are there improvements and changes
that you need to make? If you are being honest the answer is “Yes” and when that personal state is
recognized and improved the overall state of the congregation will change for the better also. If we will all
improve our lives to be like the churches in Smyrna and Philadelphia, the health of the congregation will
automatically follow. May the Lord continue to bless us as we fight the good fight of faith! (1 Tim. 6:12)
