Revelation 2:1-17 Backslidden, Rich, and Called

 

July 11, 2021

Have you ever read someone else’s mail?  Maybe it was from some famous person, the letter was encased in a library or museum showcase for everyone to see.  Or maybe you found it in an attic, stowed away in a long-forgotten suitcase or chest.  You never knew the person who wrote, or got the letter, so you felt like you missed some of what the letter was all about.  There were references to old stuff, like horse and buggy days.  Or maybe the problems with loading a musket, and how unreliable they were when hunting bear. 

Well, Revelation is not anything like that.  The reason for that becomes clear in chapters 2 and 3 as John records that Jesus told him to write seven letters to the churches.  Although Jesus names them specifically, it becomes clearer as you read that these are letters to ALL the churches, from that day down to this moment in time, right here in Seagrove.  This isn’t just the mailbag contents for the post offices in Asia Minor; this is our mail…letters from the Lord. 

Today we see the first three, so gear-up with your Bible in hand and heart, mind, and soul all alert; we’re getting our instructions from the Commander in Chief.  (And that has nothing to do with Washington, D.C.!)

We’re going to look at three churches and what Jesus had to say about, and to them.  There will be a word in each letter for each of us…three words actually:

·       evaluation of the church’s service

·       reproach for the church’s sluggishness, and

·       encouragement to the church for stirring-up their love for Christ.

First up in our mailbag is the letter to Ephesus:

I.              Ephesus:  Backslidden – in need of Repenting

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus.  This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:  “I know all the things you do.  I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance.  I know you don’t tolerate evil people.  You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not.  You have discovered they are liars.  You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.  “But I have this complaint against you.  You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!  Look how far you have fallen!  Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.  If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.  But this is in your favor:  You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.  To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.  Revelation 2:1-7

You don’t love me like you used to!  You don’t need to go further with that one.  Jesus talks about first love, and how the folks at Ephesus had been so committed, hot in the battle against false apostles, and other evils of their day.  Now…not so much!  That’s not just a B-grade movie, or romance novel.  That is worked out daily in believer’s lives and the life of the church.  Many people start out energetic and committed to serve Christ, but somewhere along the way, the cold-water committee gets ahold of them; worse – they join the committee and spread the misery.

For Ephesus (and for us) the word Jesus offered was repent.  This was evaluation mixed with consolation and warning.  To repent is to change your mind and behavior.  It means, go back to your first love.  Get re-engaged, and let God re-energize your love life with the Lord.
And this isn’t a one-revival-service fix.  This is a commitment of life, soul, and body.  In poker terms, this is all-in – nothing is held back.  You’re all His, and He promises to be all yours.
What I wouldn’t give to see the church altar filled once again with tears soaking the carpet.  Well…preacher…lead the way!
The next page in the mailbox was first read in Smyrna:

II.          Smyrna:  Poor – in need of Faith’s Riches

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna.  This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:                “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich!  I know the blasphemy of those opposing you.  They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.  Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer.  The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you.  You will suffer for ten days.  But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.  “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.  Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.  Revelation 2:8-11

There are two warnings to the church here – poverty and persecution.  Persecution kind of speaks for itself.  Since Jesus’ day it’s estimated there have been some 70 million martyrs for the faith. 

Church history records that the church experienced some seven million martyrs at the hands of 10 different emperors in the Roman Empire.  Nearly 2 million of them occurred in the first two centuries after Jesus lived.  There was enough reason for Jesus to give the folks at Smyrna some encouragement about being persecuted.

One of the martyrs was Polycarp, who was the bishop at Smyrna.  Church history tells us he was a student of John the Apostle as a young man, became bishop and was martyred for the faith in AD 155.  Tradition has it that he was burned at the stake, and when the fire would not burn his body, soldiers stabbed him to death.  Tradition records his words as they lit the wood around him on fire:  Eighty and six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong.  You threaten me with the fire that burns for a time, and is quickly quenched, for you do not know the fire which awaits the wicked in the judgment to come and in everlasting punishment.  Why are you waiting?  Come, do what you will.

Persecution holds no eternal threat.  Jesus told us not to fear those who could kill the body, but rather God, who has control over the body AND your soul. 

“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  Matthew 10:28

But what of poverty?  Why is that lumped-in with persecution?  The fact is that the enticement and intimidation of riches can compel those who are poor to take their eye off the ball of serving God, and letting money have its place.  Just look at the numbers of untold millions who stand in line for lottery tickets; they don’t want to be have-nots anymore; they want what the haves have!

Truth be told, poverty claims more lives (spiritually-speaking) than the hatred of persecution.  And by this we don’t mean physical life, as when homeless people starve, or sickness is raging.  We are talking about the poverty of faith – when people choose the material goods and pleasures of this life over God’s promises of eternal riches.  There may have been 70 million martyred for the faith in the two-thousand years since Jesus, but there are twice that many alive today, just in America who have turned their back on God…have no church, no faith, and no salvation.  If you add in the rest of humanity just in 2021, materialism is claiming billions of souls!  Jesus gave the folks at Smyrna a message of hope, so they would be faithful, because God was willing to give them eternal blessings.

III.      Pergamum:  Called – in need of Courage

“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum.  This is the message from the one with the sharp two-edged sword:   “I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to me.  You refused to deny me even when Antipas, my faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan’s city.  “But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel.  He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.  In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.  Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth.  “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.  To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven.  And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.          Revelation 2:12-17

The third page in the mailbag goes to Pergamum (Pergamos in some translations). Jesus’ complaint with this group of believers was not that they didn’t believe; they just weren’t into correcting corrupt behavior.  They tolerated the likes of Balaam in the church.  Balaam was a false prophet who only wanted the money he could get (Balaam was the TV smiling evangelist of the first century).  Also on their church roll were the Nicolaitans, epicureans – those who are the party-hearty group, eat-drink-and-be-merry…only having a good time matters.  The church is called to be different than these; we are not called to be like every other church, successful by worldly standards.  Rather we are called to be what our calling is, here, in this place, for this moment, honoring the Christ.

How are we to do that?  No matter what time it is, nor what public opinion is going viral these days, nor what it might cost us in popularity, income, or opportunity, wherever the conversation begins, we must take the conversation cross-country to Jesus.  It’s that simple!  John said Jesus promised gifts for those who will cooperate with this calling; more precisely, three gifts:

THE TABLE

Jesus promised heavenly manna for overcomers.  He is referring to the food with which God fed Israel during their wanderings in the wilderness.  However, it is not physical food, but spiritual kingdom.  Jesus called Himself the Bread of Life.  When we gather at the Lord's Table, and in humility, confess our sins, eating the bread of life, we submit to the one who has power to make us overcomers.

THE TABLETS

In ancient times the white stone was a symbol of acquittal from a jury.  Friends sometimes gave each other gifts of small white marble, cut to fit a hand, engraved with words of kindness.  When we bow at the foot of Jesus, confessing our sins, he buries our sins in the sea of forgetfulness, and posts a "no fishing" sign -- forever. 

THE TITLE

A new name.  Friends, this is not the name of Jesus – rather it’s a new name of friendship and power that only Jesus and you will know.  It may be a literal, lingual name, a name that sounds differently.  Abram became Abraham.  Saul became the beloved Apostle Paul. 

However, I believe that it is more.  I believe it is that certain something Jesus places deep down inside us when we are saved.  It is the quiet understanding of salvation...an assurance, knowing that He is Lord, and you are His.  It is the newness of relationship that you cannot really explain, touch, smell or know, apart from a personal relationship with Jesus.

In ancient days, if a child fell ill, and the situation worsened to the point of fearing for life, and the doctors could not help, the father would stand over his child and give him a new name.  It wouldn't be just any name, but one of a great and valiant warrior, or the name of a respected and strong individual.  The thinking was that the name carried authority.  The child would become a new person in that name, and the disease must capitulate. 

This is the overcoming, beloved; this is allowing Jesus to take complete control of your life at the cross, with His blood, with His love, with His power.  The disease of sin is no longer in control.  When you surrender to that power daily, there is nothing the world can do; you are an overcomer in Christ.

Years ago when hurricane Andrew hit the Southeast coast of Florida, a TV reporter went into one area in Homestead.  As he surveyed the devastation the camera settled on one lone house which stood largely undamaged.  It was the only house standing for blocks.  The owner was surveying his minor damage.  The reporter asked how it was possible for the house to stand when all others fell. This was the man's answer...I built this house myself.  I also built it according to the Florida State building code.  When the code called for 2X6 roof trusses, I used 2X6 roof trusses.  I was told that a house built according to code could withstand a hurricane.  I did, and it did.  I suppose no one else around here followed the code."[1]

There is a code written in the table, the tablets, and the title.  Is the house of your life built according to the code?  Are you an overcomer?  Do you answer the call?  Have you been renamed?  The church today is in dire need of this commitment. 

Title Image:  via Pixabay.com   Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation 

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[1] David R. Culver, Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin in LEADERSHIP/'93, Winter 1993, p.49