The Ephesian Church - 2:1-7
The Revelation of Christ in this Church
includes:
a) The One who is in His Church
b) The One who is the Supreme Authority in the Church.
The Lord identifies good and bad points about this Church.
Good Points
1. They worked hard and diligently for Christ.
2. They laboured on despite personal difficulties.
3. They endured persecution from pagans.
4. They had no time for false teachers and false doctrines.
5. They judged all things (including people) by God's Word.
6. They could spot falsehood a mile off.
7. They stood their ground in Christ.
8. They had patient trust in the Lord.
Bad Points
1. They had left their first love / became religious.
2. They were backslidden / content with the routine.
The Remedy
1. Remember.
2. Repent.
3. Return.
The Warning
1. They must act quickly or the Lord will!
2. Their spiritual light would be removed.
Major Good Point
They rejected the clergy-class / priest-craft.
The Rewards
Rewards only for those who overcome.
Receive spiritual food directly from God.
They would know the glories of Heaven as they lived for Christ.
The Smyrna Church - 2:8-11
The Lord Jesus Christ describes Himself to this church:
a) His Eternal Nature.
b) The Messiah.
c) The Risen Lord.
These are important truths that should not be forgotten.
Good Points
a) Worked hard for the Gospel - as Jesus expected.
b) They were persecuted - yet they continued with greater
effort.
c) They were not wealthy - but they used what they had for
God.
This made them spiritually rich as
their treasure was in Heaven.
d) Stood firm regardless of the opposition.
Opposers were doing the devil's work.
Bad Points None recorded.
Rewards
a) A Crown of Life for those who live for Christ.
This crown is for those who
faithfully stand even unto death.
b) Overcomers may die but they are never destroyed.
There is nothing more the wicked can
do!
All believers are free from Hell - the Second Death.
We need more Smyrna Christians today!
The Pergamos Church - 2:12-17
The Lord is seen with a sharp two-edged sword. Why?
Because this Church has become heretical and needs discipline and judgement.
Good Points
a) They worked for Christ in a very difficult location.
The headquarters of hell on earth -
occultism.
b) They held fast Christ's name - the one way of salvation.
c) Remained Christians even when persecuted / to death.
How few even reach this level of
Christian commitment!
Bad Points
a) They were ecumenical - fellowshipped with false
teachers.
They allowed false prophets to preach in
the pulpit.
These men trap souls in idolatry and immorality.
b) Allowed the clergy-class to rule over them.
The so-called priesthood ruled their
thinking.
They should have allowed the Holy Spirit to
guide them in the word.
The Remedy
a) Repent (this means getting rid of the false teachers
too).
Otherwise Christ would act against them
soon.
b) Rapid action is needed on their part.
The Rewards
a) Hidden Manna = spiritual food rather than the corrupt
teachings of men.
b) New name = proof of their citizenship of Heaven.
Every individual needed to overcome.
The Thyatira Church - Revelation 2:18-29
The Lord is seen as the Searcher of Hearts.
His eyes burn deeply into every heart and mind.
He stands as the unchanging Lord.
His Kingdom and His Word are established.
Good Points
a) They laboured for God.
Good works as a sign of their commitment to
Christ.
b) They had true Christian love.
c) They were willing to be servants.
This reveals their humility and meekness.
d) Faith. They really lived out what they believed.
e) Works. These should be seen as humanitarian works.
The humanitarian side of their ministry
outweighed the spiritual side.
Bad Points
a) They allowed a false prophetess to minister in the
church.
She sought to introduce idolatry and
immorality.
This is Romanism (and feminism?)
b) The Lord gave this woman time to repent.
But she loved her formalism and idolatry
more than Christ.
Notice that she had a certain amount of
Christianity to make her acceptable!
The Remedy
The Lord Himself will deal with false prophets in the church.
He judges both the deceiver and the deceived (none are innocent).
All followers of falsehood are doomed.
Every individual is judged according to their works.
The Rewards
a) They are only available to overcomers.
Overcomers must separate themselves from
false doctrine.
Depths of Satan (Spiritual Warfare
doctrine).
b) No other burden to bear.
Indication of the severity of the problems
already facing.
This is why they are told to hold on to
what they already havr.
c) The overcomer will rule with Christ during the Millennium.
d) The overcomer is given the Morning Star - the spiritual
light of Christ.
The message to this Church applies for all Churches.