EPHESUS (Loveless Christians) – Revelation 2:1-7 | |||||
City of Ephesus | Church of Ephesus | Character of Christ | Commendation & Condemnation | Command | Consequence |
- Center of trade & commerce (free city) - Capital of worship for the Greek god Artemis - Center for immorality | - Planted by Paul and pastored by Timothy and John | 1. Who holds the seven stars in His right hand 2. Walks among the seven golden lampstands or candlesticks | Commendation: 1. Hardworking Church 2. Persevering 3. Discerning Condemnation: - They are FALLING OUT OF LOVE* for Christ. *or FELL OUT OF LOVE (This is the mother of all sins) | -Remember [how we met Christ] – Luke 15:17 in the Prodigal Son -Repent -Repeat [do the things you did when you first met Jesus] | Removal of the lampstand or candlestick* [if they fail to do the commands and repent] *There is no more Ephesian church today geographically but there are still spiritual Ephesians. “Do everything in LOVE for the Lord and not out of duty.” |
SMYRNA (Suffering Christians) – Revelation 2:8-11 | |||||
City of Smyrna | Character of Christ (Rev. 2:8) | Condition of the Church | Commendation of Christ (Rev. 2:9b) | Command (Rev. 2:10) | Consequence (Rev. 2:11) |
- Most beautiful of all the cities - Smyrna comes from the word Myrrh which means Bitter - Today, Smyrna is called Izmir in Turkey which is famous for huge theaters and massive temples of Zeus, Hermes, Apollo & Mercury - Smyrna was never mentioned in the Bible apart from Revelation | 1. The Eternal One (First & Last) – Isaiah 41:4, 43:10, 44:6, 48:12 2. The Living One (Dead & Alive) –Christ experienced suffering & death so He can sympathize with the church of Smyrna & us | 1. Pressured (AFFLICTION = pressure from the inside) 2. Poor – They have nothing to show to the city of Smyrna 3. Persecuted – Real Christians are persecuted (PERSECUTION = pressure from the outside) | Plenty and abounding in: A. Promises of Christ B. Perseverance C. Purity -The Smyrna Christians are rich in Christ while they are poor here on Earth. -They have a sweet-smelling testimony before God. | 1. Fear Not 2. Be Faithful to the End – perseverance of the saints | 1. Crown of Life 2. Eternal Life |
PERGAMOS / PERGAMUM (Compromising Christians) – Revelation 2:12-17 | |||||
City of Pergamos / Pergamum | Character of Christ (Rev. 2:12) | Condition of the Church (Rev. 2:13a) | Commendation of Christ (Rev. 2:13b) & Condemnation (Rev. 2:14-15) | Command (Rev. 2:16) | Consequence (Rev. 2:17) |
- Capital city of Asia Minor, 20 miles from Smyrna - Center of worship for Asclepius (god of healing) - The place of the first worship of Caesarian worship in 2 B.C. - Wealthy but wicked city; the biggest library can be found; temples of Zeus, Athena & Dionysius | 1. Truth of God’s Word: a. Word of God is a sword. b. It is sharp (Hebrews 4:12) | - They live where Satan’s throne is. “Christian life is not escaping from Satan, but a constant conquest against Satan.” | Commendation: - Remained true or faithful - Did not renounce their faith Condemnation: 1.Teaching of Balaam (Numbers 23-24) – accommodating worldly principles and practices, sexual immorality, marrying unbelievers 2.Teaching of Nicolaitans – pagan practices | - REPENT IMMEDIATELY! John 12:48 | - Hidden Manna (God will provide for you) - White Stone – Thummim [black stone which means no] & Urim [white stone which means yes] (God will say yes to you or God will give you His approval) - New Name |
THYATIRA (Corrupt Christians) – Revelation 2:18-29 | |||||
City of Thyatira | Character of Christ (Rev. 2:18) | Commendation of Christ (Rev. 2:19) & Condemnation of Christ (Rev.2:20-23) | Similarities of Jezebel in Rev. 2:20-23 & 1 Kings 16 | Command (Rev. 2:24) | Consequence (Rev. 2:26-29) |
- Thyatira means continuous sacrifice - Ruins are in Akkasar, Turkey. - The city have business guilds and military posts. - They are famous for textiles. - The church of Thyatira is small | 1. Son of God a. Eyes with blazing fire – Christ’s seeing-everything, knowing-everything eyes b. Having feet like fine bronze – judgment of Christ | Commendation: -They are growing spiritually and numerically Praises: a. Love b. Faith c. Service d. Perseverance Condemnation: 1.They tolerated Jezebel (prophetess who teaches false doctrines) a. Sexual immorality b. Foods sacrificed to idols | a. Both tried to replace God’s Word with substitutes b. Bothe seduced God’s people to immorality c. Both were judged and condemned by God Modern Jezebel Teachings: 1. Humanism (Enlightenment Period) – Man is the center of everything. 2. New Age Movement (the movie entitled Secret) – God is yourself. 3. Relativism / Pluralism – Every religion are just different ways to reach God. 4. Atheism – There is no God. | - Hold on to what you have unto the end. - Stick diligently to what you believed. | -Christ will give them authority of the nations (During the millennial period) -Christ will give them the morning star (Jesus Christ) Things we must let go: a. Teachings that are unbiblical b. Teachings that are against the Lord no matter how old it is. |
SARDIS (Dead Christians) – Revelation 3:1-6 | |||||
City of Sardis | Character of Christ (Rev. 3:1a) | Condemnation of Christ (Rev. 3:1b) & | Command of Christ (Rev. 3:2-3) | Commendation of the Church (Rev. 3:4) | Consequence (Rev. 3:5-6) |
-The commercial city of Sardis was situated at the foot of Mt. Tmolus & in the fertile valley of the River Hermus. -The capital of the old kingdom of Lydia with important industries including woolen garments, jewelry, dye and textiles which made the city wealthy. -Center of pagan worship and site of a temple of Artemis. -A small village called Sart remains. | 1. Holds the seven Spirits of God – Only one Holy Spirit but described in Isaiah 11 as the seven-fold Spirit which also symbolizes the all-seeing eyes of God (Rev.5:6). 2. Seven stars – The seven messengers (pastors) of the seven churches (Rev. 1:20) | - They have a reputation of being alive but are actually dead. – Alive here implies that they professed attachment to Christ and His cause but it was just a mere profession. They were Christians with works but not much of Christ’s life. -They had reputation without reality, form without force. The Christians in Sardis gloried in past dignity, but ignored present decay. | 1. Wake up! – The first step toward renewal of a dying soul is honest awareness that something is wrong. 2. Strengthen the few things you do have. 3. Remember the Word you have received and heard. 4. Apply it! 5. Repent! | 1. Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. - A remnant exists and the Lord admonished them to strengthen what remained and not to give up because the church was weak. | 1. Walk with Me dressed in white – promise of eternal righteousness 2. Name in the Book of Life – assurance of eternal salvation 3. Will acknowledge his name before My Father – honor and glory in heaven |
PHILADELPHIA (Faithful Christians) – Revelation 3:7-13 | ||||
City of Philadelphia | Character of Christ (Rev. 3:7) | Condition of the Church (Rev. 3:8) | Commendation (Rev. 3:8) | Comfort to the Church (Rev. 3:10-12) |
-Philadephia means brotherly love - Gateway of Greek culture to the Orient; trade route of business - Present day name is Alasehir - A group of believes still remains. | a. Holy (Gk. word HAGIOS) – pure, sinless b. True (Gk. word ALETHINOS) – real, genuine c. The Sovereign One who holds the keys of David | - Launching door – They have opportunities to share to people about Jesus. - Little power – Small in quantity, not in quality (They are the smallest church.) - Lay hold of the Word - Loyal to the Lord – Did not deny His name. | a. Great Opportunity b. Little Capacity c. Biblically Faithful d. Good Testimony | a. I will humble your enemies/ - We can’t enjoy the best of both worlds. b. I will strengthen you through extreme trials. c. I will honor and secure you in heaven. d. I will give you a new identity. |
LAODICEA (Lukewarm Christians) – Revelation 3:14-22 | ||||
City of Laodicea | Character of Christ (Rev. 3:14) | Condition of the Church (Rev. 3:15-16) | Counsel of Christ (Rev. 3:18) | Command of Christ (Rev. 3:19-20) |
-Wealthy city known for 3 industries: banking, glossy black wool cloth, medicine (eye salve) - No good supply of water - Water comes from aqueducts which originates from 2 springs: a. Hieropolis (hot spring) b. Colossae (cold spring) | - Amen (Sovereign One) - Faithful and True Witness - Ruler of God’s Creation | A. Neither hot nor cold - They were useless. - They were successful but not significant. - cold spring = refreshes - hot spring = heals 3 Spiritual Temperatures: 1.On fire (Acts 4:31) 2. Cold (Matthew 24:12) 3. Lukewarm (Rev. 3:16) B. Lukewarm -Comfortable (Mediocre) -Complacent (Satisfied with spiritual life) -Caused Jesus to vomit C. Unaware of their spiritual condition -lost their value -lost their vesture -lost their vision | -Buy from Me Gold = Faith Clothes = Righteousness Salve = Truth “The absence of persecution indicates a dying Christian.” | -Be zealous (active) -Repent – Change your direction. -Welcome Him – Hear His voice and open the door. (Intimacy, fellowship and communion with Christ) |
Source:
All the contents of this post is taken from Rev. Fraxedes Sabayle's Sermons last August 9- September 20, 2009 in Bradford United Church of Christ Inc., Urgello, Cebu
