Christ and His Churches

Overview: Much like other letters in the New Testament, Revelation contains indicative assertions and imperative commands. The difference with Revelation is that the imperatives primarily come at the beginning of the book (chs. 2–3) while the indicatives are primarily contained in the second part of the book (chs. 4–22). However, the second half of ch. 22 returns to giving commands. In chs. 2 and 3, the letters to the churches contain commands to heed in light of the statements that follow in the narrative storyline of chs. 4–22. They also contain key themes that make appearances in the rest of the book, especially in chs. 19–22. This pattern of introducing themes with later significance is witnessed by the description of Christ’s appearance to John in ch. 1 being used to address the churches in chs. 2–3.

1A. (1:9-20) Christ the Source of Hope and Judgment in His Churches

1B. (1:9-16) Hope in Christ because He is sovereign in the midst of suffering

1C. (1:9-10a) John’s suffering

2C. (1:10b-16) The Sovereign’s introduction

1. Son of Man = Absolute authority (Dan 7:13)

2. Clothed in a robe = Mercy (Ezek 9:2)

3. Sash across chest = Messenger of judgment (Dan 10:5; Rev 15:6)

4. White hair = pre-existence (Dan 7:9)

5. Eyes like flame = fierceness against adversaries; penetrating vision (Dan 10:6)

6. Feet like bronze = purity for His people (Dan 10:6; Ezek 1:7)

7. Voice = glory of God returning to dwell with His people (Ezek 43:7)

8. Hand = sovereign control of His churches (Rev 1:20)

9. Mouth = authority to pronounce judgment against His enemies (Isa 11:4)

10. Face = glory of God for His people and against His enemies (Matt 17:2; Judges 5:31)

2B. (1:17-18) Hope in Christ because His resurrection assures our resurrection

3B. (1:19) Hope in Christ because He will finish the agenda

4B. (1:20) Hope in Christ because He interprets the agenda

2A. (2:1–3:22) Christ Commends and Commands His Churches

1B. (2:1-7) Ephesus: Loveless Orthodoxy

• Commends faithful endurance in the true faith

• Commands repentance for failure to love God and people

• Truth and love are interdependent (cf. Eph 4:14-16)

• Beware of being “Christian-ish”

2B. (2:8-11) Smyrna: Persecution

• Remain faithful in present afflictions in view of future reward

• Prepare now for future affliction

• Live today according to eternal life

3B. (2:12-17) Pergamum: Temptations to spiritual compromise

• Commends faithfulness despite persecution

• Commands repentance for tolerating teaching that promotes idolatry and perversity

• Jesus has personal knowledge of plight

• False teaching is a source of real harm

• Identify false teaching: pattern of deceptive, self-serving ministry; promotes false religion/syncretism

4B. (2:18-29) Thyatira: Toleration of spiritual compromise

• Commends growth in Christian character (19; contrast Ephesus); Exhorts to hold fast (25)

• Rebuke for compromise with teaching that promotes syncretism (contrast Ephesus) (Jezebel: cf. Ahab’s wife [1 Kgs 16:31-32; 18:4;19:1-3; 21:17-26]; Babylon “the Great Harlot” Rev 14:8; 17:1-5; 18:3, 9)

• False teaching produces evil living (20, 22)

• Christ exercises church discipline (21)

• Today’s faithfulness will be rewarded with a share in Jesus’ future world-wide kingdom and God’s complete redemption (26-28)

5B. (3:1-6) Sardis: Nominalism

• Rebukes most of them for nominalism

• Commands to wake up or face judgment

• Promises the faithful few will experience holiness with Christ

• Nominalism is appearance-driven

• Nominalism is a product of spiritual laziness and complacency

• Nominalism tends to be a product of relying heavily on “trellis-features” (programs, events), while neglecting “vine-cultivation”

• Christ remembers and values the faithful few; The power of a faithful few

6B. (3:7-13) Philadelphia: Consistent obedience and loyalty despite weakness

• Commends for fidelity despite weakness

• Promises vindication for present faithfulness

• Promises deliverance out of future tribulation

• Weakness and dependence upon Christ is where hope and security reside (contrast Laodecia)

7B. (3:14-22) Laodecia: Self-sufficiency

• Rebukes self-sufficiency, which produces uselessness 

• Commanded to repent and renew fellowship with Christ

• Real friends don’t coddle us, but gently and firmly tell us the truth

• Hypocrisy in life is an offense to the faithfulness of Christ

• Faithfulness in life is the path to victory and assurance in death