How do you understand Jesus’ messages to the seven churches in the last book of the Bible? You’ll find them in Revelation chapters two and three. They were recorded by the apostle John, one of Jesus’ 12 disciples.
Some Bible scholars believe that each church represents an era (or time period) in church history. I must admit that’s an intriguing idea. Others feel that the words only apply to those seven churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) in the first century. Whatever your preference of hermeneutics (fancy word they teach you in seminary for “interpreting Scripture”), surely we can learn something meaningful for our lives today.
So, what would Jesus say to me and my church family today? Would He say some of the same things that He did then? I think so. The times have changed, but not so much the human heart. Why not use these messages as a check for ourselves personally and for our church families today? Let the Spirit of Jesus speak to us with either commendation (for something we’re doing right) or conviction of sin (for an area where we’re falling short).
The positives
Jesus had several positive or affirming things to say to these churches. Here’s a summarized list. He commended them:
* for their good deeds, love, faith, service, growth, purity, hard work, perseverance, and enduring hardship when persecuted
* for avoiding wicked people and showing spiritual discernment between truth and error
* for enduring poverty and spiritual warfare, and for remaining true to the faith.
Did some of those commendations ring true for you and your church family? I hope so. If so, be encouraged knowing you are pleasing the Lord.
The negatives
But there were also some negatives. Again, here is a list. Jesus censured them:
* for forsaking their first love of Him, for back-sliding, being lukewarm and even spiritually dead, naked, poor, pitiful, wretched and blind
* for allowing false teaching, tolerating sexual immorality and compromise
* for leaving work unfinished, getting distracted, being unfocused, having wrong priorities, and being materialistic.
Ouch! Did some of those rebukes make you squirm a bit or hit close to home? If so, don’t despair. Jesus offers a solution.
The remedy
The word “repent” is used four times by Jesus as the first step. It means “sincere sorrow for sin and a willingness to change”. Other words Jesus used are “start afresh”, “wake up”, “be spiritually earnest”, “be sincere and serious”, “be faithful” and “strengthen what remains”.
The uncomfortable truth is that all these words apply to us individually and corporately at some point in our spiritual lives. But it takes humility and a teachable spirit to accept Jesus’ remedy.
The reward
For all seven churches, the ultimate reward that Jesus offers is eternal life. He uses a wide variety of expressions but they all basically mean the same:
* “I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God”
* you “will not be hurt at all by the second death”
* “I will give (you) a white stone with a new name written on it”
* “I will give (you) authority over the nations” and “the morning star”
* you will be “dressed in white”
* “I will never blot out your name from the book of life, but will acknowledge you before my
Father and his angels”
* “I will make (you) a pillar in the temple of my God”
* “I will write on them the name of my God… and the name of the New Jerusalem and my new
name”
* “I will give (you) the right to sit with me on my throne”.
Jesus offers us abundant life in this life (not to be confused with an easy one) and eternal life in the next. What a reward!
The bottom line
So, how did you do individually? And how did you do as a church family? Although the messages were all unique, I noticed one thing that Jesus repeated to each church – “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.
May the Lord lead each of us into daily, personal, spiritual renewal. In that way, God will be glorified in us and we will enjoy Him forever!
Rob Weatherby is a retired pastor.
