I. INTRODUCTION
A. This lesson is a continuation of the previous lesson in which we considered the first two letters from the Lord to the seven churches of Asia (Ephesus and Smyrna).
B. As we study the letters to the churches of Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, let us keep in mind the common themes, patterns, and phrases found within the seven letters.
II. LETTERS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES (continued)
A. The Lord’s third letter was to the church at Pergamum (or Pergamos), which had been compromised by false teaching (2:12-17).
1. Christ commended this church because they held to His name and did not deny Him.
a. Perhaps the Lord identified Pergamum as the seat of Satan’s throne because it was the capital city of the Roman province of Asia and it was a major center of pagan religion and emperor cult worship (see notes on emperor worship below).
b. Christians in Pergamum had experienced persecution for their faith, which resulted in the death of one them named Antipas, who likely died for refusing to deny Christ’s name.
2. This church was condemned because some (not all) of them held to the false teachings of the Nicolaitans, whose teachings were compared to that of Balaam, who caused Israel to participate in idolatry and fornication (Num. 25:1-15; 31:16).
3. The Lord commanded the Pergamum Christians to repent (turn from these false teachings and evil practices) or else find themselves at war with Christ.
4. The Lord promised that those who overcome will receive the hidden manna (spiritual sustenance – John 6:31-51) and a white stone with a new name written upon it.
B. The Lord’s next letter was directed to the church at Thyatira, which had been likewise corrupted by false teaching (2:18-29).
1. This church was commended for their deeds (greater than at first), love, faith, service, and perseverance.
2. They were condemned because they tolerated the woman Jezebel with her teachings and practices of the “deep things of Satan” (v. 24).
a. The false prophetess called “Jezebel” (alluding to the evil wife of Ahab – 1Ki. 16:31; 18:4; 21:25) had induced some Christians to practice idolatry and fornication (similar to the effect of the Nicolaitans). It may be that this woman taught a type of Gnosticism (salvation through superior knowledge – in this case, the “deep things of Satan”).
b. The church had failed because they had allowed her to continue in their midst rather than casting her out (see Rom. 16:17-18).
3. Those who had shared in Jezebel’s deeds were commanded to repent or else suffer her fate.
a. Having refused to repent, Jezebel was condemned to “a bed of sickness” (v. 22).
b. If these erring Christians likewise refused to repent, then they would share in her tribulation. Christ said, “I will kill her children (followers) with pestilence” (v. 23).
4. Those who overcome are promised authority over the nations (Ps. 2:8-9) and the “morning star” (v. 28; 22:16 – Christ is the morning star who has received all authority from the Father).
C. The fifth letter was written to the church at Sardis, which had a false reputation (3:1-6).
1. This letter began with a condemnation of the church at Sardis for being dead.
a. This church had a reputation (perhaps among Christians) that they were alive, indicating that they were faithful, strong, and active in the work of the Lord.
b. However, the Lord sees what others do not (1Sam. 16:7), and He was not deceived. In truth, their faith was dead because of their incomplete works (v. 2 – Jas. 2:14-26).
2. The Lord commanded this church to realize their true condition and repent.
a. They were to “wake up” (v. 2) from their deadness and strengthen the spark of life still left within them. They could do this by remembering and doing what they had heard.
b. If they failed to do this, then Christ would come to them by surprise (in their sleep).
3. A few Christians at Sardis were commended for not having soiled their garments (they were not stained with sin as the rest were).
4. Those with unsoiled garments were promised to walk with Christ in white, and those who overcome are promised to be clothed in white garments, to be remembered in the book of life, and to be confessed by Christ before the Father and His angels.
D. The sixth letter of the Lord was written to the church at Philadelphia, which had the open door (3:7-14).
1. This church was commended for having a “little power” (v. 8 – sufficient for Christ’s work), for keeping Christ’s word, and for not denying His name in the face of persecution (by false Jews, perhaps those who offered worship to the emperor).
2. Like the church at Smyrna, the Philadelphia church received no words of condemnation.
3. The Lord commanded this church to hold fast what they had so that no one would take their crown (reward – see 2Tim. 4:8; Jas. 1:12).
4. Christ made several distinct promises to this church.
a. He promised an open door, indicating opportunity (perhaps for preaching – 2Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3). The open door was guaranteed, for He has the “key of David” (authority – v. 7).
b. He also promised to keep them from “the hour of testing” (v. 10).
c. For him who overcomes, Christ promised to make him a pillar (a permanent part) in God’s temple and to write upon him the name of God and the name of the city of God.
E. The Lord’s final letter was written to the church at Laodicea, which was poor despite their wealth (3:15-22).
1. The church at Laodicea is the only one of the seven churches that did not receive commendation.
2. The Lord condemned this church because they were lukewarm (indifferent, apathetic).
a. Perhaps the church at Laodicea was not as affected by persecutions as other churches were because they lived in a very affluent city.
b. Unfortunately, material prosperity almost always results in spiritual apathy. The church at Laodicea was not able to recognize their poor spiritual condition.
3. This church was commanded to correct their problems through the remedies in Christ, to be zealous, and to repent.
a. The figures of gold, white garments, and eye salve from Christ would provide the church with spiritual wealth, the adornment of spiritual purity, and spiritual understanding.
b. Notice how Christ assured them that their discipline was an expression of His love and how He appealed to these Christians to open up to Him (vv. 19-20).
4. Christ’s promise to those who overcome is that they may sit down with Him on His throne.
III. CONCLUSION – POINTS OF INTEREST
A. Notice that the promises of the Lord are given only to those who overcome.
1. These promises foreshadow the theme of the whole book. To demonstrate, compare the promises:
a. To Ephesus, the tree of life (2:7) – compare to 22:2
b. To Smyrna, deliverance from the second death (2:11) – compare to 20:6, 14; 21:8
c. To Pergamum, a white stone and a new name (2:17) – compare to 14:1
d. To Thyatira, to rule the nations and the morning star (2:26, 28) – compare to 20:4; 22:16
e. To Sardis, white garments and name confessed (3:5) – compare to 7:4, 13; 19:8
f. To Philadelphia, the name of God and the new Jerusalem (3:12) – compare to 21:10; 22:4
g. To Laodicea, to sit on Christ’s throne (3:21) – compare to 20:4
2. Also notice how these churches had different issues to overcome (Ephesus – cold love; Smyrna and Philadelphia – persecution; Pergamum and Thyatira – false teaching and immorality; Sardis – dead faith; Laodicea – indifference).
3. These conditional promises make it evident that a person is not “once-saved-always-saved.”
B. Also notice that the commendations of the Lord were for traits that these churches would need during the continued persecution that they were to experience (work, perseverance, faith, love, power, etc.).
C. Let us consider a few points about emperor worship.
1. Emperor worship began as a spirit of gratitude to Rome. Only the false goddess Roma (representing Rome’s benevolent power) was worshipped.
2. Later, the murdered Julius Caesar was deified and worshipped. Gradually, this worship evolved into a companion religion to accompany other religions (Jews were excepted at first).
3. It was the emperor Domitian (81-96 A.D.) who took this religion to the extreme. He demanded worship by all Roman subjects and insisted that he be addressed as “Dominus et Deus,” or “Lord and God.” Failure to comply with Domitian’s demands resulted in severe persecution.
*** In the next lesson, we will consider John’s vision into the throne room of God (4:1-5:14).***
