B. The Letters to the 7 Churches (2:1-3:22)

Introduction: John is convinced that the lord is on the verge of taking up his power, bringing the end of time, and reigning forever because Jesus had said that sure signs of the approaching end would be the appearance of false teaching and the outbreak of persecution (Matthew 24: 9ff). This twofold danger now threatened the Church. Because the Christians refused to participate in emperor worship they were persecuted and the strength of the church was being undermined from within by confusing heresies.

John is concerned that the Church be able to withstand the coming tribulation. As he looks at the churches he sees some that are full of faith and firm in Christ (Like Philadelphia and Smyrna), some whose inner strength has been sapped by carelessness and compromise with the world (like Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis), and some whose faculty for moral discernment has been paralyzed or has almost disappeared (like Ephesus and Laodicea). From this point of view these 7 churches are representative of all of Christendom. It is important that the Church know where she stands clearly and surely since she will need to be able to meet the dangers in the immediate future in the strength of undivided obedience. So, in one sense, the 7 churches together represent Christendom at large.

We will use this formula (see chart on page 9 as we read each of the 7 letters...

a) What aspect of Christ's 7-fold perfection is identified?
b) What's the situation in this Church?
c) Word of praise &/or chastisement
d) "Hear what the spirit says..."
e) What's the promise for those who remain faithful?

It is interesting to note that these churches are "types" of every church. Christ's Church at all times needs the same diagnosis, the same warning, the same exhortation, the same promises. The call for repentance and obedience in these 2 chapters is the anchor that helps us keep our bearings through the rest of the Revelation and helps us avoid 2 common pitfalls:

#1: To read the final chapters as an exercise in curiosity and idle speculation about the End.

#2: To think that knowledge of the End is a private matter rather than for the church as a whole.

These 2 chapters of letters to the 7 churches point out that the true of this book is disclosed to the Church which receives Christ's message in faith and Obedience.