THEME 1

Message to the seven churches

At first glance, these first three chapters seem to have nothing to do with the rest of Revelation. However, a second glance helps us to realise that these messages to the seven ecclesias of the apostle John’s day are absolutely relevant to ecclesias of all ages since the AD90’s. It is as if Jesus is saying to us, in these last days, and to ecclesias in the years before us:

“Read carefully the messages I sent to these seven ecclesias, because the same message applies to all ecclesias. What I urged them to do, I also urge you to do.”

“You have abandoned the love you had at first.”

“You have the name of being alive, and you are dead.”

“You are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! Because you are lukewarm . . . I will spew you out of my mouth.”

These are devastating indictments upon the ecclesias of the AD90’s, but the expectations of Jesus for ecclesias today are exactly the same as they were for these first century ecclesias. If we are serious about the spiritual welfare of our ecclesias as we enter the 21st century, we will take heed and be warned by these stern words of our Master. Let us not forget that ecclesias are no more than a collection of believers who have accepted the invitation to be baptised into Christ. It is therefore the individuals in an ecclesia who must assess their personal spiritual welfare, attitudes and values if the ecclesia as a whole is to reflect a healthy spiritual attitude.

The problem of Caesar worship for Christian believers

William Barclay points out that “by the time of the Revelation (AD95-96), Caesar worship was the one religion which covered the whole Roman Empire.” ³ Every year, everyone in the Empire had to declare their allegiance to Caesar by appearing before the magistrates and saying, “Caesar is Lord.”

In the early days of the Caesars, Caesar worship was not a problem. But by the mid-AD90’s, the Emperor Domitian was demanding that he be worshipped as a god. The punishment for not doing so was death.

Barclay writes:

“What were the Christians to do? What hope had they? They had not many wise and not many mighty. They had no influence or prestige. Against them had risen the might of Rome which no nation had ever resisted. They were confronted with the choice – Caesar or Christ.”⁴

Second, the demands and pretensions of Domitian remind us very much of the characteristics of the beast in the last days:

“For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God . . . the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by his appearing and his coming (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 8)

“All who dwell on earth will worship it (the beast), every one whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain . . . It (the false prophet) was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast . . . and to cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.” (Revelation 13:8, 15)

Thus, the 1st century believers in the AD90’s faced the same test of faith and courage as will be asked of believers in the last days, as they confront the demands of the latter-day beast.

“He who conquers . . .”

Against this background, Jesus urges the believers of each of the seven ecclesias to “overcome” (AV), “conquer” (RSV), and tells them of the promises and blessings to be given to those who remain faithful. These rewards are all related to the things he writes of throughout Revelation, and are characteristic of events as they will be at his coming.

In a very real sense, Jesus, in giving us his Revelation, has made it relevant to believers of all ages. We in these last days, can look back to these messages to the seven ecclesias and use them as guidelines in assessing our own spiritual health, based on the requirements of Jesus himself. And we can look back in the realisation that our 1st century brethren and sisters confronted the awesome power and demands of a Godless ruler that we will also be called upon to confront in the days ahead.

Believers across the centuries have also been able to look forward to the times of the last days before (and just after) Jesus returns, knowing that at his return, he will destroy the final evil power, in the form of the beast, and ultimately, sin and death. This must have brought great comfort to the 1st century believers, suffering at the hand of the Caesars; to those of the middle ages who suffered and died under the persecuting influence of the Roman Catholic and also the newly emerging Protestant movement under men like Luther and Zwingli. If the return of Jesus does not take place in our lifetime, we, too, take comfort in knowing that the day will come when Jesus will return to make all things right.

In this context, then, we consider the messages of Jesus to the seven ecclesias of the late 1st century. These ecclesias were at:

Ephesus	Sardis
Smyrna	Philadelphia
Pergamum	Laodicea
Thyatira

To each of these ecclesias (and to all ecclesias since) Jesus says, in effect:

“Hold fast! Overcome, and I will be with you. Despite the difficulties you face, remain strong and faithful to me, and resist at all costs (even if it means surrendering your life for my sake) the forces of evil which threaten you.”

This message is precisely the same message Jesus gives to those living in the last days under the rule of the latter-day beast. There is therefore a cohesiveness throughout Revelation in the message of Jesus for believers of all ages.

As Jesus gives his message to each of the seven ecclesias, he includes in the beginning of each message, words from Revelation 1. The first chapter of Revelation contains a description of Jesus himself, with his many attributes and characteristics. These attributes and characteristics are those mentioned at the beginning of each message:

Ephesus (2:1):	“The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.” (Compare 1:16, 12-13)
Smyrna (2:8):	“The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.” (Compare 1:17-18)
Pergamum (2:12):	“The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.” (Compare 1:16)
Thyatira (2:18):	“The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.” (Compare 1:14-15)
Sardis (3:1):	“The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.” (Compare 1:16,20)
Philadelphia (3:7):	“The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the Key of David, who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens.” (Compare 1:17-18)
Laodicea (3:14):	“The words of the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.” (Compare 1:5)

At the end of each of the seven messages, he urges them to overcome, or conquer. “He who conquers . . .”, urging them to strive to live in the way Jesus and the apostles taught. Most of the ecclesias (with the exception of Smyrna and Philadelphia) had drifted into a state of lethargy, laxness or tolerance of evil, with a gradual trending toward the evil surrounding them, and, in some cases, within them.

To overcome their circumstances and themselves was not easy, and yet that is the message for each of us, too, in our Christian discipleship. “Be ye transformed by the renewal of your minds” (Romans 12:2). The essence of our life in Christ is to overcome ourselves and to be built up in the Spirit of God, “that He may grant you to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:16-17)

A look at each of the seven ecclesias

It will help to have an overview of each of the seven ecclesias.

EPHESUS The city (500,000) Ephesus was of political importance, known as the “Supreme metropolis of Asia”. It was a “free city”: one of the few to which Rome had granted self-government, with its own elected council and town clerk. It was a city of great wealth and of commercial significance. It was a city of religious importance, and housed the Temple of Diana. The character of the people was notoriously bad, with criminals, superstition and immorality major factors in its society. Ecclesial characteristics Established by Paul in AD53. Paul spent three years there. Exemplifies Christian energy. “I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance” (Revelation 2:2) Was assiduous in identifying false prophets and false teachers. Doctrine was upheld. Were told by Jesus that they had “abandoned the love they had at first.” (Revelation 2:4) Promise “To him who conquers, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7)

SMYRNA(35 miles north of Ephesus) The City (1½ million) Trade city on a harbour. Wealthy population. A beautiful city (“Glory of Asia”) Claimed to be the birthplace of Homer. Centre of Caesar worship, thus dangerous for Christians. Had large Jewish population. Ecclesial characteristics Members suffered tribulation (Jesus warned of coming imprisonment). Poverty stricken (despite the wealth of the city). Ecclesial members in great danger from both Romans and Jews. Promise “I will give you the crown of life. . . You will not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:10-11)

PERGAMUM (PERGAMOS) The city Greatly addicted to idolatry. The capital city of the province of Asia. Had the most famous library in the world (200,000 books). “Where Satan’s throne is” . The city was a centre of Caesar worship. Aesculapius (god of healing) was also represented in the city. He had a serpent as his emblem. Ecclesial characteristics Antipas was killed there. (2:13). He is said to have been bishop of Pergamum and one of Jesus’ first disciples. Jesus describes him as “my witness, my faithful one.” He was killed by the priests of Aesculapius. The ecclesia had held fast to Jesus’ Name. They had not denied the faith. There were some there who held the teachings of Balaam (immorality). There were also some who held the teachings of the Nicolaitans (compromise). Promise “I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone . . .” (Revelation 2:17)

THYATIRA The city A wealthy commercial centre. Purple wool was produced there, for the dying of material (Refer Lydia, Acts 16:14) There were powerful trade guilds. Christian traders were in a difficult position. The social activities of the guilds were based on idol worship. Ecclesial characteristics They exemplified good works, faith, love, service and patient endurance. They tolerated Jezebel “who calls herself a prophetess”. She was one of the ecclesia. Jesus strongly denounces her and her works. Promise “I will give him power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron . . . and I will give him the morning star.” (Revelation 2:26-28)

SARDIS The city A commercial city and wealthy. On the River Paetolus, which was gold bearing. The first coinage was minted there. It had a woollen industry. Immorality was rife. It was a notoriously pleasure and luxury loving city, described as lethargic, and as one of flabby and voluptuous decadence. Ecclesial characteristics Jesus had a terrible message for Sardis: “You have the name of being alive, and you are dead.” (3:1) He also said, “I have not found your works perfect . . .repent.” (3:2-3) There were a few who had not soiled their garments. Promise “He who conquers shall be clad. . . in white garments . . . I will confess his name before my Father and before the angels.” (Revelation 3:5)

PHILADELPHIA The city On the edge of a great plain. A fertile grape growing area. Hot springs were found there. The people worshipped the god of wine (Dionysius) Ecclesial characteristics Its members were faithful, with patient endurance. They had kept Jesus’ word and not denied his Name. Jesus loved them. When Islam swept across Asia, Philadelphia stood as a last bastion of Christianity. Promise “I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God . . . will write on him the Name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new Name.” (Revelation 3:12)

LAODICAEA The city Was in the Lycus Valley, not far from Colossae. Had a large Jewish population. Was wealthy - the centre of banking arrangements in Asia Minor. Had a cloth and clothing industry. Its wool was glossy and dark in colour. The eye powder of Laodicaea was famous. Ecclesial characteristics The ecclesia was rich with goods. It trusted in material possessions. It was spiritually lukewarm. “I will spew you out of my mouth.” “I stand at the door and knock.” (3:20). It seems that the ecclesia didn’t need Jesus to come in. They trusted in themselves and their riches. Jesus described them as “wretched, pitiable, poor blind and naked.” Promise “He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered.” (Revelation 3:21)

There is obviously a rich store of exhortational material in the above summary of these seven ecclesias. The warnings given are equally applicable to us, as indeed they were applicable to ecclesias over the past 2,000 years. It behoves us all to heed and act on these warnings, and to conquer those things in ourselves and our lives which would separate us from our Lord.

The promises to the seven ecclesias

If we look at a collective picture of the promises to these ecclesias, we have a view of the Kingdom. Although he was writing specifically to ecclesias of the 1st century, the promises are all reiterated and expanded throughout Revelation, thus linking the messages to the seven ecclesias to the events of the last days. Jesus said to each of the ecclesias, “To he who conquers” he would:

• Grant to eat of the tree of life in the paradise of God
• Give a crown of life
• Cause not to be hurt by the second death
• Give hidden manna
• Give a white stone with a new name written on it
• Grant power over the nations
• Grant the morning star
• Clothe them in white garments
• Have their name in the book of life
• Confess their names before his Father and the angels
• Make them a pillar in the Temple of God
• Write on them the Name of God, the Name of the city of God and the new Name of Jesus
• Grant to sit with him on his throne

All of these promises are reiterated and mentioned throughout Revelation. This is an important factor linking the messages to the seven ecclesias to the rest of Revelation.

Conclusion

It will therefore be seen that there is a close relationship between the messages to the seven ecclesias with the main message of Revelation. The letters to the seven ecclesias are as much an exhortation and warning and encouragement to us as they were to our brethren and sisters nineteen hundred years ago. The reality of Revelation to us is that Jesus tells us that great suffering and tribulation is still ahead before he returns. We, too, must hold fast in those times of trial before he returns, just as those in AD 95-96 were told to hold fast in the face of the tribulation and ecclesial lethargy they were experiencing.