Awakening the Church: Lessons from Revelation 2

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed (Romans 13:11).

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Revelation 2:9).

The Book of Revelation addresses seven churches of Asia Minor Christ selected to out of many churches in in Asia Minor in order to get His specific message across. Certainly there were sins in the other churches, but the matters covered in these seven churches covered all possible situations. Christ selected these seven churches to illustrate the spiritual conditions possible in the churches until he returns. Keep in mind that all of the conditions named were present in the churches at that one time, and they are present with us today.

Letter to Ephesus: The Backsliding Church – Revelation 2:1-7

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

“I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have ^[c]perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (verses 2:1-4).

Jesus took note of their tireless labor and patient endurance, and their intolerance of those who did evil. They tested those who claim to be apostles and correctly found them to be false. They persevered and endured hardships for Christ’s name, and did not grow weary. However, He had this against them, they had abandoned their first love. He encouraged them to remember what it was like before they fell, and told them it’s time to rethink and change their ways; go back to how they first acted. He then warned them that if they did not return, He would come quickly and personally remove their lampstand from its place.

Letter to Smyrna: The Suffering Church – Revelation 2: 8-11

“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:

‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich), and the slander by those who say they are Jews, and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer” (verses 8-10).

Smyrna was the persecuted church. They were faithful in spite of their suffering. He offers no criticism of this church. They were faithful in spite of their suffering, but Christ tells they are rich. To the church of Smyrna, Jesus had this to say: I know your deeds and the difficult ordeal you are enduring and your poverty, although you are actually rich. Jesus said, I am aware of the offensive accusations preached by those who call themselves ‘Jews.’ But these people are not the Jews they pretend to be; they are actually the congregation of Satan.In the face of suffering, Christ encourages the not fear, Satan is behind all persecution, even that which is done in the name of religion. He let’s them know to be watchful because more persecution is coming. Satan will throw some of them into prison so that they might be tested. He gives them a promise that if they remain faithful even when facing death, He will give them the crown of life.

The longer substitutes replace the preaching of the Word as the centerpiece of Christian worship, the more we will witness the drift into ignorance intensifying.
The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call for Renewal

Letter to Pergamos: The Worldly Church – Revelation 2:12-17

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:

‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold firmly to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you, because you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality” (verses 12-14).

This church was wedded to some doctrines and practices that were wrong. Satan, the adversary, had established his throne in that city. Some who lived among them held to the teaching of Balaam (a non-Israelite prophet, diviner), who instructed Balak to set up a stumbling block before the people of Israel. Some of them were eating food prepared for idol worship and committing immoral sexual acts. There were others holding firm to the teaching of the Nicolaitans, a sect or party of evil influence in early Christianity that followed a man by the name of Nicolas.

They were told to church change their ways and turn to Christ. If not, Christ would quickly come to where they lived and battle them with the sword of His mouth. Lastly, He said, “Let the person who is able to hear, listen to and follow what the Spirit proclaims to all the churches. To the one who conquers through faithfulness even unto death, I will feed you with hidden manna and give you a white stone. Upon this stone, a new name is engraved. No one knows this name except for its recipient.”

The true Light that has come into the world is none other than Jesus, the Son of Man –John 8:28 NIV

To the Church in Thyatira: The Unrepentant Church – Revelation 2:18-29

“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and feet like burnished bronze, says this:

‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith, and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols” (verses 18-20).

The unrepentant church had works, service, and patience, but it was filled with sin. Thyatira was following the the example and leadership of the false prophetess Jezebel. She was guilty of whoredom and witchcraft, as well as idolatry, murder, deceit, and priestcraft (the scheming and machinations of priests). Note that this false prophetess was using false teaching to deceive God’s people. The tragedy is that she would not repent even though God gave her the opportunity.

PRAYER:

Father, in the name of Jesus. Thank you for Heavenly impartation. I thank you for the Holy Spirit that will minister to everyone that listens and help them to walk out all the things that you have for them. And I thank you, Lord God, that you’re going to teach them how to pray and give them wisdom and strategies, Lord, to fulfill everything that’s in your heart for their lives in Jesus name Amen.