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The Seven Churches of Revelation

Christ’s Call to the Church: Repent and Overcome the World



“Be on the alert therefore, for you do not know the day on which your Lord is coming. Therefore you also must be ready; for it is at a time when you do not expect Him that the Son of Man will come.”


–  Matthew 24: 42, 44




Prologue


The seven churches of Revelation were all founded by Paul on his missionary journeys in Asia Minor. Some, like the church at Antioch, were major centers of commerce. Others, like Pergamum, had less contact with the outside world, since a burdensome inland journey was required to reach them. The seven churches were located in cities on the mainland of Asia Minor opposite Greece, on the eastern side of the Aegean Sea. Despite the fact that the seven cities lived under Roman rule, they retained the disparate cultural, social and economic identities they had previously formed over the centuries. The early church faced a wide variety of problems, from false teachers and occult practitioners within the church to persecution from without. Christian churches around the world would face similar issues over the next two millennia. It was to the seven churches that the Revelation manuscript was addressed, but the message applies to believers of the entire church age. While some commentators believe the seven churches of Revelation signify different times in church history, the most important application is to be open to the conviction of the Spirit as we read Christ’s message to each one.

The first three chapters of Revelation are introductory, forming the prologue of the book. Chapter 1 provides the geographic, temporal, and spiritual context for the Apocalypse. Chapters 2 and 3 record Christ’s call to repent and endure in the faith for the hope of our promised inheritance. In these two chapters, Jesus exhorts his beloved church to live a life worthy of him. He admonishes us to turn aside from sin, self, and the world, to be pure in our motivations, faithful in our walk, and diligent in works of love. He encourages his followers not to lose heart in suffering and trials, reminding us of the reward that will be ours at his coming.

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Revelation 1


The revelation given by Jesus Christ, which God granted Him, that He might make known to His servants certain events which must shortly come to pass: and He sent His angel and communicated it to His servant John. This is the John who taught the truth concerning the Word of God and the truth told us by Jesus Christ—a faithful account of what he had seen. Blessed is he who reads and blessed are those who listen to the words of this prophecy and lay to heart what is written in it; for the time for its fulfillment is now close at hand.

John sends greetings to the seven Churches in the province of Asia. May grace be granted to you, and peace, from Him who is and was and evermore will be; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the truthful witness, the first of the dead to be born to Life, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins with His own blood, and has formed us into a Kingdom, to be priests to God, His Father—to Him be ascribed the glory and the power until the Ages of the Ages. Amen. He is coming in the clouds, and every eye will see Him, and so will those who pierced Him; and all the nations of the earth will gaze on Him and mourn. Even so. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “He who is and was and evermore will be—the Ruler of all.”

I John, your brother, and a sharer with you in the sorrows and Kingship and patient endurance of Jesus, found myself in the island of Patmos, on account of the Word of God and the truth told us by Jesus. In the Spirit I found myself present on the day of the Lord, and I heard behind me a loud voice which resembled the blast of a trumpet. It said, “Write forthwith in a roll an account of what you see, and send it to the seven Churches—to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

I turned to see who it was that was speaking to me; and then I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the center of the lampstands some One resembling the Son of Man, clothed in a robe which reached to His feet, and with a girdle of gold across His breast. His head and His hair were white, like white wool—as white as snow; and His eyes resembled a flame of fire. His feet were like silver-bronze, when it is white-hot in a furnace; and His voice resembled the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and a sharp, two-edged sword was seen coming from His mouth; and His glance resembled the sun when it is shining with its full strength.

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if I were dead. But He laid His right hand upon me and said, “Do not be afraid: I am the First and the Last, and the ever-living One. I died; but I am now alive until the Ages of the Ages, and I have the keys of the gates of Death and of Hades! Write down therefore the things you have just seen, and those which are now taking place, and those which are soon to follow: the secret meaning of the seven stars which you have seen in My right hand, and of the seven lampstands of gold. The seven stars are the ministers of the seven Churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven Churches.”


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Revelation 1 Commentary


v. 1-3  The revelation given by Jesus Christ, which God granted Him, that He might make known to His servants certain events which must shortly come to pass: and He sent His angel and communicated it to His servant John. This is the John who taught the truth concerning the Word of God and the truth told us by Jesus Christ—a faithful account of what he had seen. Blessed is he who reads and blessed are those who listen to the words of this prophecy and lay to heart what is written in it; for the time for its fulfillment is now close at hand. 

In his introductory statement, John makes it clear that Jesus Christ himself gave the vision to him, and that it is prophetic. He states that Jesus sent his angel to reveal these things, testifying to the reliability of the vision. John is actually delivering a three-part message: First, that he events are true: it is a faithful account; Second, that there is a blessing involved for taking the message seriously and responding in obedience — Blessed are those who listen to the words… and lay to heart what is written; and Third, that the events of Revelation will happen soon: certain events [which] must shortly come to pass. Unfortunately, Christ’s main point of taking the message to heart has often been overshadowed by an emphasis on the imminence of his return. However, the nearness of Christ’s return is just the motivational factor in receiving the blessing for obeying the message.

When dealing with Scriptural pronouncements of time, it is important to remember that God looks at time from a thematic and eternal perspective rather than a chronological, temporal one as we do. When the vision was given to John on Patmos, the first and second festivals of Passover and Pentecost had been prophetically fulfilled with Jesus’ death, resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit to guide the church. Only the last festival remained to be fulfilled with Jesus’ return. The Daniel 9 prophecy confirms this perspective. Out of the full 70 ‘weeks’ until the Kingdom of God would be established on earth, 69 weeks had passed when Jesus was crucified. Mankind was living in the ‘gap’ of the times of the Gentiles, to which no set time was affixed.

The promised blessing of reading Revelation is realized only as we take its message of repentance and faithfulness to heart, living our lives in readiness for Jesus’ return – in a manner worthy of our high calling in Christ. The message of Revelation has borne its intended fruit for the past 1900 years, as the expectation of Jesus’ return and the hope of our inheritance induces Christians to live Godly lives regardless of the times in which they live.


v. 4-5  John sends greetings to the seven Churches in the province of Asia. May grace be granted to you, and peace, from Him who is and was and evermore will be; and from the seven Spirits which are before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the truthful witness, the first of the dead to be born to Life, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. 

New Testament letters to the early Christian churches generally started with an identification of the sender and a salutation, or greeting to the church. This was followed by a blessing and the doxology, a statement of praise to God. After greeting the churches, John offers a blessing from God, the One behind the message. Because God is a triune being, the heavenly blessing is threefold: from the eternal Father, his son Jesus Christ, and the ‘seven-fold’ Spirit (NIV) before God’s throne.

Jesus’ identity is established in terms of his work rather than his being. He is: Truthful witness to the light, First of the dead to be reborn to Life, and Ruler of the kings of the earth. These three titles describe the work of his ministry in bringing the light of truth to man (Jn. 3: 19-21), his mission of overcoming death along with the promise that his followers would do the same (Jn. 11: 25-26), and his position as divine ruler over the earth (1Tim. 6: 15-16). Because this was a book written to Christians, its emphasis is on faithfulness rather than faith, on harvest rather than sowing. It is therefore not primarily an evangelical “altar call” to enter the kingdom of God, but an encouragement to the church to endure in faith and bring forth kingdom fruit.


v. 5-6  To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins with His own blood, and has formed us into a Kingdom, to be priests to God, His Father—to Him be ascribed the glory and the power until the Ages of the Ages. Amen. John praises Jesus for his work of salvation: redeeming and forming us into a kingdom, and priests who will serve during the millennial reign. (See Commentary on Rev. 5:10)


v. 7  He is coming in the clouds, and every eye will see Him, and so will those who pierced Him; and all the nations of the earth will gaze on Him and mourn. Even so. Amen. Whereas the prior two verses describe Christ’s past and present work of Redemption, this passage recalls the promise of his coming fulfillment of our Redemption. Jesus stated that his coming would be manifested in a manner greater than when he ascended into heaven: “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Mt. 24: 27) When Jesus returns, it will be as he left: in the clouds, plainly visible to all. People will grieve because they did not previously recognize him as the Messiah, or because they opposed his coming and realize their destruction is near. 


v. 8  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “He who is and was and evermore will be—the Ruler of all.” As the true author of the message, Jesus introduces himself, claiming two principal characteristics by which God is identified, his eternal nature and his authority over all things. As Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, Jesus was with God in creating the universe before time began; as Omega, the last letter of the alphabet, he will reign with the Father for eternity, when time is no more.


v. 9-11  I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” (KJV)

While in exile on Patmos, John states he was in the Spirit on the “day of the Lord.” This phrase has caused much discussion among scholars, because Revelation was written a couple of centuries before Sunday was chosen as the Christian day of worship and designated as “the Lord’s day.” The other accepted meaning of “the Day of the Lord” in Scripture is the day of God’s wrath at Christ’s return. Obviously, neither applies here.

John’s description of Christ’s voice as sounding like a trumpet is the exception to every other Scriptural description of the voice of God as sounding like thunder or the rushing of many waters. When Christ speaks again in verse 15, his voice does in fact have the sound of ‘many waters.’ There is therefore a specific allusion being made here. First century Christians would have understood the special significance of a voice sounding like a trumpet. The reason for this is found in the composition of early church.

Acts records that when Paul established churches in Asia Minor, his practice was to go first to the synagogue in every city he visited. Dissension would inevitably arise when some believed his message and some did not, so Paul would leave, taking his new Jewish believers with him. His converts from the synagogue formed the nucleus of the house churches he established among Gentile believers. The core group of converts from the synagogue carried the knowledge and traditions of the Old Covenant into their new life in the Christian church.

The feasts of Old Covenant worship were therefore familiar to first century Christians, becoming part of early church tradition and didaché, the teaching of the apostles. Several epistles make direct as well as indirect mention of the feasts. Paul references the feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, and Trumpets. The communion meal itself was a reenactment of a portion of the Passover Seder. The early church would therefore have understood John’s description of a voice sounding “like a trumpet… on the day of the Lord” as a reference to a feast day. Of all the feasts, only the Day of Trumpets was identified by the continual sounding of trumpets and horns from sunrise to sunset.

The Day of Trumpets, or Rosh Hashanah, had several names, one of which was Yom HaDin, literally: “the day of judgment.” In Rabbinic theology, this was the day reserved to the Lord once a year, “when judgment was pronounced on the world… on New Year’s Day all the children of men pass before him like lambs.” 1  The Jews knew Yom HaDin as “the day belonging to the Lord for judgment,” or by its short version: “the Lord’s day.” On the Day of Trumpets the individual’s fate for the following year was decided. The fate of those with a questionable walk, however, would not be decided until Atonement. The Day of Trumpets was therefore above all a warning to repent in order to avoid the imposition of God’s judgment ten days later on Atonement.

The fact that John heard a heavenly voice ‘sounding like a trumpet’ on ‘the day of the Lord’ provides more than circumstantial evidence that his vision actually occurred on the Day of Trumpets, the Lord’s day of judgment. The subject matter of the book of Revelation is in fact a grander version of the essential theme of the feast of Trumpets: a warning for believers to repent and overcome the world (Rev. 2-3) in order to avoid the judgment of God (Rev. 4-20), when Jesus returns to earth.


v. 12-16  I turned to see who it was that was speaking to me; and then I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the center of the lampstands some One resembling the Son of Man, clothed in a robe which reached to His feet, and with a girdle of gold across His breast. His head and His hair were white, like white wool—as white as snow; and His eyes resembled a flame of fire. His feet were like silver-bronze, when it is white-hot in a furnace; and His voice resembled the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and a sharp, two-edged sword was seen coming from His mouth; and His glance resembled the sun when it is shining with its full strength. 

John describes Jesus as being “like a son of man.” This term was first used by Daniel (7: 13) to describe the Messiah, coming on the clouds to receive an eternal kingdom. Jesus commonly used the term Son of Man rather than Son of God to describe himself, in order to avoid an outright claim of divine status, which had the unpleasant effect of inciting riots. The description of Jesus emphasizes his priestly role in relationship to his church. The ankle length white alb girdled by a wide golden sash was the temple garment worn by the high priest on the Day of Atonement. One of the priestly duties was to ensure that the sanctuary lamps were kept burning. This picture of Jesus completes the three-fold office of Christ: as Prophet (Rev. 1:1, bearer of revelation); as King (Rev 1:5, ruler of the kings of the earth); and here as High Priest.

The description of Christ in his glorified body emphasizes his divinity. His feet of glowing bronze are like those of the Cherubim seen by Ezekiel (1:7); his face as brilliant as the sun, reflects the Shekinah glory of God that filled the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34). His voice is as the sound of rushing waters when God spoke to Ezekiel (43:2); his hair is white as snow or wool, matching the description of God the Father as the Ancient of Days, seated on his heavenly throne (Dan. 7:9). His face and eyes like blazing fire reflect the description of the angelic visitor who appeared to Daniel by the Tigris River (Dan. 10:6); the sharp double-edged sword is the Word of God that cuts to the truth, symbolic of the righteous judgment of God (Heb. 4:12).


v. 17-18  When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if I were dead. But He laid His right hand upon me and said, “Do not be afraid: I am the First and the Last, and the ever-living One. I died; but I am now alive until the Ages of the Ages, and I have the keys of the gates of Death and of Hades!”  John faints at the awesome power and glory of Christ. Jesus strengthens John, and identifies himself as being both man and God, stating that he did indeed die, but that he overcame death by the power of the Spirit to live forever. In so doing, he gained authority (the keys) over death and Hades, the location of those who had died. 


v. 19-20  “Write down therefore the things you have just seen, and those which are now taking place, and those which are soon to follow: the secret meaning of the seven stars which you have seen in My right hand, and of the seven lampstands of gold. The seven stars are the ministers of the seven Churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven Churches.” The Modern Speech (NTMS) translation accurately interprets the stars as being the ministers of the seven churches. The message of Revelation was addressed and delivered not to angelic beings, but to the pastors whom Jesus holds as stars in his right hand, his “messengers” of the word of truth.

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Revelation 2


To the minister of the Church in Ephesus write as follows: “This is what He who holds the seven stars in the grasp of His right hand says—He who walks to and fro among the seven lampstands of gold. I know your doings and your toil and patient suffering. And I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, but have put to the test those who say that they themselves are Apostles but are not, and you have found them to be liars. And you endure patiently and have borne burdens for My sake and have never grown weary.

Yet I have this against you—that you no longer love Me as you did at first. Be mindful, therefore, of the height from which you have fallen. Repent at once, and act as you did at first, or else I will surely come and remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent. Yet this you have in your favor: you hate the doings of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. To him who overcomes I will give the privilege of eating the fruit of the Tree of Life, which is in the Paradise of God.”  

To the minister of the Church at Smyrna write as follows: “This is what the First and the Last says—He who died and has returned to life. Your sufferings I know, and your poverty—but you are rich—and the evil name given you by those who say that they themselves are Jews, and are not, but are Satan’s synagogue. Dismiss your fears concerning all that you are about to suffer. I tell you that the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be put to the test, and for ten days you will have to endure persecution. Be faithful to the End, even if you have to die, and then I will give you the victor’s Wreath of Life.

Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. He who overcomes shall be in no way hurt by the Second Death.”

To the minister of the Church at Pergamum write as follows: “This is what He who has the sharp, two-edged sword says. I know where you dwell. Satan’s throne is there; and yet you are true to Me, and did not deny your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas My witness and faithful friend, who was put to death among you, in the place where Satan dwells.

Yet I have a few things against you, because you have with you some that cling to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling-block in the way of the descendants of Israel—to eat what had been sacrificed to idols, and commit fornication. So even you have some that cling in the same way to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent, at once; or else I will come to you quickly, and will make war upon them with the sword which is in My mouth.

Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches. He who overcomes—to him I will give some of the hidden Manna, and a white stone; and—written upon the stone and known only to him who receives it—a new name.”

To the minister of the Church at Thyatira write as follows: “This is what the Son of God says—He who has eyes like a flame of fire, and feet resembling silver-bronze. I know your doings, your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance; and that of late you have toiled harder than you did at first. Yet I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and by her teaching leads astray My servants, so that they commit fornication and eat what has been sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent, but she is determined not to repent of her fornication. I tell you that I am about to cast her upon a bed of sickness, and I will severely afflict those who commit adultery with her, unless they repent of conduct such as hers. Her children too shall surely die; and all the Churches shall come to know that I am He who searches into men’s inmost thoughts; and to each of you I will give a requital which shall be in accordance with what your conduct has been.

But to you, the rest of you in Thyatira, all who do not hold this teaching and are not the people who have learnt the “deep things,” as they call them (the deep things of Satan!)—to you I say that I lay no other burden on you. Only that which you already possess, cling to until I come.

And to him who overcomes and obeys My commands to the very end, I will give authority over the nations of the earth. And he shall be their shepherd, ruling them with a rod of iron, just as earthenware jars are broken to pieces; and his power over them shall be like that which I Myself have received from My Father; and I will give him the Morning Star. Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.”

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Revelation 3


To the minister of the Church at Sardis write as follows: “This is what He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars says. I know your doings—you are supposed to be alive, but in reality you are dead. Rouse yourself and keep awake, and strengthen those things which remain but have well-nigh perished; for I have found no doings of yours free from imperfection in the sight of My God. Be mindful, therefore, of the lessons you have received and heard. Continually lay them to heart, and repent. If, however, you fail to rouse yourself and keep awake, I shall come upon you suddenly like a thief, and you will certainly not know the hour at which I shall come to judge you.

Yet you have in Sardis a few who have not soiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. In this way he who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments; and I will certainly not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but will acknowledge him in the presence of My Father and His angels. Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.”

To the minister of the Church at Philadelphia write as follows: “This is what the holy One and the true says—He who has the key of David—He who opens and no one shall shut, and shuts and no one shall open. I know your doings. I have put an opened door in front of you, which no one can shut; because you have but a little power, and yet you have guarded My word and have not disowned Me. I will cause some belonging to Satan’s synagogue who say that they themselves are Jews, and are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall at your feet and know for certain that I have loved you. Because in spite of suffering you have guarded My word, I in turn will guard you from that hour of trial which is soon coming upon the whole world, to put to the test the inhabitants of the earth.

I am coming quickly: cling to that which you already possess, so that your wreath of victory be not taken away from you. “He who overcomes—I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God, and he shall never go out from it again. And I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which is to come down out of Heaven from My God, and My own new name. Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.”

And to the minister of the Church at Laodicea write as follows: “This is what the Amen says—the true and faithful witness, the Beginning and Lord of God’s Creation. I know your doings—you are neither cold nor hot; I would that you were cold or hot! Accordingly, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, before long I will vomit (spit) you out of My mouth. You say, I am rich, and have wealth stored up, and I stand in need of nothing; and you do not know that if there is a wretched creature it is you—pitiable, poor, blind, naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy of Me gold refined in the fire that you may become rich, and white robes to put on, so as to hide your shameful nakedness, and eye-salve to anoint your eyes with, so that you may be able to see. All whom I hold dear, I reprove and chastise; therefore be in earnest and repent. I am now standing at the door and am knocking. If any one listens to My voice and opens the door, I will go in to be with him and will feast with him, and he shall feast with Me.

To him who overcomes I will give the privilege of sitting down with Me on My throne, as I also have overcome and have sat down with My Father on His throne. Let all who have ears give heed to what the Spirit is saying to the Churches.”


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Revelation 2 & 3 Commentary


Jesus’ messages to the seven churches all followed a similar pattern. After addressing each church, Jesus identified himself in terms that represented his authority: the one who died and came back to life, the one with the sharp double-edged sword of truth, etc. He included a reference to the spiritual condition or an identifiable trait of each church location, such as the white stone in the temple at Pergamum or the lukewarm water of Laodicea. This word of knowledge helped authenticate the message for each church. Jesus acknowledged or commended the churches where they had done well, and rebuked them where they had fallen short. Two of the churches did not receive correction from Jesus, and all seven were encouraged to walk in love and faithfulness.

Jesus’ parting word in each message is to individual believers, addressing the requirement of overcoming in order to receive the promised reward of our inheritance. We have the example set by Jesus of resisting temptation and overcoming the world. Though he was man, he overcame the allure of the world and the temptations of the devil to walk in obedience to the Father’s will; though he was God, he overcame the pride of life, humbling himself to serve others in love. There is urgency in his message because the stakes are so high. That is why he calls us to live every day as though he were coming back tomorrow.

There is little in the way of mystery in chapters two and three of Revelation. Jesus’ message to the seven churches is clearly stated. Everyone reading these seven messages with an open heart and mind will hear both the encouragement and conviction of the Holy Spirit. The quickening of the word will be different for every believer, for everyone is unique, with an individual set of strengths, weaknesses, and responsibilities. However, the overriding message is similar to that of the Day of Trumpets: repent of all sin, make a new beginning where necessary, endure trials in faithfulness, deny self and do the work of the kingdom out of love for God and our neighbor.



The Basis of our Reward

Revelation 2 and 3 list the rewards that await those who overcome the world. They reflect the incredible blessings of living and reigning with Christ in the millennial Kingdom of God.


  1) Eat from the Tree of Life (2: 7)

  2) Not hurt by second death (2: 11)

  3) Eat of hidden manna (2: 17)

  4) New name on a white stone (2: 17)

  5) Authority over nations (2: 26)

  6) Receive Morning star (2: 28)

  7) Walk with Christ (3: 4)

  8) Wear white garments (3: 5)

  9) Name in Book of Life (3: 5)

10) Name acknowledged before Father (3: 5)

11) Pillar in temple of God (3: 12)

12) Written name of God, city, and Christ (3: 12)

13) Sit with Jesus on his throne (3: 21)


On the flip side of the coin, those who do not overcome the world are promised the following:


1) Removal of lampstand from its place (2: 5)

2) War with sword in the Lord’s mouth (2: 16)

3) Intense tribulation (2: 22)

4) Children killed with the pestilence (2: 23)

5) Repayment for wicked deeds (2: 23)

6) Surprise visit from the Lord (3: 3)

7) Spit out of the Lord’s mouth (3: 16)


All of the negative consequences listed above are accompanied by a warning to repent. Failure to do so results in earthly discipline or tribulation. It is important to note that the seven consequences described above do not explicitly describe the loss of eternal life, unending punishment, etc. Even the phrase “spit you out of my mouth” is not an eternal judgment but an indication of unworthiness that could result in loss of reward for failing to overcome the world, though not of eternal life. (The reference is to the lukewarm water of Laodicea’s stream that was fed by both a cold water creek and hot thermal springs, resulting in water that was unfit to drink until it had cooled.) Except for the unforgivable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, there is a presumption of eternal security in the Scriptures (Mt. 12:31). Jesus is not warning the churches here about the loss of eternal life, but about the loss of reward. Since Salvation is not a reward for anything we have done, and we do not earn eternal life with Christ, we are not at risk of losing our salvation if we do not overcome the world. Salvation, and the eternal life that proceeds from it, are the free gift of God, the result of Jesus’ sacrifice and our response of faith. Even faith to believe in Jesus is a gift from God (Eph 2:8, 9).  However, there is no blanket promise of reward for all believers here; Jesus states that reward is given to all those who overcome.

Clearly, not everyone in the church is living an overcoming life. Although the Holy Spirit does his part to complete the work Jesus has started in us (Phil. 1:6; 1Cor. 1:8), we are called to overcome the world so that we may bear fruit and come into the completeness of our faith. This requires our willingness to deny ourselves and put the kingdom first in our lives. The parable of the weeds states that not everyone will do this.

“… the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”  Mark 4: 19 NIV


As believers, we will be recompensed for what we have done with our gift of salvation. If we overcome the world to do the will of God, we will bear kingdom fruit and receive the rewards listed above. If we are entangled in the cares and desires and riches of this life, we will bear tasteless fruit, and miss out on the rewards Jesus has set aside for us.

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad [Gr. – worthless]. 2Cor. 5:10 NIV   For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”  1Cor. 3:11-15 NKJV


Paul confirmed the distinction Jesus is making here between receiving the free gift of eternal life, which comes by faith and confession (Rom. 10:9), and the great reward of reigning with Christ. He expressed this difference in his own yearning to “lay hold of the prize,” or reward, of his salvation. He did not doubt his salvation unto eternal life. However, he did understand that his reward in the Resurrection was based on enduring in the faith and persevering through the temptations and trials of this life to overcome the world, so Christ could complete the work he had begun in him. Jesus’ promise of being able to sit with him on his throne was given to “he who overcomes,” not to “he who believes in me.” To believe that we all receive the same reward is to cheapen the value of faith and obedience.

“I long to know Christ and the power which is in His resurrection, and to share in His sufferings and die even as He died; in the hope that I may attain to the resurrection from among the dead. I do not say that I have already won the race or have already reached perfection. But I am pressing on, striving to lay hold of the prize for which also Christ has laid hold of me.”  Phil 3:10-12


In a letter to Timothy, Paul stresses the importance of enduring in the faith to reign with Christ.

“If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us: If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”  2 Tim. 2:11-13 NIV   


Because reigning with Christ in the Kingdom of God is based on overcoming in this life, this brings the element of worth into the discussion of rewards in the Kingdom of God. This discussion recognizes the distinction between salvation by works, which is a false doctrine, and receiving reward for our works, which is the basis of judgment (i.e. reward) for every believer. We are not judged for our sins, as these have been forgiven. Therefore the only judgment left is the reward we receive for what we have done with our faith. Once we are saved, we are called to act in a manner that is worthy of the Kingdom of God (Eph. 4:1; Col. 1:10). Paul elaborates on the meaning of worth as it relates to the Kingdom of God. It is a description of the overcomer.

“Your faith is growing more and more, and the love everyone of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore we boast... about your perseverance and faith... and as a result you will be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God.”  2Thess. 1:3-5 NIV



Jesus’ Call to His Bride

The message of Revelation 2 & 3 may be viewed as a letter to the bride of Christ to make herself ready for him. Jesus offers encouragement to his beloved where applicable and admonishment where necessary. In order to better understand the church as the bride of Christ, it is helpful to review the role of both the bride and groom in Jewish society.

In the Hebrew culture, the parents arranged weddings. Some marriages might not take place for a long time – for example, if the bride and groom were betrothed as children. The groom or his father paid the dowry, or bride price, in order to enter into a contract of marriage. In the New Covenant, the Father gave his only Son, and the Son agreed to die for mankind. The betrothal price was the life of Jesus, sacrificed to redeem mankind from the power of sin and death.

The Dowry:  “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy…”  Eph 5:25


Before the marriage could take place, there had to be a time of preparation for the bride. The bride was set apart socially to prove her purity and prepare herself for her new life, refining the skills expected of a good wife. During this time, she worked on making her wedding dress, while the groom would be building the house in which they would live.

Preparation Time for the Bride:  “… cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Eph 5:27   “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”  Rev 19:8

Preparation Time of the Groom:  “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am.”  John 14:2-3


At the end of the preparation time, the groom came to the bride’s home and took her to the wedding feast. Jesus has promised that he will return for his bride.

The Groom’s Return for his Betrothed:  “According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and who are left will be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”  1Thess 4:15-17


The wedding celebration lasted a full week. In the case of a royal wedding, the king gave a portion of his kingdom to his son, the prince, who ruled as sovereign king over the land. The celebration week is the seventh millennium, symbolized by the weeklong feast of Tabernacles. The bride of Christ is revealed in her glory as the New Jerusalem, where Jesus will rule over the earth with his bride for eternity.

The Bride: “One of the angels who had the bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal.”  Rev. 21:9-11

The King: “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns... On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”  Rev. 19:12-12, 16



Chapter Notes: Chapter 1

1. Alfred Edersheim, The Temple, Eerdman Publishing Grand Rapids MI 1982, p. 296        

Revelation 1 - 3

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