Revelation 2:21-23 - Thyatira

21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

Jesus indicates that there was a time given for repentance. It was a limited time. Everyone who has ever lived has a limited time and that time is for repentance. Jesus with eyes as blazing fire peers into our hearts and He knows our true intentions, probably before we do. He knows when it is that our hearts are hardened like the Egyptian Pharaoh and are no longer able or willing to be turned. It is then that our time of repentance runs out. Of all the frightful places and horrible events that have been conjured by the minds of man since his creation, there is no worse person to be than the one who’s lost the time for repentance. Indeed, at that moment, for that person – all is lost, for all eternity.

I find it striking that Jesus says that He will “cast her on a bed of suffering”. She is immoral (v22) and leads others into sexual immorality (v20). I have no words to describe this. It’s almost like Jesus is saying, “You want to be on a bed, well let me make your bed. You’re not going to like it though.” I feel extremely disrespectful in paraphrasing that, but it’s so … human. I mean, wow. The term suffering is also an ongoing event. It does not say, suffering and then death. It says suffering as if for eternity. But it’s not only her, all those who lie with her will also “suffer intensely”. Be reminded to be careful who you follow and who your friends are. We tell our children that continuously, but we need to be reminded of that as well.

Those who have followed her still have a time to repent. The language here is specific to who sin. They must “repent of her ways.” They must repent for doing what she does naturally, out of her heart, that they partook in. I believe this indicates that this was not in their depth of heart as they still have time to repent. These actions were not natural for them, but they, as dumb sheep, had been misled. There is always hope for us who still have time to repent. It is the Blessed Hope and we can only be continually grateful and thankful for dwelling in that time.

Jesus continues, “I will strike her children dead.” So, she will suffer, her followers will suffer and her children will be struck dead. In other words, all who carry her sins will be removed. This seed will not continue any more. It will be ground into dust by the One with feet of burnished bronze.

“Then all the churches will know.” If they have doubt about Who it is that searches a man’s hearts and has the power over life and death, they will have that doubt removed. Everyone who does not believe in Him and trust Him for their salvation from their sin will be rewarded justly according to their deeds.

Revelation 2:20 - Thyatira

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads My servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.

Some consideration should be taken with regard to the sins of sexual immorality and eating of food sacrificed to idols. Several topics should be discussed: 1) What does it mean to eat food sacrificed to idols? 2) How is eating food sacrificed to idols linked to sexual immorality?

Paul wrote extensively in Romans 14 and 15 about eating food sacrificed to idols. One could read through a portion of chapter 14 and make a solid case for why it is perfectly okay to eat the food. However, anyone who reads that in the Spirit would quickly realize that this is a heart matter, not a food matter. If eating the food was a means to disrespect the living God and His Son Jesus as anything other than the only God then it would be wrong to eat the food. I am convinced the Spirit would tell you that as it would happen. The same is true regarding any participation in any sin. Therefore, to eat this food at that time would have been to disregard the Spirit’s guidance within you as a Christian, and doing so is a sin (you are god). However, this is more likely tied to the sexual immorality sin.

Sexual immorality always leads to the reduction of God with the goal of the removal of God. In order to prosper in sexual immorality, you have to either remove some of God’s Word or you have to change some of God’s Word. Either way means that you believe your words are at minimum equally important to God’s Words. More realistically, you think your words are more important, that you have some kind of “enlightenment” or you have “evolved” to know better. Today, this is the single largest obstacle facing the church. The societal culture that exists believes the church is primitive when it refuses to change the Words of God and accept homosexuals as priests or bishops or any leadership position in the church. Unfortunately, today it seems most churches are more willing to compromise on this than stand. The acceptance of sexual immorality forces you to “eat” new words. These words are not God’s Words but are implied and understood to be more relevant. It is a false god. So, when someone is in sexual immorality they are also believing false doctrine and this is eating spiritual food sacrificed to a fake god.

Revelation 2:20-23 - Thyatira

20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads My servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.

In the midst of all that is going well, the increasing good works and hearts born in love, there is a Jezebel. Is there a reason we don’t know anyone with the name Jezebel? Of course there is! The very name is a reference to a deceitfully wicked and evil person. It is said that “we name our sons David and Paul, and our daughters Mary and Rachel, but we name our dogs Goliath; and we name our cats Jezebel.”

Jezebel was the most wicked queen in Israel’s history. She was the daughter of the king of Sidon who had killed Pheles to seize the throne. She was married to King Ahab to seal a trade alliance between Israel and Phoenicia. Being from another land, she worshipped other gods. Unfortunately, King Ahab was weak and she led him to worship her pagan gods rather than he leading her to the One true God. She led the people to kill God’s prophets. Only Elijah couldn’t be conquered and his faith embarrassed her leading to the murder of most of her false prophets on Mt. Carmel. She arranged an “inquisition” of false witnesses, condemnation, and execution of a righteous man named Naboth for his land. She was treacherous and cunning. Her exploits are described beginning in 1 Kings 16 and 2 Kings 9.

In this land of guilds where people had to participate in the guild practices or lose their economic livelihood, there are parallels to the evil ruling of Jezebel. Should you not participate or pay your dues, you might lose not only your job, but your home as collateral.

Most commentaries I’ve read believe that this Jezebel was a real person there in the city of Thyatira. She was a self-proclaimed prophet leading people with a heretic interpretation of Christianity that included participating in the guild required worship traditions. The Words of Jesus describe anger towards someone who influences others away from Him. This is language mostly heard in the Old Testament. Death to her, her followers, and her children born into her theology. All who know of her and see her demise will know there is One God who sees into man’s heart and He repays each one according to the works that result from that heart.

William Hendriksen says in More than Conquerors, “Thyatira was indeed a lampstand, a light-bearer. But this does not constitute an excuse for failure to exercise discipline with respect to members who make a compromise with the world.”

“Now, we should be clear. God does not expect us to be perfect, though perfection is the mark we strive for. What He does expect is for us to be a community of repenting sinners. What He does expect is for us to call sin what He calls sin.” (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary, 71)

Daniel Akin describes four areas of danger and temptation for a church.

1. A Personality Cult. “You tolerate that woman Jezebel.” Any strong, powerful personality that influences a church that leads people away from God and His lordship shouldn’t be tolerated.
   
    
2. An Authority Problem. Anytime people are following someone, there is a problem. Any good leader in a church will always reflect Jesus. Every opportunity to honor someone will always be a time for testimony and witness to God’s work, not theirs. There is no self-proclamation of title and ability. Also, when such a person justifies actions that are not biblical as legitimate actions because they help others or show more love for others, they are saying that they know better than God about what is right. I had a person who was in adulterous relationships and actively pursuing more, try to tell me how he was doing the right thing by forcing his wife and family go through their divorce. He made every argument he could conjure up how he was serving his family in doing this. In essence, he was saying his words are more important than God’s Words.  
3. A Theology Problem. An authority problem leads to a theology problem. If the absolute authority is not God and His Word, then it is man’s theology. MAN’S THEOLOGY WILL ALWAYS DETHRONE JESUS. Doctrine matters. Theology matters. Truth matters and it is too easily compromised.  
4. A Morality Problem. As we have seen with the other churches, there is the sense here to compartmentalize your sacred and secular worlds. Do this as you live in the world and do this as you live in the church. Don’t mix these two worlds. God calls Christians to holiness and He wants His ways to be preeminent in our lives. He has no room for any other idols as the king of your life. God calls us to follow Him, not the world. 

Revelation 2:18-19 - Thyatira

18 “To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

Thyatira was founded by one of Alexander the Great successors. It’s intent was to be a military outpost guarding the north-south road to Pergamum. Eventually, to came under the rule of the Pergamum. Unfortunately, the city had no natural defenses and the it was defeated and destroyed and rebuilt many times. In the references in ancient history, the city is usually only described as a conquest by an invading army. Around 190 BC, Thyatira was conquered and annexed by the Romans and that allowed them to enjoy Roman peace.

Thyatira was known for its numerous guilds. These are similar to today’s labor unions. The city had several industries, the main one being wool and dyed-good production. Producing purple garments was one of their specialties. This is referenced partly in Acts where Paul led Lydia to Christ in Philippi. Lydia is from Thyatira and a seller of purple. It could be that she was instrumental in evangelizing Thyatira, but we really don’t know how the church was started. There were leather-works, tanners, potters, and bronze smiths as well in the city. The pressure on Christians would come from the guilds who controlled who was able to work. To have a job one would have to be a member of the guild for that industry. Each guild seemed to have their own god and they would have a feast to honor it with sacrificed meat.  It is also relevant that these feasts led to debauchery and to some extent of sexual immorality.

These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.

The words of Jesus to this very insignificant congregation are the most to any of the seven churches. This isn’t Ephesus which the Apostles attended, Smyrna which was greatly persecuted or Pergamum where the city could command life and death, it is a small church in a small city with a history of being conquered. Yet, Jesus has the most to say to this church.

This should remind us that no matter how insignificant or irrelevant we think we are, we are not. The size of the church is no indication of its importance. God wants us to be a church following Him and Him alone wherever we are planted, whether there is 1,000 or 10 members. He wants a church to honor Him and His Word wherever their home is.

Jesus refers to Himself as the “Son of God”. That title is found only in Revelation. Jesus often referred to Himself as the “son of man” in the four Gospels. However, sitting at the right hand of God having died as a man and risen again, He now confers the title of the “Son of God”. This would be a contrast to the most commonly worshiped god in Thyatira, Apollo the sun-god, the son of Zeus.

His eyes of blazing fire is an image of His ability to know our innermost being. He sees all of who we are, our sinful thoughts, emotions, and actions. Nothing escapes His vision. No matter how we justify an action or even a single thought, He knows our true intent. He sees through our deceptive veils and He continually watches all that progresses.

His feet as bronze is an image of power. He is the master craftsman and He is prepared to tread under his feet the enemies of the Christian faith.

He knows this church’s deeds of love and faith. This is in contrast to Ephesus who had lost their first love. This church’s motivations were sincere. The works they did were based on their love. This might be why the works they did now are more than they did at first. There simply is no replacement for a worker with the right attitude and motivation. It is more important than their knowledge and skill. Those can be obtained, but attitude and motivation are most often a bigger obstacle. This church has the right motivation, their actions and service are outward signs of their hearts of love for God and for one another.  

He knows their service and perseverance and now their works now are more than at first. This is a sign of growth. They have grown as individuals and as a church in their study, prayer, and response to the leading of the Spirit. And so their works have grown and they do more. “Do good things and grow in good things” is a wonderful goal for any church.

Ephesus was instructed to return to the works they did at first because they had lost their first love, but here Thyatira is commended for the works they do which are more than they did at first because they have love.  There is an obvious foundation that must be present of love for Christ before any church can properly do works and grow in them.  The instructions to these two churches makes this something every church should consider.

Revelation 2:16-17 - Pergamum

16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.

What is the correction to compromise? REPENT. Stop the direction you’re going and turn away. Recognize the sin, confess the sin, and change your actions. This is an urgent command! Do not delay! Do it now! Do not debate or justify. Simply believe the Words of God over your or anyone else’s words and repent. He is God and we are not. His Word does not need your approval and is not up for discussion.

If they do not repent and refuse to tolerate those in the church who follow the Balaam or Nicolaitan ways then Jesus Himself will “fight against them”. This is a powerful consideration that we need to understand today. Where there is compromise in our life or in our church’s life and we do not seek to heed the calling of the Spirit to repent, Jesus Himself will fight against those parts with His Word. The same Word that created all that is, the same Word that gave life to the dead, the same Word that comforts us in our pain. Do we want Jesus fighting against any part of us? If not, we need to find our compromises and begin repenting.

John MacArthur says, “Sinning believers should be made to feel miserable in the fellowship and worship of the church by being confronted powerfully with the Word of God. Neither is the goal of the church to provide an environment where unbelievers feel comfortable; it is to be a place where they can hear the truth and be convicted of their sins so as to be saved. Gently, lovingly, graciously, yet firmly, unbelievers need to be confronted with the reality of their sin and God’s gracious provision through the sacrificial death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Error will never be suppressed by compromising with it.”

17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

There are three things here: hidden manna, white stone, and a new name.

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” – John 6:32-33

Manna as given to the Israelites in the desert is paralleled with Jesus in many ways. 

1. It is the free unmerited gift of provision from God to His people. It is provided because of man’s helplessness and misery. The manna in the desert provided for the physical body but the gift of Jesus provides for the spirit. No human effort could provide the way God has and did. 
2. The gift was and is to preserve life. The Israelites told Moses, “You have brought us into the wilderness to kill everyone with hunger.” The desert couldn’t support the Hebrews and the world can’t support our spirits. We will die without the life provision of the Lord. 
3. The gift is given to everyone equally. There is no status of man that provides favor.

All the Israelites who ate manna in the desert died. The hidden manna is the One who provides life for evermore. He is the bread of life and He is promised to the church that doesn’t compromise.

The white stone has been interpreted to mean many things.

1. Like the names written on the white stones outside the medical temple to Asclepius there in Pergamum, it could be a reference that He would provide for them their own stone and name on it so all would know that they had been cured of their sin disease. 
2. It might be a reference to the stone of acquittal at a trial, since Pergamum could announce capital punishment it could see someone as innocent and give them a white stone, whereas a black stone meant guilt and condemnation. 
3. One of the better-accepted explanations of the white stone is in regard to the high priest’s breastplate, which contained twelve stones. Each of these stones had the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel engraved on it (Ex 28:21). As he ministered in the temple, the high priest bore the names of God’s people into God’s presence. In the same way, the “white stone” with the believer’s name written on it could be a reference to our standing in God’s presence. Our high priest, Jesus, carries our name into God's presence.
4. There is also the ancient Roman custom of awarding white stones to the victors of athletic games. The winner of a contest was awarded a white stone with his name inscribed on it. This served as his “ticket” to a special awards banquet. According to this view, Jesus promises the overcomers entrance to the eternal victory celebration in heaven. 

Either way, it is a gift of Christ and it won’t be taken away.

On the stone is a new name. Greg Beale comments in Revelation on the significance of a new name in these times.  “In the ancient world and the Old Testament, to know someone’s name, especially that of God, often meant to enter into an intimate relationship with that person and to share in the person’s character or power. To be given a new name was an indication of a new status.”

More significant than a name given at birth occurs when God changes a name. Abraham, Sarah, (Jacob) Israel, and Peter are a few of the new names the Lord gave to people. When God changes a name, it indicates that something new has happened or will happen to that person—a new relationship, a new character quality, or a new phase of life. For example, Jesus changed Simon’s name, which means “God has heard”, to Cephas (Peter), which means “rock” (Jn 1:42) well before Peter’s declaration at Caesarea Philippi.

Jesus and only Jesus says that He will be our food now and in eternity; He will be our entrance into heaven as our home; He will give us a new name that will not be taken away; if only we become victors over compromise and follow Him and His Word alone.

Revelation 2:14-15 - Pergamum

14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

Although some at the church had been faithful, they are condemned for their compromise. Some have been enticed to be immoral or to accept the immorality around them.

Balaam was a gentile prophet from Mesopotamia. He was hired by Balak, king of Moab. Balaam tried unsuccessfully to prophecy against the people of Israel (Numbers 22). This didn’t work, so he advised the king how to defeat Israel by deviously seducing them. (Numbers 31). They used Moabite women to tempt the Israelites into sexual relationships and into pagan rituals. 2 Peter 2:15 refers that those who follow Balaam are willing to overlook wrongful or immoral acts for economic benefit. Therefore, Balaam’s “way” is a choice to allow or pursue immoral acts rather than to choose and pursue obedience to God’s Word. The doctrine of Balaam makes believers indistinguishable from the unbelieving world. In order for that to happen, the relevance of sin must be removed or what constitutes sin must be redefined.

If we profess to be Christians, but act, think, and speak in a worldly or profane manner, we take His name in vain. When we misrepresent Christ, either intentionally or through ignorance of the Christian faith as proclaimed in Scripture, we take the Lord’s name in vain. When we say we love Him, but do not do what He commands, we take His name in vain.

Compromise is “where Satan lives”. There are at least four reasons why it is effective:

1. It never occurs quickly, so you hardly notice the change.
2. It always lowers the original standards you once held important.
3. It is seldom offensive because it is perceived as loving (at least by the doer).
4. It eventually leads you to accept what you once rejected and even thought repulsive. It has been well said that what one generation tolerates, the next generation will accept; what that generation accepts, the next generation celebrates.

Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62

We are not to decide that Jesus is real and that we are going to follow Him, then turn around and look back at Sodom. Know that Jesus is the Son of the one true Living God and don’t look back. Do not compromise your faith by trying to live in two worlds. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” (Mt 6:24)

“A new Decalogue has been adopted by the neo-Christians of our day.  ‘Thou shalt not disagree,’ and a new set of Beatitudes too, ‘Blessed are they that tolerate everything for they shall not be made accountable.’” – A. W. Tozer

“Truth always carries confrontation.  Truth demands confrontation: loving confrontation nevertheless.  If our reflex action is always accommodation of the centrality of the truth involved, there is something wrong.” – Francis Schaeffer  (Christ-Centered Exposition, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, by Daniel L. Akin.)

In Daniel 7:1-7 there is the reference to four great beasts or creatures in his visions. These are most commonly referenced to great world kingdoms, or at least three of them are. The lion with eagles’ wings is Babylon. The bear is Persia. The leopard with four heads and wings is Greece. And the fourth is thought to be the Roman Empire and a global civilization yet to come. Daniel had a hard time describing what this fourth creature looked like. He says it is the most terrifying of the four and seems to only be able to describe its iron teeth and bronze claws. He says it is frightening, very powerful and that it crushes and devours it’s victims.

The Hebrew word used to describe this creature is shainah. “Shainah can be translated to mean different.” This fourth creature is different from the other three. “Thus, the civilization of the last days will be different from every civilization that preceded it. The word shainah also means changed or altered. Thus, the state of the last days will be a changed state … an altered civilization. The first three creatures were based on forms of nature. But the fourth creature has no clear grounding in nature. It’s different … altered … changed.”

An interpretation is that the fourth creature is a civilization that is not based on the natural, but the unnatural, and wars against the order of creation. It exists against nature and will be an altered or changed nature. Therefore, it will war against the order of God and the Words of God.

“Those who live in the end times must resist a civilization that wars against the order of creation and uphold the Word of the Eternal. They must stand firm against the power, the nature, and the terror of the altered creature.”  (The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cain)

Christians must not compromise their position on the Word of God and must resist being defiled by the culture that demands acceptance of any altered form of Creation.

In order to overcome the words of the world, one has to believe that the Words of God are what is best for their life.

Revelation 2:12-13 - Pergamum

Pergamum was located on a hill and was easy to defend. It had a huge library of around 200,000 volumes and was second only to that of Alexandria. Legend says that Pergamum tried to bring the librarian from the Alexandrian library to Pergamum and the Egyptian ruler did not allow it to happen and immediately refused the export of papyrus to Pergamum, so they developed parchment. Although parchment had been known for almost 1,000 years in Egypt, it was its use here that caused it’s use to be widespread.

If you can find a way, I recommend watching Lesson 3, Where Satan Lives, from Ray Vander Laan’s That The World May Know series, Volume 5, The Early Churches. This lesson done on site at the ruins of Pergamum provide a lot of background into the city and culture at that time. You can read a good summary at: https://www.thattheworldmayknow.com/where-satan-lives-article.

12 “To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of Him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to My name. You did not renounce your faith in Me, not even in the days of Antipas, My faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

The sword is sharp and double-edged. It is not dull. Being double-edged, it hurts and heals. It cuts and cures.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. – Hebrews 4:12-13

The sword of Christ has absolute authority, decisive discernment; His Word is a weapon of life and death. Pergamum had the rare authority of Rome to exercise capital punishment. The symbol of this authority was the sword (Johnson, Revelation, 1983, 47). This reference by Jesus is so the church at Pergamum would be reminded Who has the real power over life and death and it is Jesus that has that power.

This church is commended for its faithfulness. It exists where Satan has a throne and where he lives. Yet, it is faithful. “Christians could follow Him [Jesus] if they wanted, but society expected that they would not let their Christian convictions get in the way of their public duty to obey the government. Privatized faith is fine. Faith displayed in the public square is not welcomed.” (Christ-Centered Exposition, Exalting Jesus in Revelation, Daniel L. Akin.)   However, even in the dark days of the martyrdom of Antipas, they remained faithful. Tradition says that he was roasted inside a brass bull. Notice that he is described as “my faithful witness” which is the same description used for Jesus in chapter one. Jesus was a faithful witness for His Father in death and Antipas was a faithful witness for Jesus in his death.

In The Global War on Christians, John Allen notes that “80% of all acts of religious discrimination in the world today are directed against Christians” (Allen, Global War, 33) and that “90% of all people killed on the basis of religious beliefs in the world are Christians.” 

Are we willing to stand against the world?  In order to stand, we have to allow the sWord of God to reach into our innermost being and remove what is unnecessary and heal what is missing,  The hardest fight in the church today seems to be a willingness to believe the Bible.  Are we willing to be a church that believes the Word of God above every other influence?  Will we believe it so deeply that we will not be swayed even when subjected to societal pressure, rejection, or being outcast?

Revelation 2:10-11 - Smyrna

10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful,even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. 11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.” They are told that they will suffer and that some will go to prison to be tested by Satan. Jesus assures them that their accuser will try to harm them, but Christ will use the Devil’s evil intentions to refine and prove them. It is most often interpreted that the ten days reference is an indication that this will be for a definite but limited time. One could also interpret that Jesus knows it and will control its duration.

Time magazine reported that the number of Christian martyrs doubled between 2012 and 2013. Nigeria led the way in 2012 and Syria in 2013. An article in April from Fox News indicates the top 5 countries for extreme persecution of Christians is: North Korea, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Sudan. Between the years 2005 and 2015, the Center for the Study of Global Christianity estimates that 900,000 Christians were martyred – that’s 90,000 each year. It is estimated that 1 in 12 Christians living today experience high, very high, or extreme persecution for their faith. You can visit Voice of the Martyrs or Open Doors websites to find more information.

This past week, 29 Christians died in a bus attack and injured at least another 20 people. The attack killed children, as well as men and women. The travelers were going to a monastery. Pope Francis has declared them to be martyrs and prayed publicly for them at St. Peter’s Square.

We, as Christians in a local church and the universal church of believers, must be aware that those who oppose and reject Christianity will oppose and persecute us. This is a truth. I personally believe that it is crucial for those who call themselves Christian to get off the fence and believe, really believe. I believe that God is putting crisis in people’s lives to make them decide. I see it in many examples in the people around me. But as Christians in a society that is leaning heavily on opposing Christians, we should expect to be slandered as anti-choice, anti-diversity, anti-gay, anti-inclusion, anti-intolerance. We can expect economic boycotts, government restrictions, and social ostracism. Eventually, more severe persecution and even imprisonment will likely be our experience. This is, of course, already true for followers of Christ around the world.

Be faithful,even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. 11 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death. 

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” (Ja 1:12)

This victors crown is eternal life. It is the reward for all whose faith is in Jesus Christ. There is something far worse than physical death, it is the spiritual death. This is the second death. It is referred to in Revelation 20 and by Jesus as the lake of fire. Revelation 21:8 says these people will experience this second death, “the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars – their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and Sulphur, which is the second death”.

The challenge is to “whoever has ears” and will listen to what the Spirit says. If you will endure through suffering, which is but for a time, and be spiritually rich having been tested and not failed, you will be a victor and will not endure the eternal death of your spirit but have the eternal life with God.

Perhaps it is appropriate that we read and study this church near the holiday of  Memorial Day. A day set aside to remember and honor all those who have given their life for our freedom in combat. Many in this church would be martyred for their refusal to worship anything besides the Living Christ.

The most widely known and recorded is Polycarp. Most of what we know today is from the writings of Polycarp’s student Irenaeus. Polycarp was, as best as can be determined, the last student directly trained from an Apostle. He was trained under John. In one of Polycarp’s letters to the church of Philippi, he includes phrases from Matthew, Mark, Luke, Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 1 and 2 Peter, 1 John, and Jude. This indicates that these early churches were all reproducing these letters from the Apostles and distributing them to one another and that they considered them as sacred texts.

Polycarp is known for disagreeing with the Pope over the observance of Easter. The Pope directed all the churches to recognize Easter and not Passover, but Polycarp and a handful of these churches disagreed and they recognized Passover.

Polycarp was burned at the stake in 155 AD. The record of his martyrdom is the oldest account of a Christian dying for Jesus outside of the New Testament.

Revelation 2:8-9 - Smyrna

Smyrna is about 40 miles to the south of Ephesus and had many visitors since it had an excellent harbor and a well-traveled road to the interior of the region. Many travelers passed through the city. The city was founded by Alexander the Great and continues to this day as the modern Turkish city of Izmir with a population of approximately 2.8 million.

At the foot of the Mount Pagos stood the temple of Zeus, the father of the gods, reputed to be the lord of the sky, rain, clouds, and thunder. Along the Golden Street stood the shrines of Apollo the sun-god, Aphrodite the goddess of love and beauty, and close to the sea, Cybele, a nature goddess. At the Agora (the commercial and political center) were statues of Poseidon, the sea-god, and Demeter, the goddess of corn. But the goddess of Smyrna was Cybele, whom the Greeks considered the mother of Zeus and Poseidon. She was the giver of wealth and her crowns were battlements and towers as she was the god of forces. She was on the coins of Smyrna.

Like Ephesus, Smyrna had economic success. It claimed to be one of the birthplaces of Homer, the poet. It also had a theater that could hold nearly 20,000 spectators. “In the 23 AD year a temple was built in honor of Tiberius and his mother Julia, and the Golden Street, connecting the temples of Zeus and Cybele, is said to have been the best in any ancient city” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 1939, “Smyrna”).

The name of Smyrna likely came from myrrh. Myrrh was the chief export of the city in ancient times. Myrrh is a bitter gum and costly perfume which exudes from a certain tree or shrub in Arabia. It was a gift of the Magi at Christ’s birth (Mt 2:11): Gold = royalty, Frankincense = deity, Myrrh = suffering, death. In Jesus’ second coming gold and frankincense are offered, but NO myrrh. “They shall bring gold and incense and shall praise the Lord” (Is 60:6). “They shall bring gifts and all kings shall fall down before Him” (Ps 72:10). This is because there will not be another death. He died and rose again and there is no need for it.

As we heard on the video last week on Ephesus, each year a Roman citizen had to burn a pinch of incense on the altar and to acknowledge publicly that Caesar was supreme lord. In is said that they received a formal certification that they had done so. Originally this was intended to be proof of political loyalty, since each person was permitted to worship whatever god they choose. It was meant as a means to unify and integrate their vast empire. However, this presented a difficult test for Christians, and many who refused were burned at the stake or eaten by wild beasts in the arena.

8 “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:
These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again. 9 I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

The description used for Jesus here is “the First and the Last, who died and came to life again”. This is very appropriate for this congregation. The only person who could touch them is the One who had been persecuted, suffered, and died, yet rose again. He has intimate knowledge of their plight. The church of Smyrna was a persecuted church. They were marked out and ostracized. They experienced economic boycott and were misrepresented. They were opposed religiously and socially. It cost them to take a stand for Jesus.

Yet Jesus saw them as “rich”! Why would He specifically stop His identification of their condition to describe that He sees them as rich? “Listen, my dear brothers: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him?” (Ja 2:5). They are spiritually rich and Jesus is yet again describing how that is the real describer of wealth. The physical world will pass away, but the spiritual world is eternal. Those who are rich in the spiritual have the true wealth. This can easily be described with many verses directly from the teachings of Jesus.

If we look at the pattern of discussion that is used towards each church, there is commendations: He knows of their afflictions, poverty, and the slander they endure. They are faithful through trials. There is no condemnation. There is a command to “be faithful even to the point of death”. The challenge is that they will receive the victor’s crown.

“I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.” This church is slandered by the Jews. John writes that they are a “synagogue of Satan”. John also wrote in John 8:44 where Jesus said, “You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires.” Physical heritage is no indication of spiritual standing. These Jews were hostile towards Christians and were tools of the real enemy.

One God or many gods?

My devotion this morning from The Book of Mysteries by Jonathan Cahn discussed the word Elohim and how it is both singular and plural. It can refer to the one living God or gods. Yet, the real lesson for me was the description of nations that turn from Elohim, the one true God, to elohim, many gods, and how it describes so much of what we see today in America.

I couldn’t remember everything I read so I might be misquoting it slightly, if so, I apologize to Mr. Cahn.

“If you turn away from Elohim, the one true God, you will end up serving the elohim, the gods. So when the people of Israel turned away from God, they always ended up serving the gods of the nations. … In the end it all comes down to a choice between Elohim and elohim. If you turn away from the one Elohim you will end up with the other.

“The many gods have many guises – the gods of money and pleasure, of success, possessions, comfort, vanity, self. There is no end to elohim, or many gods. And as it is with an individual, so for people, nations, and civilizations. Any nation that turns away from the Elohim, the one true God, will end up serving the elohim, or many gods. And that which serves the many gods will lose its unity. It becomes as divided, fractured, and scattered as the many gods themselves. That which worships the elohim, or many gods, ends up devaluing, degrading, and debasing itself, just as in the day of the golden calf.”

By his description, an individual or a nation that turns from serving God will start serving many gods such as money, possessions, vanity, self, pleasures, comfort, etc.  They will also devalue, degrade and debase them(it) self.  I have to say as I look around the country we are checking these boxes off in spectacular fashion and I dare someone to disagree!  Can a case even be made that this isn't happening?  

We need to be aware that as we fall away from God, personally or as a nation, we are falling towards something.  Ultimately, it just means we're falling.  Will we stand up to declare that it is okay to base the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and our government on Christian values?  Yes, it is possible to actually say that since it is true.  Yes, it is possible to declare it even today.  

Will you stand up to declare that you'll base your life on the Word of God?  Yes, you can do that.  Yes, it will offend someone.  And yes, it is okay.

Is He Your King?

Imagine you are having a heart attack. It’s mild at first and you are able to get your spouse’s attention to take you to the ER. Along the way, you realize it’s getting worse and you have the premonition that you will likely die. So, you start telling your spouse what you will miss the most and what you love the most about each kid and particularly, about them.

You arrive at the hospital and the fine folks there take you in immediately and do all that they can do, but as the premonition you received, you have died. You ascend above your body seeing yourself lying dead on the table and arrive in a place that is free from pain and panic; it is clear and peaceful; it is very bright but not such that is blinding. There is only you and one other person standing near, but also far. They are near enough that you can tell they are a person, but far enough that their face is dark.

You say, “I don’t want to be here.”

Then, suddenly, your reality confronts you. You are in a place, a world, in which you know nothing and have never been, and you have just demanded something. Who exactly do you think you are? Do you think you can command God in heaven? You have been given this existence in a wonderful place and have been met at the door. You are as a newborn babe into a new world and yet your heart was willing to confront with a demand.

It was this exact dream that led me to understand that I could follow Jesus. Before this dream, I never understood or accepted that anyone would command me. Jesus might be my Lord as the Son of the one true Living God, but He was not my King, my Commander. And yes, I know that makes no sense. I would follow and do because I was strong enough to do it and decided to do it. I could understand how those actions were the best for society and others, so I’d do it. That would be my part, but it was not because He commanded it. The problem with that reasoning is that no one is strong enough.

We are all in a world, a place, in which we know nothing – yet, we demand continuously. The only reality is that we are alive, having been given life from the Living God, and He is alive. Everything else is distraction. Can you focus on this reality?

Can you accept that He is your King today and you can follow His command simply because He says it?  Will you bend your knee and bow your head to the risen Christ today?  Will you let His command rule over your will?

Revelation 2:4-7 - Ephesus

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. 6 But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Jesus condemns the church for “losing their first love”. They were doing the right things, but somewhere along the way they had lost the passion behind their motivation. They didn’t have a head problem but a heart problem. Obedience out of love for Christ had been replaced by obedience out of duty. This is a difference between “I obey and Jesus accepts me” and “Jesus accepts me and I gladly obey”. This difference is massive.

The song sings that “Jesus is jealous for me”. Jesus wants our first love, the purpose behind all that we do and our first response to be a testimony for Him. There can be no idols and life can’t flow from any other source except Him.

He offers a plan of recovery. Repent. The first step is always to repent. Turn from your direction and purposely choose His direction. Turn from you being god and let Him be God. Turn from thinking your deeds have merit and you’ve done great things for God and let Him do great things and get the glory for it. Remember what you first did and do those things again. What did you do and how did you feel when you first knew Him? Restore that first love.

What are some evidences that you’ve lost that first love:

1. You delight in someone else more than you delight in the Lord. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30). 
2. Your soul does not long for times of rich fellowship in God’s Word or prayer. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy . . . soul . . .” (Mark 12:30). 
3. Your thoughts in leisure moments do not honor the Lord. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy . . . mind . . .” (Mark 12:30). “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philippians 4:8). 
4. You make excuses for doing things that displease the Lord. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy . . . strength” (Mark 12:30). As your Good Shepherd, He will lead you “in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3). Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love” (John 15:10). 
5. You do not willingly and cheerfully give to God’s work or to the needs of others. “whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (I John 3:17). 
6. You cease to love others as God loves them. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (I John 4:10–11). 
7. You view Christ's commands as restrictions to your happiness rather than expressions of His love. “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him” (John 14:21). 
8. You strive for affirmation from the world rather than approval from the Lord. “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (John 15:19). “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (I John 2:15–17). 
9. You fail to make Christ or His words known because you fear rejection. “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also” (John 15:20). “hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5–6). 
10. You become complacent toward sinful conditions around you. Jesus warned that “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12). “Be sober [discreet], be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith” (I Peter 5:8–9). 

 What are some actions we can take to lead us back to our first love?

1. Worship.  Listen to and remember songs that touch us deeply or did touch us deeply.  Consider why they did at that time.
2. Prayer.  Set a deliberate time to pray and reflect in conversation with God.  Expand that time until you are able to walk daily at all times in prayer and conversation. 
3. Study.  Read and study God’s Word. 
4. Apply God’s Word.  If you are reading it, you will immediately have an application in your life.  Step out in faith and believe it and stand on His Words.  Let the world fall around you wherever it must.  
5. Give.  Give to others as needs become evident around you. 
6. Serve.  Be watchful to see the needs around you and step in and help others where you can.

Jesus offers a stern warning. “If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” If you do nothing, you will be removed as a carrier of His light. The church that does not repent and turn will cease to be a church. The person who does not repent and turn will cease to be a witness.

“The key to remember here is that there is an opportunity to change. All is not lost.” – My Dad

7 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Not only is this message for the church of Ephesus, but for the seven “churches”. It is also for “whoever has ears”. To anyone who will listen with their spirit, hear what God’s Spirit is saying. Those who respond to that challenge and become victorious, there is the promise of the “tree of life”. This reference to “victor” is the same as the one who “conquers” in 1 John 5:4-5 and is derived from the Greek word Nikao or our word “Nike”. It is a reference of superiority and victory over a vanquished foe. It is in Genesis 2:9 and 3:22-24 where we read of the “tree of life”. The next reference is in Revelation 22:2. What Adam and Eve forfeited in sin we regain in Christ. He is the source of eternal life.

Tell me what you think about and I’ll tell you what you love.
Tell me what you talk about and I’ll tell you what you love.
Tell me what excites you and I’ll tell you what you love.

I pray that the answer for these is the same for each of these. May the answer always and forever be Jesus for us personally, for our local church, and for the universal church.