II. THE PRESENT ("THE: THINGS WHICH ARE ON"), Part 1--2:1-29
A. General Considerations
1. NOTE: Based on number of'
verses, about 1/8 of the Book of Revelation deals with
"The things which
are"--the present
church age.
2. Take note that these letters are first
of all to the individual churches addressed--thus there is a historical
fulfillment
in the past.
3. These letters are secondly messages
to the churches of every period, for even today you will find churches
of
each of three
kinds. (Note: This can also apply to individual believers.)
a. The Ephesian letter
speaks to a recently formed church.
b. The Smyrna letter
speaks to a suffering church--churches suffering persecution--so many countries
around the
world.
c. The Pergamos letter
speaks to the orthodox, but compromising church--many examples can be cited.
d. The Thyatira letter
speaks to the big , formalistic, ecclesiastical church.
e. The Sardis letter
speaks to the dead orthodox church.
f. The Philadelphia
letter speaks to the fundamental, missionary-minded church.
g. The Laodicea letter
speaks to the modernistic church.
4. The general prophetic picture
a. Foreshadows the
historical progress of the present dispensation
b. Those who deny
any historical picture in these letters must answer at least two questions.
((I))
Why only these seven churches, for there were other ones in Asia Minor?
((II))
Why the particular order? (Note: to argue that it formed a circuit--though
true--is not sufficient, for the
circuit could have been in the reverse direction)
c. The historical
periods will be taken up in greater detail under each letter, but here is
the summary.
(I)
Ephesus--apostolic church to 100 A. D.
(II)
Smyrna--persecuted church--100 A. D. to 300 A. D.
(III)
Pergamos-the compromising church--300A. D. to 500 A. D.
(IV)
Thyatira--the romanized church--500 A. D. to 1500 A. D.
(V)
Sardis--the reformed church--1500 A. D. to 1700 A. D.
(VI)
Philadelphia--the missionary church--1700 A. D. to 1900 A. D.
(VII)
Laodicea--the apostate church--1900 A. D. to Christ's return
d. Two things to keep
in mind about the historical periods
(I)
The dates are approximate and not fixed in stone.
(II)
The last four churches particularly have a position to Christ's return.
5. General outline for each letter
a. The church addressed
b. The Christ described
c. The condition known
d. The commendation
e. The condemnation
f. The counsel of
love
g.. The consequential
action
h. The call
B. The Individual Letters--Part 1 (Chapter 2)
1. The Ephesus letter-2:1-7
a. The church
addressed--v. 1a
(I)
The command to write repeated here
(II)
The name "Ephesus"
(A) Desired
(B) "Having relaxed--let go"
(III)
Name is descriptive.
(A) It describes a church that was desirable and that desired
God's truth.
(B) It describes a church that had relaxed or let go some of
its spirituality.
(IV)
Represents
(A) An orthodox or fundamental church which has lost some of
its spiritual power
(B) The Apostolic Church of the first century
b. The Christ
described--1b
(I)
Description taken from 1:13,16
(II)
Here He is described as walking in the midst.
(A) The word here is peripateo which implies He was walking
back and forth.
(B) A careful judicial examining
(C) His examining of you and me; what does He see?
c. The condition
known--vv. 2a
(I)
I know
(A) Seven times repeated--once to each church
(B) Jesus Christ knows the true condition of each church--even
this church (also that of which you are a
member, if you are).
(C) From the root eido
(1) Has two meanings
(a) To see
(b) To know
(2) The meaning in our text borders on "knowing
by perceiving."
(3) Jesus' piercing eyes of judgment knows
the condition of the Church.
(II)
I know thy works.
(A) This church had faith.
(B) The emphasis here is on the work of the church, not
its orthodoxy.
(C) The works are seen in the
(1) Commendation
(2) Condemnation
d. The commendation--vv.
2b, 3, 6
(I)
Its toil
(A) Here was a working church.
(B) Here is a 1 Corinthians 15:58 church
(II)
Its patience
(A) The patience of this church is commended twice.
(B) First, its patience is commended in connection with
service.
(C) Then, its patience is commended in connection with suffering.
(III)
Its holiness
(A) Set forth in the negative
(B) "Can not bear evil men"
(C) A very precious character
(D) Indites the church of today--"To permit men known
to be bad to be in fellowship or even in office, is
common today, but is treachery to Christ--whom
the Church represents. Further, it is deadly wrong
instead of kindness, to the unsaved and
evil, to have them in 'fellowship.' Some day they will curse
you for such unfaithfulness!”--Newell, 37;
italics are his.
(IV)
Its discernment
(A) Tried them that called themselves apostles who are not
(B) This is not a formal church trial.
(C) Refusal to extend "ministerial courtesy" to false
preachers
(D) Cf. 2 John 10
(E) It is absolutely wrong for a church to invite a liberal
preacher, or a rabbi, or teacher of a false religion
to preach or to teach in a Bible-believing
church.
(V)
Its suffering
(A) Patience in time of suffering
(B) Bearing the name of Christ without wearying
(C) Newell, 37--”To suffer steadily is harder than to serve
sturdily. Not growing weary was certainly a
mark of vigorous life."
(VI)
Its rejection of false teaching-v. 6
(A) This church hated what Christ hates.
(B) Hatred of the deeds of the Nicolaitans,
not of the Nicolaitans themselves
(C) Will discuss the Nicolaitans under the church of
Pergamos
e. The condemnation-v.
4, 5
(I)
This church was not perfect.
(II)
This church has had a good beginning.
(III)
This church has left its first love.
(A) Note that the word is left not lost
(B) This shows that the will is involved.
(C) Shows that they had a form of service, but no enthusiasm,
zeal or energy.
(IV)
McCarrell--"Its fall was caused by being occupied with past accomplishment,
present work, and future
plans more than with Christ. Service was displacing the
Son. Program was endangering spiritual power.
Christian activity was displacing spiritual fellowship." (Source
unknown)
(V)
Cf. Luke 10:38-2 for illus.
f. The counsel of
love--v .5a
(I)
Remember
(A) Call to mind your past love for the Lord
(B) "whence thou are fallen"
(1) Such an active church fallen? Yes!
(2) Such a fundamental church fallen?
Yes!
(II)
Repent
(A) God through Christ is ever calling individuals and churches
to repentance.
(B) Repentance means a change of mind.
(C) Sorrow may be involved, but unless that sorrow leads to
repentance, it avails nothing --cf. 2
Corinthians 7:10.
(D) Repentance is threefold
(1) Consideration
(a) One must rethink his
position.
(b) Involved in the phrase
"remember"
(c) But a man may rethink
(remember) his position and still no change of attitude takes place.
(2) Conviction
(a) Involved in the phrase
"Remember whence thou are fallen
(b) Any honest consideration
will lead to conviction of sin with its inevitable sense of sorrow.
(c) However, a person can
feel sorrow for sin, and even weep and wail over his sinful condition,
and still
no change of attitude takes place.
(d) If no change takes
place, remorse may set in with its bitter fruit of suicide--ex. Judas
Iscariot.
(3) Conversion
(a) Involved in the phrase
“repent and do the first works"
(b) Conversion involves more
than rethinking one's position and/or feeling sorrow for one's fallen
condition.
(c) Conversion involves an
actual change of attitude that causes one to submit to Christ's
judgment
of the
condition and giving way to His remedy.
(d) Morgan--In the final
analysis, therefore, repentance "has its final value in that turning
around,
from sin and
towards God." (Source unknown)
(II)
Do the first works
(A) Not a call to Christian service, for remember this was a
serving church
(B) The first works are the free devotion of love and
affection for Jesus Christ, God's Son.
(C) The Song of Solomon is a good picture of the
lost and restoration of this first love--cf. Song of
Solomon 5:2-16.
g. The consequential
action--v. 5b
(I)
"Or else"--what a sad, sad phrase
(II)
"I will come quickly"
(A) Not the rapture
(B) A coming in judgment
(III)
Removed lampstand
(A) "The fatal visit would not be recognized by the church,
but it would definitely occur."--Newell, 40
(B) This actually happened in the course of church history,
for the territory witnessed to by the Ephesian
Church was later swept and cursed by the darkness
of Mohammedanism, which is largely the case
today since this area known as Asia is now Turkey.
(C) Today the town which was Ephesus is nothing but a few miserable
huts; the "ruins of great extent and
massiveness, are all that now remains of the
former splendid capital of Asia."--Alford,
IV:Prolegomena, 238
(D) In that area today there is no church.
(IV)
A final appeal
(A) Except thou repent
(B) What love our Lord does show, for after the dire warning,
He reminds them that it will not happen if
they repent.
h. The call--v. 7
(I)
A call to hear
(A) A most solemn call
(B) Seven times Christ makes this solemn call--one to each church.
(II)
Notice the call is to the churches
(A) This is plural, not singular.
(B) Thus, this call goes out to every church of every
period of this present age.
(III)
The call is a spiritual call.
(A) It is by the Spirit, for the Holy Spirit is speaking as
He always does.
(B) Cf. John 16:8
(C) It is to the Spirit for the born ones.
(1) This call is not to the modernists, but to
the fundamentalists.
(2) This call is to those who are truly born-again,
for only they can hear the Spirit speaking.
(3) Cf. 1 Corinthians 2:9-16
(4) Only such can hear, for only such have the
hearing ear.
(IV)
The promise to overcomers
(A) To overcome is a threefold proposition.
(1) Involves privilege--Having a hearing ear
(2) Involves opportunity--Let him hear
(3) Involves Responsibility--Let him hear what
the Spirit says
(B) The Reward of overcoming
(1) A partaker of the tree of life
in Paradise
(2) "Paradise means the sum total of God's
pleasure."--McCarrell (Source unknown)
(3) Cf. Psalm 16:11
(4) This tree of life is a reality not a
symbol.
(a) Cf. Revelation 22:2
(b) Those who make it a symbol
vary in their interpretation.
(c) One symbolic meaning is that
it refers to Christ.
2. The Smyrna letter--2:8-11
a. The church
addressed--v. 8a
(I)
The Name "Smyrna"
(A) Means "Myrrh"
(B) Myrrh was used in embalming the dead.
(C) It suggests fragrance through suffering.
(II)
Name is descriptive.
(A) This was a church in suffering due to persecution.
(B) This was a church that was persecuted, but faithful.
(III)
Represents
(A) Any church which is faithful under persecution
(B) The Church of the persecution --100 A. D.-300 A. D.
(1) Three persecutions during the Apostolic Church
(a) Nero--64 A. D.
(b) Domitian--81 A.D. (persecution
lasted to 96 A. D.)
(c) Trajan--98 A. D.
(2) Seven persecutions during the Smyrna era
(a) Adrian--117 A. D.
(b) Serverus--193 A. D.
(c) Maximin--235 A. D.
(d) Decius--249 A. D.
(e) Valerian--254 A. D.
(f) Aurelian--270 A. D.
(g) Diocletian--280 A. D.
(3) Persecution permitted by God to correct the
weakness mentioned in the Ephesus letter
b. The Christ
described--v. 8b
(I)
Description taken from 1:11, 18
(II)
What a fitting title for a persecuted church to receive--Christ "speaks as
having endured the same thing
and risen triumphant over all, even death itself!"--Newell,
43
c. Condition known--v.
9
(I)
I know thy works.
(A) This church had works even as Ephesus.
(B) This church was steadfast in works in spite of
persecution.
(II)
I know thy tribulation.
(A) Jesus Christ always knows our troubles.
(B) Spiritual: "Nobody knows the trouble I've seen; nobody
knows but Jesus."
(III)
I know thy poverty.
(A) This church was a poor church in this world's goods.
(B) But note: the Lord says it is really rich
(C) What a contrast to the Laodicean Church which thought itself
rich but in reality wretched and poor
(D) This church was spiritually rich which riches were being
refined in the fires of persecution.
(IV)
I know thy enemies.
(A) Christ knows their enemy and what the enemy was doing.
(B) These enemies were Jews according to the flesh, but were
not spiritually Jews.
(C) These belong to the synagogue of Satan.
(1) Synagogue--"A gathering together"
(2) The church never gathered together as a
synagogue.
(a) Paul went into synagogues
to witness to the Jews of Jesus Christ.
(b) Believers, however, met
elsewhere.
(3) In contrast is the ecclesia, church,
"The called-out from, away from."
(4) By calling them a synagogue of Satan,
He is showing them the true origin of the Jewish meetings.
(5) This statement is not a burst of
anti-semitism.
(6) It is rather a reminder that those who are
Jews outwardly are no longer in the main stream of God's
blessing.
(7) We must always watch our attitude toward
the Jew.
(D) Alas, how soon the church became a synagogue of Satan,
i. e., became Judaized.
(E) The attempt to substitute their synagogue for the assembly
is called, notice, by our Lord "blasphemy."
(F) Church history reveals that the Jews joined the heathen
Romans in clamoring for the persecution of the
church.
d. The Commendation--v.
9
(I)
The chief commendation is "thou art rich"
(II)
The commendation was discussed under condition known.
e. The Condemnation
(I)
None recorded
(II)
However, we know from church history that the leaven of doctrinal error
was beginning to seep through
during this period to have its fruition in the Pergamos period.
(III)
No condemnation given for, in part, this church was suffering enough without
rebuke from the Lord.
f. The counsel of
love-v. 10
(I)
Fear not
(A) Remember the Lord suffered much for you.
(B) Not to fear the things which they are about to suffer
(II)
Imprisonment foretold
(A) Notice who was responsible for the imprisonment--Satan (though
men may be the instrument, Satan is
always the opposer of the believers)
(B) Imprisonment in order to be tried--tested.
(C) Hardships for the believers are times of testing to
prove our genuineness--1 Peter 1: 6-9.
(III)
Ten days of tribulation
(A) The day here
(1) If the word here were a literal day
of 24 hours, then the persecution lasted less than two weeks.
(2) From church history we know that the church
at Smyrna endured persecution longer than that.
(3) Therefore, the day must be something other
than a period of 24 hours.
(4) The word "day" in Scripture often means an
extended period of time as is evidenced by the phrase
"Day of the Lord."
(5) Thus, here the word refers to a period of
time.
(B) As stated earlier the early church did have ten official
attempts to eliminate Christianity.
(C) Persecution of one sort or another was almost constant,
but there were these ten periods of great
trial.
(IV)
The counsel to be faithful unto death
(A) Our Lord leads the way; He expects us to follow.
(B) Death here, of course, means martyrdom, not holding
out to the end of our natural death.
g. The consequential
action--v. 10b
(I)
The action of our Lord is to give a special reward.
(II)
The crown of Life given to the faithful unto martyrdom
(III)
Cf. James 1:12
(IV)
What a beautiful reward for those who gave their lives for Christ
h. The call--v. 11
(I)
Again, the appeal is made to the hearing ear.
(II)
The appeal is to be overcomers.
(III)
The promise to overcomers
(A) The exhortation to overcome reminds one of his
responsibility.
(B) Christ assure such that they will not go through the "second
death"--Revelation 21:8.
(C) Persecution is often the Christian's lot.
(1) Romans 8:36
(2) 1 Peter 4:1
(D) There is no suggestion here that any true believer will
not overcome.
(E) Rather not to overcome is evidence of not really being
born-again.
(F) Remember not every one that professes, possesses.
3. The Pergamos letter--2:12-17
a. The church
addressed--v. 12a .
(I)
The name "Pergamos"
(A) Marriage
(B) Elevation
(II)
Name is descriptive.
(A) This church was married to the world.
(B) This church held an elevated position in its area.
(III)
Represents
(A) Any church that compromises with the world
(B) Any church that has united church and state.
(C) The compromising church
(1) 300 A. D.-500 A. D.
(2) In A. D. 313, Constantine, Emperor of
Rome, professed Christianity.
(3) He caused the marriage of the church
with the Roman Empire.
(4) He elevated the church to the position of
state religion.
b. The Christ
described--v. 12b
(I)
Description taken from 1:16
(II)
Again. what a fitting title for our Lord, for this church had begun to depart
from the Word of God.
(III)
What this church needed was the cutting edge of the Word of God--cf.
Hebrews 4:12
c. The condition known--v.
13a .
(I)
I know thy works.
(A) This church had works.
(B) This church was not all bad.
(C) Inspite of its compromise it was still working for
the Lord.
(II)
I know where thou dwellest.
(A) This church dwelt where Satan's throne is.
(1) Remember, contrary to popular opinion, Satan
is not in hell.
(2) Satan is the prince of this world,
and is walking to and fro upon the earth--cf. Job 1 :7.
(3) The word here is throne rather than
seat.
(B) The City of Pergamos or Pergamum
(1) A sort of union between a pagan religion
city, a university town, and a royal residence
(2) Newell, 48 --"The title. 'chief temple-keepers
of Asia' was held by its inhabitants, showing 'the
supreme importance of
Pergamos to heathendom.'"
(3) The Babylonian cult settled here after being
driven out of Babylon, and found under Attalus
(B.C.133), Pergamum's king
a refuge.
(4) His kingdom and title was given to the Romans.
(5) The title of the high priest of the
Babylonian cult was "Chief Bridge Builder" referring to himself as
the one who spans the gap
between Satan and humanity.
(6) In Latin. this title was Pontifex
Maximus, a title assumed by Emperor Constantine in 325 A. D., as
did the emperors before him.
(7) This same title has been claimed repeatedly
by popes.
(8) "Thus was Babylonianism, begun by Nimrod,
perpetuated in that which had the name of the
Church!"--Newell, 49,
footnote.
(9) Babylonianism has in its pagan system, a
mother-child image.
d. The commendation--v.
13b
(I)
This church held fast the name of Christ (This is more than modernism
and liberalism has done.)
(II)
This church has not denied the Faith
(A) The Church from 300 A. D.-500 A. D. was orthodox in doctrine.
(B) The fault, as will be shown, was its additions to that faith.
(III)
It held the faith even during the martyrdom of Antipas.
(A) How precious is the death of a saint in the Lord's
eyes.
(B) This one martyred in Pergamos
(C) Some suggest that his name was symbolic, for Antipas
means against all.
e. The condemnation--vv
.14, 15
(I)
"I have a few things against thee."
(A) This is in contrast to both Ephesus and Smyrna.
(1) Ephesus--I have somewhat against thee--one
thing He had against this church
(2) Smyrna--no condemnation
(B) Pergamos--the Lord has a few things against this
church
(1) more than one thing
(2) But still few in comparison to their good
part.
(II)
The doctrine of Balaam
(A) What is this doctrine? certainly not mere worldliness.
(B) John defines it.
(1) Idolatry
(2) Fornication
(C) The word stumbling-block, is skandalethron,
to scandalize or to give an occasion of sin.
(D) To eat things offered to idols
(1) Does not refer to what Paul was saying in
1 Corinthians 10:25.
(2) It means to engage in idolatrous worship.
(E) Newell, 51; italics are his.--"It is astounding how early
was the invasion of idolatry into the Church,
and the defense of it, even by some
so-called 'Church fathers'!"
(F) Invariably connected with idolatry was fornication.
(G) In the Ephesian church, they tried them which said they
were apostles and are not; In Pergamos they
had the teaching of the false apostles.
(H) During the Pergamos period of Church History, pagan
idolatry came in like a flood having its
complete fruition in the Thyatira period when
the Romanish church came into complete power.
(I) Cf. 2 Peter 2:10-15, 18, 19
(J) Cf. Jude 4-11
(III)
the doctrine of Nicolaitans
(A) What was the deeds of the Nicolaitans in the Ephesian
Church, in this period, now has become the
doctrine.
(B) What was hated by Christ, and consequently the church in
the Ephesus period, has now become
accepted as truth.
(C) Literally: "Thus you are having, you" --"The emphatic
expression indicates the astonished indignant,
grief of the Lord." --Newell, 50
(D) Who or what are the Nicolaitans? (Cf. Newell, 50-51)
(1) Some writers have tried but unsuccessfully
to connect these with Nicolas of Antioch.
(2) No record exists except in this verse of
any sect by this name in the early church.
(3) Scripture never compels us to get light for
interpretation from outside History, although such history
may verify truth.
(4) Therefore, one may seek a clue for the
meaning in the word itself'--a good scriptural example of
this is the name
Melchizedek--cf. Hebrews 7:1, 2.
(5) The word Nicolaitan
(a) Comes from two words
((I))
Nikao--to conquer
((II))
Laos--people
(b) Therefore, this word
would mean "ruler of the people," or “conqueror of the laity."
(c) This word plainly indicates
the early rise of clericalism.
(d) A priestly caste came
into being early in church history.
(e) This evil, hated by our
Lord, arose in the Ephesus period--the Apostolic age.
(f) In this church it had
become a doctrine.
(g) In the next, Thyatira
period, came to complete fruition.
(h) Church history readily
confirms this.
(6) The ecumenical movement is rampart with
this.
(7) Warning: Beware when you find either
a church or yourselves looking to the minister as the
means to God; ministers are
only laborers together with God--cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9
(8) Ministers are under-shepherds subject to
the Chief Shepherd, not Lords over God's people-- cf. 1
Peter 5:1-3.
f. The counsel of
love--v. 16 a
(I)
Only one word of counsel is needed to this church and its error.
(II)
REPENT!
(III)
"This call is directed to the whole assembly, as if recovery were yet
possible for the whole. The deeper
the evil, however, the more difficult the self-judgment!"--Newell,
51
g. The consequential
action--v. 16b
(I)
The Lord will come quickly--similar to verse 5; this does not refer to our
Lord's second coming , but His
judicial coming.
(II)
He will war against them with the sword of His mouth.
(A) Recall how "the angel of the Lord" stood "with his
sword drawn against the mad prophet Balaam"?--
Numbers 22:22-35 (Ibid.)
(B) "The targets of Christ's sword would be chiefly those
practicing these evils--'against them.'" (Ibid.;
italics are his.)
(C) Notice it is the sword of His mouth, not the sword
of some people; the word of God is that sword
and that word will be their judge, for they have
departed from it.--cf. Hebrews 4:12
h. The call--v. 17
(I)
He that has an ear--"The Spirit is still speaking, and, 'to the churches,'
that is, to all of them throughout this
church age"--Newell, 52
(II)
The Spirit is calling to us today to repent of our Balaamism and
Nicolaitanism.
(III)
The promise to overcomers
(A) Given to eat of the hidden Manna
(1) May be a reference to the manna preserved
in the Ark of the Covenant
(a) Cf. Exodus 16:32, 34
(b) Cf. Hebrews 9:4
(2) May well be symbolic of being sustained
by spiritual truths hidden generally to carnal and
unbelievers--cf. 1 Corinthians
2:9-16
(B) Given a white stone with a name written on it
(1) White speaks of perfection and
purity.
(2) Taken literally: a precious gem with
a name written on it--but this does not clear up the matter.
(3) As a symbol it may refer as Newell suggests
to the "personal character in all trials, through which
the overcomer (that is, the
true believer) , will be brought to know the Lord in a peculiar way,
shared by no other."
(Ibid.; italics are his.)
(4) Another symbolic meaning is suggested by
1 Corinthians 3:12
(5) The new name may well be as Alford suggests
"the recipient's own name,--a new name, however;
a revelation of his
everlasting life as a Son of God, to glory in Christ, but consisting
of, and
revealed in, those personal
marks and signs of God's peculiar adoption of himself, which
he and
none else is acquainted with."
(Alford, IV:572)
(C) Whatever the hidden manna and the white stone are, they
are precious things to receive from the
Lord.
(D) The lesson of this promise is to be such an overcomer
that we may receive of the Lord the precious
gifts He has for us.
4. The Thyatira letter--2:18-29
a. The church
addressed--v. 18a
(I)
The name "Thyatira"--"continual sacrifice"
(II)
Name is descriptive--This church held to the idea of the perpetual
sacrifice of Christ.
(III)
Represents
(A) Any church that holds the idea of a perpetual sacrifice
of Christ
(1) Papal or Romanized Church
(2) Greek Orthodox
(3) The High Church of Episcopal Church
(B) The Papal or Romanized Church
(1) 500A. D. - 1500 A. D.
(2) Mixture of Judaism, Christianity, and
Heathenism
(3) Idolatrous
(4) Fornicators
(C) Any attempt to join together with false cults and unbelievers,
or any attempt to find common ground
with Catholics and Jews.
b. The Christ
described--v. 18b
(I)
Description taken from 1:14b, 15a
(II)
Again a fitting description of this Church
(A) It needed the searching, judging eyes of our Lord
upon it.
(B) It needed the fiery judgment depicted by the brazen feet.
c. The condition known--v.
19
(I)
I know thy works.
(A) This church had works.
(B) This church in spite of its badness, corruption, and
sin still had good works.
(C) Twice the Lord mentions its works.
(1) Adds the second time that the last works
were more than first
(2) They had a superabundance of works.
(II)
I know thy love.
(A) This church has love for the Lord and still does.
(B) Their love was before their faith.
(C) In reference to the period of Church History, there
were many in and out of the Romanized Church
that had this love.
(1) In the Roman Church
(a) Augustine
(b) Bernard of
Clairveaux--1091-1153
((I)) "Jesus
the Very Thought of Thee"
((II)) "O
Sacred Head, Now Wounded"
((III)) "Jesus
Thou Joy of Loving Hearts"
(c) Francis of
Assisi
((I)) 1182-1226
((II)) "All
Creatures of Our God and King"
(2) Outside the Roman Church
(a) Albigenses--Twelfth
Century
(b) Waldenses
((I)) Alpine
valleys of Piedmont, Switzerland
((II)) They
traced their origin to Apostolic times
((III)) Remained
unaffected by Romanism
((IV)) Basically
Evangelical in faith and practice (at least till more modern times when
they
became ecumenical)
(c) Moravians--Twelfth Century
(d) Many others
(III)
I know thy service.
(A) This Church was active.
(B) It tried to serve the Lord.
(C) It was very zealous.
(IV)
I know thy faith.
(A) This Church held to the basic doctrines of Christianity.
(B) Again its additions were wrong.
(C) There were groups that did not take on these additions some
of which were previously mentioned.
d. The commendation
(I)
Verse 19
(II)
Discussed under condition known
e. The condemnation--vv.20
(I)
A few things against thee
(A) Same phrase as used in connection with Pergamos
(B) Here the few things are greater and more devastating.
(II)
The woman Jezebel
(A) literally: "thy wife"
(B) Undoubtedly a literal woman who is called by the Lord this
name.
(C) May have actually been her name
(D) The name Jezebel
(1) Refers to Ahab's wife--cf. 1 Kings 16:29-2
Kings 9:37
(2) Guilty of
(a) Whoredom
(b) Witchcraft
(c) Religious fasts
(d) Murdering God's
prophets
(e) Supported idolatrous
priests of the Babylonian type
(3) How like Romanism!
(D) Called herself a prophetess
(1) Newell, 54--"To do this was to take the place
of the Spirit."--cf. John 16:13
(2) The Bible teaches that the Church must be
taught.
(a) 1 Corinthians 14:1-5
(b) Ephesians 4:11-16
(3) True of
(a) Romanism
(b) Christian Science
(c) Mormonism
(d) Jehovah Witnesses
(e) Etceteras
(4) Each insists that their particular group ("the
Church") is the teacher.
(a) "The Church is your Mother."
(b) "You must hearken to the
Church."
(c) "The Church alone knows the
voice of God."
(d) Amazing, is it not.that many
formerly good denominations are saying the same thing today.
(E) Thou sufferest
(1) Possibly from sympathy with the evil
(2) Possibly from lack of moral fiber to
resist
(3) Possibly both
(4) Some Protestants are in this weak condition
permitting some denominations to hold them even when
they know their group has departed
from the Word of God.
(III)
Teaches and seduces to fornication and idolatry
(A) Literally true
(1) Of the Thyatiran Church
(2) Of Romanism
(B) "The confessional teaches children to discover and speak of the
lowest abominations of the human
heart."--Newell, 55
(C) This web writer has personally translated from the Latin certain
questions the priests ask in the
confessional which can not repeat them here.
(D) This Roman Church which degrade marriage by making it less holy
than celibacy has the audacity to
call all non-Roman marriages adultery (at
least until recently, although this writer has not read anything
that showed a retraction).
(E) Furthermore, idolatry is practiced.
(1) The order is reverse from Pergamos
(a) In Pergamos where Balaamism
prevailed, idolatry was followed by licentiousness.
(b) Here, fornication is followed
by idolatry.
(2) Idolatry and fornication go hand in hand.
(3) The growth of idolatry
(a) Images were unknown in primitive
Christian worship.
(b) Symbols that were used in
Scriptures for various truths and ideas formed the first step when
these symbols
were visibly drawn.
(c) With the forming of
Christianity as a state religion, a regular system of symbolic
religious images
was adopted.
(d) At first they were mere
representations, but gradually were given special adoration.
(4) Newell, 57 (a quote from McClintock and Strong's
Encyclopedia)--"Idolatry, the worship of
images, is a primary teaching of
Romanism. 'Jezebel' then, which truth-enlightened men
acknowledge to stand for Romanism,
introduces uncleanness through the confessional first; then the
adoration of images, and
thus a proceeding ever deeper into idolatrous superstition; for
idol-worship ever degrades its
devotees."
f. The counsel of
love--v. 21
(I)
How great is our Lord's love for
(A) His Church
(B) His children
(II)
The Lord gave this church time to repent.
(A) True of the Thyatira church.
(B) Certainly true of Romanism
(III)
This Church willed not to repent of its fornication.
(A) "The chief hold, after all, of false religion, is
the liberty it gives to the lusts which the heart loves.
Repentance, which is God's way out, the human
heart hates."--Ibid.
(B) "If she [Romanism] had had any desire to get right
with Him, she would have repented in the 16th
century."--Ironside, Lectures on the
Revelation; quoted in Newell, 57, footnote.
g. The consequential
action--vv. 22, 23
(I)
Cast into a bed
(A) "Will change her bed of whoredom into a bed of anguish."
(Newell, 57)
(B) The Lord often deals thus with wicked leaders; recall the
end of Jezebel--2 Kings 9:30-37.
(C) NOTE: Our Lord will also "yet deal effectually with
the female leaders 'suffered' in our own day, who
center attention upon themselves, and
pose more and more as prophetesses, using all sorts of
meretricious showmanship to hold the poor people
spellbound."--Ibid.
(1) Observation: This is not to downgrade
the many good works that women do in the church.
(2) Second observation: It is a criticism
of much of the feminists, particularly in the charismatic
movement, who have thrust
themselves into leadership where they do not belong.
(II)
Them that commit adultery (spiritual) with her go into great tribulation
with her.
(A) Here is proof that this church will go into the Great
Tribulation.
(B) NOTE: The last four churches look toward the end.
(1) Thyatira
(a) Impenitient
(b) Threatened with the
Tribulation
(2) Sardis
(a) Dead
(b) Threatened with Christ
coming as a thief
(3) Philadelphia
(a) Faithful
(b) Promised the rapture
(4) Laodicea
(a) Lukewarm and irrecoverable
(b) Threatened with being
spued out
(C) This Thyatira Church--Romanism--goes into the Great Tribulation
to become Mystery Babylon.
(D) That this is the case can be seen by various groups buttering
up to Romanism and by Romanism
making friendly overture to non-Christian religions.
(III)
Except they repent of her works
(A) O the long suffering of our blessed Lord--cf. 2 Peter
3:9
(B) God is ever calling churches and .individuals to repentance.
(IV)
I will kill her children with death.
(A) Her children
(1) The punishment of Romanism's children
is distinct from its punishment.
(2) This term extends to any individuals who
endeavor or hope to secure salvation by works, ritualism,
and church,rather than by
grace regardless of whether such individuals are part of Romanism
or
some other ism.
(B) Punishment is death.
(1) Undoubtedly spiritual death
(2) Cf. Revelation 20:11-15
(V)
The Churches shall know that . . . hearts.
(A) NOTE: "all the churches" not just the seven representative
ones
(B) "How dull our spiritual perception, not to understand why
candlesticks have been removed, and
personal judgment executed, before our very
eyes!"--Newell, 59
(C) Church History records the scourging of the church
in this period by the ravages of Mohammedism.
(D) WOE TO THE CHURCHES OF AMERICA WHEN THEY FAIL TO LISTEN
TO THE VOICE
OF HISTORY AND CONTINUE IN AN UNREPENTANT
CONDITION.
(E) Jesus Christ searches the reins and hearts.
(1) The reins have to do with the desires.
(2) The heart has to do with the thoughts.
(3) Jesus Christ carefully scrutinizes both our
desires and our thoughts.
(4) Little wonder the exhortation of 2
Corinthians 10:4, 5
(VI)
Rewarded according to works
(A) Jezebel will get her just deserts, i. e.;
Romanism will yet be judged for its crimes against God, His
people, and against the souls of countless
individuals.
(B) Jezebel's children will also get what is coming to them.
(1) Those who rely upon anything but pure grace
will suffer their part in the Lake of fire.
(2) Cf. John 3:36--wrath of God
(C) The real servants of the Lord will be given their
reward by their heavenly Father.
(1) Those who have trusted Jesus Christ only
(2) Even if they have been sorely tried
by Romanism or other isms.
h. The call--vv. 24-29
(I)
To the rest in Thyatira
(A) Those who have not this teaching
(1) The teaching of Jezebel
(2) Certainly refers to true believers whether
in Romanism or out.
(a) There are those in Romanism
who are truly saved; however, due to lack of proper teaching,
they lack
the strength and courage to step out from it.
(b) Most of this group
are outside of Rome and evangelical.
(B) Those who have not known the deep things of Satan
(1) Deep things as they, the Jezebelites, call
them
(2) Every false teaching claims to have
a deeper knowledge of "truth" that is only obtainable through
their system, or their
literature.
(a) True of Romanism
for they say that only their church, and the Pope in particular, can give
you
the right
interpretation.
(b) True of all such
sects as Christian Scientists, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, Theosophists,
Spiritualists
Unity School of Christianity, Armstrongism ( "Plain Truth"), etc.
(3) Newell, 59--"It is no sign of spirituality
to be familiar with Satanic psychic or demonic 'depths.'"
(II) No other
burden
(A) Our blessed Lord does not place any burden on the believer
than stated here.
(B) The burden is the act of simple obedience.
(C) This phrase "no other burden" is reminiscent of the
decision of the Jerusalem Council--Acts 15: 28,
29; applicable here.
(D) Hold Fast till I come
(1) "How easy to let truth and devotion slip
in Jezebel surroundings!"--Newell, 60; italics are his.
(2) Hold what you have, i. e.,
the basic doctrines
(a) Inspiration of the
Scriptures
(b) Virgin birth of Christ
(c) Deity of Christ
(d) Substitutionary atonement
(e) Bodily resurrection
(f) The Person of the
Holy Spirit
(g) The Lord's return
(3) Note that this truth of the second
coming is specifically mentioned here, for we are to occupy till
He come.
(a) 1 Corinthians 11:26
(b) 2 Timothy 4:7.8
(c) Titus 2:12,13
(d) 2 Peter 3:10-13
(e) 1 John 3: 1-3
(4) The words "hold fast"
(a) An aorist imperative
(b) More vivid and imperative
than if it had been present tense
(c) The present tense would
give the idea of continue to take hold.
(d) The aorist gives an
uncertainty as to when the time shall be.
(e) Thus the aorist suggests
that regardless of the particular moment of time one finds himself,
let
him be found
holding fast.
(III)
Promise to overcomers
(A) Scott, 89--"It is not enough to deny Jezebel in doctrine
and works, but 'he that keepeth unto the end
my works' is crowned at the end: 'my works',
evidently in contrast to the works of Jezebel (verse 23).
Her works were unholy; His works, holy."
(B) NOTE: This has nothing to do with any individual's
salvation, but rather what one does after they are
saved.
(C) Authority over nations
(1) Herein is a preview of the millennial
kingdom.
(a) Cf. Revelation 19:15;
20:4-6
(b) Romanism has ever grasped
for temporal power; "She wants to rule the world now, before
Christ comes--thus
proving herself false; not a church, but
Babylon."--Newell, 60; italics are
his.
(2) You and I as believers, however, will reign
with Him.
(3) Is it not interesting that this promise
is given to those who do not partake of Romanism's attempt to
rule now.
(4) He will rule with a rod of iron.
(a) The “he" is the
overcomer, not Christ.
(b) The authority to rule
comes, however, from Christ.
(D) I will give Him the Morning Star.
(1) Jesus is always ready to give gifts to His
children.
(2) The Morning Star is indication that the dawn
is soon coming.
(3) The millennium will be day; now we
are in darkness. By being overcomers we have the Morning
Star.
(4) The Morning Star must be Jesus Christ; we
are given Him in a new light.
(a) Romans 13:11
(b) Ephesians 5:13
(c) 2 Peter 1:19
(d) 1 John 3:3
(5) It may well be that the reception of the
Morning Star from the Lord by the overcomer has
reference to coming to know
Him to the extent that one becomes completely devoted to Him and
long with eager expectation
His coming for His own.
(IV)
The call to hear
(A) NOTE: the call is here placed at the end of the
section.
(B) "Jezebel and her 'children' will go on as they are" for
Rome's motto is "Always the Same"; thus, they
will not change. (Newell, 61)
(C) The remnant, the true believer, will hear and overcome.