Article 11

UNDERSTANDING REVELATION – 11

The Faithful Witness

Revelation 1:5 states that Jesus is “the faithful witness”.  Jesus Himself echoes that truth in 3:14 saying He is “the Faithful and True Witness”, that is, He clearly delineates the condition of seven local churches in Asia Minor, and by extension, to the Christian church in all times and all places.  Rev. 2:1 describes Christ walking among the seven lampstands, holding the seven stars in His right hand.  The previous verse shows that the seven stars are the “angels” (messengers or leaders), and the lampstands are the seven churches.  What sublime imagery is this?  From a practical standpoint (and ultimately that’s what all the symbols of Revelation are about), if you are a leader in a local congregation, you are in Christ’s hand, and He knows all the needs of your local congregation!  More than that, Christ’s “ridiculous” (from a worldly perspective) statement in Matt. 28:18-20 is “all-encompassing”.  Read it carefully!  It contains the astonishing commission to the Christian church “to the end of the age”. 

To the church at Ephesus (2:1ff. – ff means “the following verses”), Jesus voices a list of ten commendable characteristics.  Ponder them!  They were hard-working, energetic, patient, doctrinally sound, and unwearied.  It is needful that all local churches strive to exhibit the same today.  Nevertheless, in verse 4 there is a “nevertheless”.  The Ephesian church is not as in love with Christ as it first was.  Love for Jesus has waned and, no doubt, for each other.  Thankfully Paul addresses this problem in his love chapter of 1 Corinthians 13.  Christ’s counsel is to “remember”.  Looking back is evidently a needful exercise for most every Christian.  Would it be unwise to say that every genuine Christian has a past in which they first perceived that Christ came to them?  In John 12:32-33 Jesus gave a wonderful promise that “if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.  This He said signifying by what death He would die”.  For some the encounter with Christ is dramatic and vivid; others may not be able to recall all the experiences and steps that led them to Christ, but the reality is just the same.  To review the past is to guard from complacency in the present and to “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14).

Just a word regarding the “first works” of verse 5.  When, several decades ago, my change came and I accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, I immediately left off many things, but there were two basic changes that took shape in my life.  Those “first works” were prayer and Bible study.  Those two works made all the difference.  I spent much time in prayer and perusal of Scripture.  Never have I been more surrendered to Jesus than then.  The unbeatable combination of love for Christ and a growing understanding and application of the Word is key.

A church, any church, can exhibit many commendable traits and yet be lacking the one most essential.  Actually, in verse 5 “remember” means “keep remembering”.  A first-love experience always results in a first-works experience, works that “have been done in God” (John 3:21).  Christ’s counsel – “repent”, a complete turnaround is critical so that the Ephesian church can be the one Christ deems it to be.  And what Christ commands He empowers.  Peter declared, “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31).  Paul agreed asking, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).  These passages make it abundantly clear that God is eager to reveal to us our need for repentance, what we need to repent of, and empower us to embrace to precious gift making the needful change(s).  Of the seven churches five are in need of this.  To emphasize again: Christ is portrayed walking among the lampstands, that is, He is preoccupied with the spiritual wellbeing of His body—the church.  He knows the spiritual condition of the individual believer.  He understands the spiritual needs of every local congregation of believers.  Throughout the New Testament He offers remedy for the entire Christian community everywhere and for all time.

Now, what about the Nicolaitans?  Who are those guys?  Both the Ephesian church and Jesus hate their deeds (2:8).  The compromising church of Pergamos is also infected with this “doctrine” (2:15).  Verse 14 tells us that it has to do with the “doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality”.  This, along with circumcision, became a real issue in the early Christian church (see Acts 15:1-29).  Idolatry (today’s idolatry is much more sophisticated, thereby much less detectable) and sexual immorality still plague the Christian community.

Praise God, the overcomers in the Ephesus church are ultimately rewarded to “eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God” (2:7).

Smyrna is the persecuted church.  Jesus portrays Himself as just what they need, “the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life” (2:8).  His counsel is, “be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life”, “He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death” (2:11).  See Revelation 20:6, 14-15.  What encouragement to the saints and martyrs all across Christian history.

The church in Pergamos is a compromising church.  This church is indicative of God’s people through much of the world’s history.  Anyone with a basic knowledge of the Bible knows that idolatry and compromise have plagued both the OT and NT churches significantly.  Sexual immorality and eating things offered to idols (2:14, 20) could be taken literally as in the culture of the Roman Empire in the times of those seven local churches.  However, given the larger picture of world history those descriptions can easily be associated with God’s professed people.  In the OT God accuses his people of “playing the harlot” in multiple passages.  Indeed, in the book of Hosea, God instructs the prophet to marry a harlot, Gomer, because “the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord” (1:2).  This was the picture of Israel throughout much of its history.  In much Christ’s prayer in John 17 His burden is that His people who are in the world be not of it (17:14-19).  God’s people are to be “sanctified” (set apart) by the truth.  That is the task of the church in all ages.

If Pergamos is the compromising church, Thyatira is the corrupt church.  Yes, good things are present there (2:19), which the church of today need to emulate, yet negative things which we need to avoid.  Jezebel is a well-known OT figure who threatened the prophet Elijah with death (1 Kings 19).  Revelation 2:22 again focuses on spiritual adultery.  Significantly, Jesus is described as the “Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire” (2:18), showing that He knows all.  He wants that “all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts” (2:23).  The faithful in Thyatira are encouraged to “hold fast what you have till I come” (2:25).  We need to remember that the entire book of Revelation moves us toward the second coming of Christ (1:7; 14:14ff; 19:11ff.).

If Pergamos is the compromising church and Thyatira the corrupt church, Sardis is the dead church (3:1).  It seems we are seeing a progression of regression as we move through them.  However, there are faithful ones even in Sardis (2:4).  Yes, it is possible to live in this world but not be of it!  And the promise to the overcomers in Sardis is “intense” (3:5).  Listen Church!

Praise God, Philadelphia is the faithful church!  There is not a negative word or sentiment of Christ toward this group at all.  Revelation 3:7-13 lifts us out of the miasma of unfaithfulness.  Here we find described what any local church can become in Christ.  Philadelphia is encouraged to “hold fast”, “I am coming quickly” (3:11).  It is noteworthy that the promises to the churches are becoming more and more “intense”.

In contrast to Philadelphia, Jesus, the Faithfull Witness, has nothing good to say to Laodicea.  Here we find one of the strongest rebukes in all the Bible.  In v. 18 we find some of the strongest “counsel” of Christ in all the Bible.  The gold is the gold of faith and love.  The “white garments” are those of the perfect righteousness of Christ “that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.”  This is an allusion that takes us all the way back to the Garden of Eden.  In Genesis 2:25  Adam and Eve are “naked” but not ashamed.  Genesis 3:7 reveals that after their fall they “knew that they were naked” and tried to cover themselves with fig leaves.  Verse 20 describes God making “tunics of skin” and clothing them.  The lesson is rich and critical.  Jesus came to our world and by faith lived a perfectly righteous life (see John 8:29, 46)!  Because He was not just a man but also “God with us” (Matt 1:23), His life is of “infinite value”.  Therefore, He could “shoulder” the sins of the whole world on the cross (note Isaiah 53, esp. vs. 4-6; 10-11), amazing!  For the believer then, who accepts Christ as his personal Savior, God “imputes”, that is, reckons or accounts to the believer the perfect righteousness of Christ.  God then sees not the vileness of the sinner; He sees in him the likeness of His Son in whom he trusts!!!  THIS IS THE GOSPEL!  Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves.  He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share.  He suffered the death, which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His.   As Isaiah (53:5) states, “with His stripes we are healed.”

The “eye salve” is, no doubt, the working of the Holy Spirit who gives us “spiritual” eyesight to be able to recognize our condition and empowers us with the new birth and transforms us into the likeness of Christ!

Jesus still loves the lukewarm church and stands knocking at her door, seeking entrance.  Repentance is necessary.  Perhaps the most amazing promise of all is offered to her (3:21).

 No doubt, much more could be said of the seven churches.  Each message concludes with an appeal to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.  Believers are called to apply the personal and practical truths to their own lives and situations.  The appeal is personal, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Sirit says to the churches.”

~Rex Frost