2-The Churches
The Churches
(REVELATION 2—3)
Before you begin …
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and wisdom as you go through this lesson.
• Read Revelation 2—3. This lesson references chapters 2 and 3 in Be Victorious. It will be helpful for you to have your Bible and a copy of the commentary available as you work through this lesson.
Getting Started
From the Commentary
If you have ever moved to a new community and had to select a new church home, you know how difficult it is to examine and evaluate a church and its ministry. Imposing buildings may house dying or dead congregations, while modest structures might belong to virile assemblies on the march for the Lord. The church we think is “rich” may turn out to be poor in God’s sight (Rev. 3:17), while the “poor” church is actually rich (Rev. 2:9).
Only the Head of the church, Jesus Christ, can accurately inspect each church and know its true condition, because He sees the internals, not only the externals (Rev. 2:23b). In these special messages to the seven churches in Asia Minor, the Lord gave each assembly an “X-ray” of its condition. But He intended for all the churches to read these messages and benefit from them. (Note the plural “churches” in Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22.)
—Be Victorious, page 33
1. Chapters 2 and 3 in Revelation address specific churches. What are some of the messages God gave these churches? In what ways are these messages also applicable to individuals?
2. Choose one verse or phrase from Revelation 2—3 that stands out to you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here.
More to Consider: John was a pastor at heart. What can you learn about his “pastor’s heart” in the way he tries to encourage these churches in difficult times? What can today’s pastors learn from the way John reached out?
Going Deeper
From the Commentary
The Ephesian assembly had enjoyed some “stellar” leadership—Paul, Timothy, and the apostle John himself—but the Lord reminded them that He was in control of the ministry, placing the “stars” where He pleased. How easy it is for a church to become proud and forget that pastors and teachers are God’s gifts (Eph. 4:11) who may be taken away at any time. Some churches need to be cautioned to worship the Lord and not their pastor!
—Be Victorious, page 34
3. What does “you have forsaken your first love” mean (Rev. 2:4)? Why do churches forsake their first love? What warnings does this message to the Ephesian church have for us today? (See 2:1–7.)
From the Commentary
The church at Smyrna was not having an easy time of it! The members were persecuted, probably because they refused to compromise and say, “Caesar is Lord.” Smyrna was an important center of the Roman imperial cult, and anyone refusing to acknowledge Caesar as Lord would certainly be excluded from the guilds. This would mean unemployment and poverty. The word used here for poverty means “abject poverty, possessing absolutely nothing.”
A large Jewish community also thrived in Smyrna. The Jews, of course, did not have to patronize the imperial cult since their religion was accepted by Rome, but they certainly would not cooperate with the Christian faith. So, from both Jews and Gentiles, the Christians in Smyrna received slander and suffering.
But they were rich! They lived for eternal values that would never change, riches that could never be taken away. “As poor, yet making many rich” (2 Cor. 6:10; 8:9). In fact, their suffering for Christ only increased their riches.
Our struggles are not with flesh and blood, but with the enemy, Satan, who uses people to accomplish his purposes. The Jewish synagogue was actually a synagogue of Satan. A true Jew is not one physically or racially, but spiritually (Rom. 2:17–29).
—Be Victorious, pages 37–38
4. How might the message “be faithful, even to the point of death” have been received by the church in Smyrna? How would the promise of the “crown of life” have encouraged those who were suffering (Rev. 2:10)? What does it mean that our struggles are not with flesh and blood?
From the Commentary
Despite their courageous stand against persecution, the believers in Pergamos were not faultless before the Lord. Satan had not been able to destroy them by coming as the roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), but he was making inroads as the deceiving serpent. A group of compromising people had infiltrated the church fellowship, and Jesus Christ hated their doctrines and their practices.
These infiltrators are called “Nicolaitans,” whom we met already at Ephesus (Rev. 2:6). The name means “to rule the people.” What they taught is called “the doctrine of Balaam” (Rev. 2:14). The Hebrew name Balaam also means “lord of the people” and is probably synonymous with Nicolaitans. Sadly, this group of professed believers “lorded it over” the people and led them astray.
—Be Victorious, page 39
5. Review the story of Balaam (Num. 22—24). Who was Balaam? How does this help us understand the false doctrine that the church in Pergamos was facing? What message does John give these Christians?
From the Commentary
The longest message was sent to the church in the smallest city! Thyatira was a military town as well as a commercial center with many trade guilds. Wherever guilds were found, idolatry and immorality—the two great enemies of the early church—were almost always present too.
The city boasted a special temple to Apollo, the “sun god,” which explains why the Lord introduced Himself as “the Son of God” (the only time in Revelation this title is used). John had to deliver a message of severe warning and judgment to this congregation, which explains the description of the Lord’s eyes and feet.
—Be Victorious, pages 41–42
6. In what ways was the church in Thyatira doing well (Rev. 2:19)? What were the accusations against the church (vv. 20–23)? What was the main thrust of John’s message to this church (v. 25)?
From the Commentary
The message to Sardis is a warning to all “great churches” that are living on past glory. Dr. Vance Havner has frequently reminded us that spiritual ministries often go through four stages: a man, a movement, a machine, and then a monument. Sardis was at the “monument” stage, but there was still hope!
There was hope because Christ was the Head of the church and He was able to bring new life. He described Himself as the one possessing the seven Spirits and the seven stars. There is only one Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:4), but the number seven demonstrates fullness and completeness. The Holy Spirit gives life to the church, and life is exactly what the people at Sardis needed. The sevenfold Spirit of God is pictured as seven burning lamps (Rev. 4:5) and as seven all-seeing eyes (Rev. 5:6).
All of the church’s man-made programs can never bring life, any more than a circus can resurrect a corpse. The church was born when the Spirit of God descended on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and its life comes from the Spirit. When the Spirit is grieved, the church begins to lose life and power.
—Be Victorious, page 48
7. How would you describe the problem the church in Sardis was facing (Rev. 3:1–6)? How is that like or unlike problems facing today’s church? What is the suggested solution for this church? What are practical ways a church can better live by the power of the Spirit in its ministry?
From the Commentary
The believers in Philadelphia were in a similar situation to that of Paul when he wrote 1 Corinthians 16:9—there were both opportunities and obstacles! Unbelief sees the obstacles, but faith sees the opportunities! And since the Lord holds the keys, He is in control of the outcome! So what do we have to fear? Nobody can close the doors as long as He keeps them open. Fear, unbelief, and delay have caused the church to miss many God-given opportunities.
The Savior gave three wonderful and encouraging promises to this church. First, He would take care of their enemies (Rev. 3:9).…
Second, He would keep them from tribulation (Rev. 3:10). This is surely a reference to the time of tribulation that John described in Revelation 6—19, “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” …
The third promise to the Philadelphians is that God would honor them (Rev. 3:12). The symbolism in this verse would be especially meaningful to people who lived in constant danger of earthquakes: the stability of the pillar, no need to go out or to flee, a heavenly city that nothing could destroy.
—Be Victorious, pages 54–55
8. What protection from enemies does God promise the church in Philadelphia? What is the “open door” that is referenced in Revelation 3:8? Why is it a door that can’t be shut? How does this offer encouragement? What is the open door that God has placed in front of today’s church?
More to Consider: Philadelphia means “love of the brethren.” What is the biblical basis for the idea that brotherly love is an important mark of the Christian? (See John 13:34; Rom. 5:5; 1 Thess. 4:9; 1 John 4:19.)
From the Commentary
As with some of the previous churches, the Lord adapted His words to something significant about the city in which the assembly was located. In this case, Laodicea was known for its wealth and its manufacture of a special eye salve, as well as of a glossy black wool cloth. It also was located near Hieropolis, where there were famous hot springs, and Colossae, known for its pure, cold water.
The Lord presented Himself as “the Amen,” which is an Old Testament title for God (see Isa. 65:16, where the word truth is the Hebrew word amen). He is the truth and speaks the truth, because He is “the faithful and true Witness” (Rev. 3:14). The Lord was about to tell this church the truth about its spiritual condition; unfortunately, they would not believe His diagnosis.
“Why is it that new Christians create problems in the church?” a young pastor once asked me.
“They don’t create problems,” I replied. “They reveal them. The problems have always been there, but we’ve gotten used to them. New Christians are like children in the home: They tell the truth about things!”
The Laodicean church was blind to its own needs and unwilling to face the truth. Yet honesty is the beginning of true blessing, as we admit what we are, confess our sins, and receive from God all that we need. If we want God’s best for our lives and churches, we must be honest with God and let God be honest with us.
—Be Victorious, pages 55–56
9. The message to the Laodicean church was that it was “neither cold nor hot.” Why is it worse to be neither on fire for nor antagonistic toward God? What are the dangers for a lukewarm church? How does a church move out of this state?
From the Commentary
The letters to the seven churches are God’s X-rays, given to us so that we might examine our own lives and ministries. Judgment is going to come to this world, but it first begins at God’s house (1 Peter 4:17). In these letters we find encouragement as well as rebuke.
May the Lord help us to hear what the Spirit is saying today to the church, and to the individuals in the churches!
—Be Victorious, page 60
10. What sort of messages might God have given John to write about churches today (your church, for example)? How would these messages be similar to what is in Revelation? How can individuals discover the point of these messages for their own lives?
Looking Inward
Take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve explored thus far in this study of Revelation 2—3. Review your notes and answers and think about how each of these things matters in your life today.
Tips for Small Groups: To get the most out of this section, form pairs or trios and have group members take turns answering these questions. Be honest and as open as you can in this discussion, but most of all, be encouraging and supportive of others. Be sensitive to those who are going through particularly difficult times and don’t press for people to speak if they’re uncomfortable doing so.
11. How might you have felt as a member of one of the churches Jesus speaks to in Revelation 2—3? Are you more apt to respond to encouragement or correction? How do you react when you see something that’s not right in your church?
12. Which church situation from Revelation 2—3 most closely matches your own today? Which issues most directly match those you’re dealing with personally? How can these prophetic messages of encouragement and challenge help you overcome obstacles in your faith story?
13. In what ways have you been lukewarm like the Laodicean Christians? What are some things you can do to be hot in your love for God instead of lukewarm?
Going Forward
14. Think of one or two things that you have learned that you’d like to work on in the coming week. Remember that this is all about quality, not quantity. It’s better to work on one specific area of life and do it well than to work on many and do poorly (or to be so overwhelmed that you simply don’t try).
Do you want to overcome fear or unbelief as some of the churches had to do? Be specific. Go back through Revelation 2—3 and put a star next to the phrase or verse that is most encouraging to you. Consider memorizing this verse.
Real-Life Application Ideas: Invite leaders of your church to join you in a group discussion about the churches referenced in Revelation 2—3, with the primary purpose of examining your own church in light of what God has to say to each church. Look for ways you can practically build your church so it is a place free from contentious issues like those the early churches were facing. Use this time to better understand your church’s goals and to refine them in a way that grows strong Christ-followers.
Seeking Help
15. Write a prayer below (or simply pray one in silence), inviting God to work on your mind and heart in those areas you’ve previously noted. Be honest about your desires and fears.
Notes for Small Groups:
• Look for ways to put into practice the things you wrote in the Going Forward section. Talk with other group members about your ideas and commit to being accountable to one another.
• During the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal truth to you from what you’ve read and studied.
• Before you start the next lesson, read Revelation 4—7. For more in-depth lesson preparation, read chapters 4 and 5, “Come, Let Us Adore Him!” and “The Seals and the Sealed,” in Be Victorious.