Reading: Revelation 1-2
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God(Rev. 2:7).
Following the execution of the Apostle Paul, intense persecution broke out against all Christians. At some point during these tribulations, the aged Apostle John was imprisoned on Patmos (1:9), a small, rocky island about ten miles long and six miles wide, which lies about 35 miles off the southwest coast of modern-day Turkey. It was during this imprisonment that John was exceedingly blessed to receive The Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1), a personal message of encouragement, warning, and promise authored by Jesus Himself. To begin His revelation, Jesus dictated letters to seven churches located in various cities within Asia Minor (Turkey). Although each letter had an intended recipient, Jesus spoke in such a manner as to include all Christians from any generation.
The letters to the churches at Smyrna and Philadelphia contained nothing but praise, while the letters to the churches at Sardis and Laodicea contained only condemnation and warning. The other three, written to churches in Ephesus, Pergamos, and Thyatira, were a mixture of praise and reproof. As children of the Living God, it is our responsibility to read each of these letters through the filter of the Holy Spirit so that we might truly hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches and that we might find in His Words the power to overcome(th).
From the church at Ephesus, we are charged with learning that love is the key to spiritual consistency. Jesus praised their sound doctrine and their tireless works in His name (2:2-3) but cautioned them about their flagging devotion (2:4). He warned that if they allowed their love to continue to fade, then soon too would their obedience, and, in the end, they would turn away and be removed from His service (2:5).
Next came the church at Smyrna, from where we are provided a living example of spiritual richness. Beset by tribulations and suffering the trials of physical poverty, this congregation never wavered in its love and service to the Lord (2:9-10). To these people, Christ offered encouragement and a reminder of the surety of His promise of life everlasting (2:10).
This is followed by the letter to the church at Pergamos, in which we are introduced to the danger of spiritual compromise. This church had held fast to the name of Jesus and had not denied their faith (2:13), but they had also allowed idolatry to continue unchecked in their midst, adopting a ‘live and let live’ policy (2:14-15). To this church, Jesus issued a grave warning. Through compromise, they had avoided much of the hardships endured by the church at Smyrna, but by living hand in hand with evil, they also continuously ran the risk of succumbing to it. If this were to happen, they would soon find themselves fighting against Christ rather than for Him (2:16).
The final letter in today’s reading addresses the church at Thyatira. From this congregation, we learn of the dangers associated with the acceptance of sin by the body of Christ. Jesus began by acknowledging their spiritual growth, works, and faithful service (2:19), but He took issue with the fact that they were allowing self-styled ‘leaders’ of the church to continue in blatant sin, unchecked and unabated. He warned that all who fell victim to the teachings of the unrepentant sinner would share her fate in the end (2:20-23).
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God(I John 5: 5)?
Thought For TodayThe difficulty of the path in front of us is determined by many things and is oftentimes out of our control, but with God as our guide, it will always be navigable.
Word Studies1:8 I am Alpha and Omega = I am the First of all things and the End of all things and know all things A to Z; 1:13 girt = wrapped around.
Cross Reference:For Rev. 1:5: See Ps. 89:27. Rev. 1:6: See Ex. 19:6. Rev. 1:7: See Dan. 7:13; Zech. 12:10. Rev. 2:7: See Gen. 2:9. Rev. 2:23: See Jer. 17:10. Rev. 2:27: See Ps. 2:9.
Pray For Government Officials:Rep.Yadira Caraveo (CO), Rep. Morgan McGarvey (KY), Rep. Michael Burgess (TX) • Country: Maldives (393,595) Southern Asia • Major Languages: Dhivehi, English • Christian witnessing is banned • Sunni Muslim (Official) • Prayer Suggestion: Pray for godly discernment to know His will (Ezek. 44:23).