The Divinely Determined Completeness of  God’s Plan or Purpose (7) (Part 2)

Seven-fold Themes of the 7 Churches in Asia-Minor:

1. Ephesus; (Rev. 2:1-7). a. Jesus Christ is powerful over and present with his people. b. Our deeds are important, including the hard work of contending for the truth of the faith. c. We should place high value on enduring faithfulness to Jesus in the midst of our pagan environment. d. Jesus stresses an absolute need to retain biblical love in our pursuit of truth. e. Jesus promises eternal life to those who overcome.
2. Smyrna; (Rev. 2:8-11). a. Jesus has conquered death. b. Those who are materially poor may actually be spiritually rich. c. Persecution takes many forms, including economic and physical persecution. d. Christians should not fear suffering for Christ. e. Jesus promises life to those who follow him with a willing-to-die devotion.
3. Pergamum; (Rev. 2:12-17). a. Some locations are more challenging for believers than others due to the power and proximity of evil. b. Faithfulness to Jesus requires a persevering witness and may result in persecution or even martyrdom. c. Jesus opposes false teaching that encourages compromise with pagan culture. d. Jesus judges by the sheer power of his word. e. Those who overcome are promised eternal fellowship with the Lord and his people.
4. Thyatira; (Rev. 2:18-29). a. Jesus stands above all other gods and possesses power and insight to judge. b. It pleases God when his children are growing in faith, love and hope. c. God will judge false teachers (and their followers) for leading God’s people astray. d. Those who are dabbling in false teaching have a limited amount of time in which to repent. e. God calls his people to persevere by holding on to the central truths of the faith. f. We can look forward to sharing in Christ’s authority in the messianic kingdom.
5. Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6). a. Human reputation means nothing compared to God’s assessment of our spiritual condition. b. A dying church must take decisive action to be restored to spiritual health. c. Jesus promises eternal recognition and security for the faithful minority.
6. Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-13). a. Jesus has sovereign control over who gets into the Kingdom of God. b. Jesus’s acceptance of his people cannot be reversed by the world’s rejection of them. c. God’s true people will be publicly identified and vindicated in the end. d. Christ will protect his people from spiritual attack even though they may suffer physical persecution. e. The greatest eternal reward possible is a permanent place in the presence of God.
7. Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22). a. Jesus Christ is the faithful witness and authoritative source of life for all. b. Jesus sternly rebukes complacency and half-heartedness among his people. c. Prideful self-sufficiency and materialism blinds a person to their spiritual poverty. d. Jesus rebukes and disciplines his people precisely because he loves them. e. To experience renewed fellowship with Jesus, believers must be serious enough to change. f. Jesus longs for and stands ready for renewed fellowship with believers who repent of their self-reliance and open their lives to him.

Commentary: Jesus provides a complete assessment of the spiritual health of his Church, at the time of his Revelation to the Apostle John, and also throughout the ages (past, present and future). He also promises rewards to those Christians who overcome the obstacles and sins that plague his Church (corporately, and of believers, individually). Jesus, specifically and precisely, reveals these sins and obstacles. He also, specifically and precisely, reveals the rewards that the children of God will receive.