The Letters to the Churches
REVELATION Number 31
The Letters to the Churches
As I indicated at the outset of this study, I do not intend it to be a verse-by-verse commentary on The Revelation. If you’re looking for that, there are plenty available. Two that interpret The Revelation from a similar viewpoint are “More than Conquerors” by William Hendriksen, and “Jesus: Victor Over Religion” by James A (Jim) Fowler.
As I begin to present thoughts on the letters to the churches, it is my aim to avoid rehashing the commentary of so many others. Some, like Dr. Paul Ellis in his “Letters from Jesus”, have written whole books specifically about these letters. Consequently, I see no need to once again examine the historical setting of the fellowships in ancient Asia Minor and break down the specific tribulations faced by each.
As we have established, The Revelation is pertinent for all believers in every time. Therefore, we will take a more holistic approach to our examination of what the Lord Jesus has written to His churches.
Each of the seven letters gives the same counsel, “[Whoever] has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” From this, we understand that the Lord intends that these letters be shared among all the churches. That He enumerated seven churches also indicates that the complete set of churches is in view.
At a high level then, we see that the Lord begins each letter using various facets and characteristics of His identity in His introduction of Himself. Similarly varied are the strengths and struggles of the various individual churches. We as individuals struggle in areas others may not and we have various talents and preferences, yet we all comprise the Church, the body and bride of Christ. These letters give warning and encouragement to the entire Church.
As we look at chapters two and three of The Revelation there are a number of things we can expect.
We will be shown how religion, human government, and the world system infiltrate the Church.
We will see that the Lord knows the situation, the good and the bad, faced by each fellowship of believers in His Church.
The Lord will provide direction of value to every fellowship. For some, His instruction will be to wake up. To others, to remember, to be faithful, to change their minds, and to hold tightly.
The call to listen, hear, and thus obey, will be made. This will call us all to the obedience of faith as we listen, and receive from God by faith, the energizing of His Spirit.
Finally, we will be given promises, which as we know from 2 Corinthians 1:20, are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus. These are certainly true for us now, but at the consummation of all things, they will be experienced in a yet more unhindered fullness.
