In introducing His message to this church, the Lord Jesus called its attention to the fact that He was the First and the Last, the One who inhabits eternity, who has always existed, and who will continue to live throughout all eternity. Though He was God, He entered the world by miraculous conception and virgin birth and became the God-man. The purpose of His coming into the world was to purchase man's redemption, to provide atonement for man's sin, and to open up the new and living way of approach to God through His shed blood. Hence, at the appointed time He walked into the jaws of death and allowed the Roman authorities to seize Him and to nail Him to the cross, thus dying in our stead, and shedding His blood for our redemption. But being God in human form, He arose from the dead, bringing life and immortality to light through the gospel. He therefore said to this church that He had died, but that He came to life again, never to see corruption.

The reason for His calling this church's attention to these fundamental, basic facts was this: There was just ahead of it a storm of persecution that was even then brewing, and that soon would burst upon its head. Self-preservation is the first law of nature--so we are told. Naturally, men try to preserve their lives--instinctively. Under pressure people are prone to soft-pedal in times of danger, hoping that by so doing they may escape persecution and death. Such a danger is common to all. By implication the Lord asked those who would be facing their trial by persecution to follow Him as an example.

In verse 9 He recognized their situation. "I know," He said, "thy tribulation, and thy poverty." And He added that He knew those among them who were blaspheming and claiming to be Jews, "... and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan." They were not Jews in the real sense of the term, because they lacked the spirit of Abraham. It was indeed a consoling thought to these endangered Christians to realize that the Lord was looking on and had taken their entire situation in hand, the implication being that He would meet their need and would assist them in times of danger. In verse 10 He gave a word of encouragement saying: "Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." They were to be of good courage and faithful, even though the path of duty should lead into the jaws of death.

The letter closes with the promise: "He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." Jesus, during His earthly ministry, urged His disciples not to fear those who could kill the body but after that could do nothing else, but to fear and reverence God, who, after having killed the body, can cast the soul, or spirit, into Gehenna, hell.

No complaint or reprimand to this church--Smyrna--is recorded. Had there been any occasion for censure, the Lord would have given it.

The Lord, in opening the letter to the church at Pergamum, called attention to the fact that He is the one who has the sharp two-edged sword. The mention of this fact constituted a threat against that church in the event that the evils which He was about to mention would be dealt with in a summary manner. That there is an implied threat in the language is proved by the epistle itself.

In verse 13 the Lord called attention to the fact that this Church was dwelling where Satan's throne was. Notwithstanding that fact it had stood firm and had not denied His name and the faith during some former persecution, in which one outstanding brother, Antipas by name, had been killed because of his loyalty to the Lord. There are places, we may have no doubt, in different ages where Satan has had his throne. He has a kingdom over which he is reigning. But there is some locality from which he carries on his operations through his servile spirits. It is very important that we realize that there is a Kingdom of darkness which has drawn up its forces against the children of God. In the very end of this age we may believe that Satan will have his throne in Babylon--old Babylon restored--which will then be the beauty of the kingdoms of the world.

The things which the Lord had against this church are set forth in verses 14 and 15: "But I have a few thing's against thee, because thou hast there some that hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. 15 So hast thou also some that hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans in like manner."

Satan is very crafty and cunning. If he cannot accomplish his designs against the people of God in one manner, he will in another. His major method is to transform himself into an angel of light--to disguise his presence and purpose.

According to verse 16 the Lord called upon this church to repent. At the same time He threw out a drastic warning, saying: "Repent therefore; or else I come to thee quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth." To repent is to change the thoughts, intents, and purposes of the mind, or heart. Such a resolution will result in a change of conduct and attitude. The Lord would fight against those guilty in the church who did not repent.

The message to the church of Thyatira is found in Revelation 2:18-29 and is a very searching one.

The Lord spoke of himself to this group as "the Son of God, who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like unto burnished brass…." The fact that His eyes were like flames of fire and His feet like burnished brass indicates that His divine ire and indignation were stirred to the very depths and that, unless there was a change in the situation, He would take drastic action immediately. People need to realize that, while God is a God of love, He is a God that has indignation every day--against sin in every form and phase. He is able, if necessary, to go roughshod over any situation and to deal with the guilty culprits. God sometimes uses the motive of fear, as well as those of love, kindness, and gentleness.

This church, Thyatira, had lying back in its history a good record: "I know thy works, and thy love and faith and ministry and patience, and that thy last works are more than the first" (2:19). The Lord could not say such of most congregations. In fact, there are very few concerning which He could speak so very glowingly. This church had works to its credit. Moreover, it had love, the quintessence of Christianity. In addition to that, it was a church consisting of people who had real faith in God, who laid the emphasis upon the ministry of the Word, and who were patient and long-suffering. It was a church that was growing in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.

Notwithstanding all of these favorable things, there was a very serious defect in this church, which was noted by the Lord. Against this evil the Lord spoke the following: "But I have this against thee, that thou sufferest the woman Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess; and she teacheth and seduceth my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time that she should repent; and she willeth not to repent of her fornication. 22 Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of her works. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works" (2:20-23). There was actually a woman of the very lowest character who was being tolerated in the fellowship of the saints at Thyatira. She claimed to be a prophetess. It is altogether possible that she was a spiritist and was issuing her utterances and leading many astray. God gave her time to repent and doubtless overruled and worked everything for good in order to get her to repent. But she set her will like a flint against turning from her sins unto God. On the other hand, she persisted in her fornication. The call of God is to separation.

The Lord hurled this terrible threat against her: "I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he that searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto each one of you according to your works."

"Upon the rest of the congregation the Lord laid no other burden than to stand aloof from this wicked woman and her influence. He spoke to as many as were not under her influence, who did not know the deep things of Satan, as was the common saying in the church there. There are many deep and sinister things that Satan palms off upon the children of God as being genuine. One is to prove all things--test all things by the Scriptures. To such the Lord said: "Nevertheless that which ye have, hold fast till I come" (vs. 25).

The Lord constantly speaks of His return. It seems that He has been away a long time, but He is coming back! Everything points in the direction that it will not be long now. But let us not set any date. Only remember that everyone who has this hope set on Him purifies himself, even as He is pure.

The overcomer is promised that he will have authority over the nations and will rule them with a rod of iron. This is a promise that goes back to Psalm 2. The overcomers are promised the privilege of reigning with Christ during the Millennium and also of reigning in the eternal world.

Christ overcame and sat down with His Father in His throne; in a manner similar those who overcome will sit down with Christ in His throne and share His regal authority with Him, when He reigns over the earth from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

To the overcomer the Lord promises to give "the morning star." Christ is the Morning Star and is spoken of in this capacity in His relation to His coming for His saints before the Tribulation.

The letter to the church at Thyatira closes with the following exhortation: "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches" (vs. 29). We should ever be alert in our attention to the Word of God and seek to know what is His will and to do it.

IN THE LAST study we examined briefly the first four letters in this series of seven. We now come to the consideration of the last three, found in Revelation, chapter 3.

Characteristically, the Lord begins this letter in His usual manner of speaking of Himself in terms of the description of Himself as seen in chapter 1. Here He speaks of Himself as "he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars." What is meant by "the seven Spirits of God"? As was seen in our study of 1:4, the expression, the seven Spirits of God, refers to the Holy Spirit. This is doubtless an echo of such a passage as Isaiah 11:2, in which the Holy Spirit is spoken of in a sevenfold manner, in terms of the seven different things that He would do in, and through the Messiah when He came at His first advent. When Christ went back to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit, who proceeded from the Father and the Son, to come to this earth and to carry on the work that had been started by the Lord during His earthly sojourn. The seven stars are the seven angels, or messengers, of the seven churches. As noted before, these messengers are some leading personages in each one of the churches, who by natural qualifications and surrender to God seem to be occupying the most prominent position in each local congregation.

Following His regular pattern, the Lord next called attention to the merits and praiseworthy things connected with this church. Thus He said, "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead." This church, about which very little is said in a commendatory manner, had works. But if we are to judge from the way in which the Lord spoke of its works, we would probably conclude that they were not so very much.

The Lord called their attention to the fact that they had a name that they were alive, but in reality they were dead. The congregation had deteriorated to more of a social club, in all probability. By the preaching of the true gospel of Jesus Christ, the people are brought to a saving knowledge of Him and are regenerated. When the gospel ceases to be preached in its fullness and power, the people may come into a congregation and become numbered with them without the new birth, or regeneration. Thus, although the corporate body appears to be what it was at first, since there is no impartation of the new life in Christ to those constituting such a social unit, it is dead, spiritually speaking. This congregation doubtless was running along because of the momentum that it had when the true gospel was preached and spiritual life was present. We might illustrate it by a train that dashes across the prairie and approaches a town. Before reaching the station, the engineer cuts off the steam or power, but the train continues to go forward by its momentum. Thus it was probably so with this church at Sardis. It was just going along on the momentum gained by constant habit, without any new life. And yet there was a little life here and there, as is evident from the exhortation found in verse 2: "Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God." There were doubtless those--few in number--who really knew the Lord. But their spiritual light was not shining brightly.

Following this exhortation, the Lord gives a warning, urging the church to repent. If they do not do this, He threatens that He will come as a thief in the night and they will not know the hour of His coming.

Notwithstanding the low spiritual life of this church there were certain ones in Sardis who had not defiled their garments. Though one lives in a very poor environment, he does not have to succumb to the evil influence of the same. By the grace of God he can live above the sordid things of this world.

To those who were thus living separated lives, consecrated to God, the promise was made that they should walk with Him in white, they being worthy of doing so because of the merits of the Lord Jesus alone. Those who overcome shall be arrayed in white as conquerors. Their names will never be blotted from the book of life. When they come before the Lord, He will acknowledge them before His Father and before the angels. Thus the letter closes with an exhortation to those that hear to give heed to "what the Spirit saith to the churches."

In addressing the church at Philadelphia, the Lord Jesus declared that He was the one "that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth." The Lord Jesus is holy in the highest sense of the term, because He is God. Holiness is both a positive and a negative term--positive in the sense that His very being was and is set toward holiness; in the negative sense, in that He was and is free from all taint of contamination, of defilement, and of pollution. He is the True One, true as opposed to false, the one who is the very embodiment of truth. He has the key of David: that is, He is the descendant of David concerning whom the prophets spoke. For instance, David spoke of Him in his swan song in II Samuel 23:3-5. He is the one who has the key of David in that He unlocks the future for the Davidic house and the establishment of the kingdom of God in the highest sense of the term here upon earth. This He will do when He mounts the throne upon His return at the end of the Tribulation. Moreover, He is the one who opens, and none will be able to shut; He also shuts and no one is able to open. He is the one who is an absolute authority in all matters. This is in perfect accord with what He said to the disciples when He appeared to them, as recorded by Matthew 28:19, 20. Then He declared that all power and authority in heaven and in earth had been given to Him. He can dispose of situations, unravel perplexities, solve difficulties. It is very, very important that we recognize Him as the one who has all this power, and who can solve all our problems. If we would go to Him with all our difficulties, and with our pleasures and plans as well, He would solve them for our good and for the glory of God. Having told the church what He was, and could do, and does do He acknowledged the works of the Philadelphian church. But He reminded it that He was the one who had opened before it a door which no one could shut. All the members were therefore supposed to enter in and to labor for Him. There seems to be, however, a censure in the words of the Lord Jesus to this group, for He said that they had "a little power," whereas all power that belongs to God is accessible to the one who by faith and consecration avails himself of it. Moreover, they had kept His word and had not denied His name. It seems that this church was very punctilious in the observance of the Word of the Lord and was proud of the name of Christ and had confessed it on all occasions.

There was a synagogue of Jews in Philadelphia. They were racially Jews, but did not have the spirit of the true Jew, just as Jesus said to His opponents as we see in John, chapter 8. Jesus told these Jews that they were not the children of Abraham, because they were attempting to do that which Abraham would never have done. In order to be a true Jew one must be racially one and must have the spirit of Abraham. Concerning these Jews who were a synagogue of Satan--that is, they were under Satan's domination and control--Jesus declared that He would overrule and cause them to come and bow down before the church in Philadelphia and acknowledge that He, the Lord Jesus, had loved that church.

There is a wonderful promise made to this church in verse 10: "Because thou didst keep the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." This church had been faithful in the observance of the Word of God. They had been faithful during times of stress and trial. The Lord therefore promised to such ones exemption from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world to try it. From this we know that there is a period of time when there will be world-wide, universal trials, troubles, and difficulties. This is known by prophetic students as the great Tribulation Period, the day of Jehovah, when He pours out His wrath upon the world. When this passage is studied in the light of related ones, it appears to be a promise that the Lord will take His people out of the world before that time of Tribulation bursts forth upon an unsuspecting world.

The promise of the second coming is affirmed in verse 11. When the time comes for Him to return to the earth, He will come, and come very quickly. Those who have His Word should hold fast to it and not allow anyone to cheat them out of their crown. If someone turns us away from doing the service of God from the heart, and causes us to squander our time, and to use the means which He places in our care for other purposes than the advancement of His cause, such a one will be causing us to lose our crown, or a certain amount of its brilliancy.

As usual, in this letter the Lord makes a definite promise to the faithful ones who over come. "12 He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name." This promise must be studied carefully in the light of the two concluding chapters of the Book of Revelation.

A special appeal to the one who wants truth concludes the letter; "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches."

The last of the seven churches is the one in Laodicea, which was, as we see from the content of the letter, the poorest spiritually of all. To this group the Lord spoke of Himself as "the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God...." The word "amen" means to believe, or to make believe. It came to be a petition, "May it come to pass." Jesus was the faithful and true witness to the truth of God and to God himself. He came, not to do His own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Him. He sought, not His own pleasure, but the welfare of the human race and the glory of God. He asserts that He was "the beginning of the creation of God." This phrase is capable of two interpretations: First, it has been understood to mean that Jesus was a created being, that God alone existed in eternity and finally created the Son as He did the rest of His creatures; second, that the Son of God is the Creator of all things--the Source of all things. It is impossible to accept the first interpretation, namely, that Christ was a created being. There are many passages in the Scriptures that indicate that Jesus, the Word, was with God in the beginning, was God, and was in association with God (John 1:1; Phil. 2:1-11; Heb. chap. 1, and many other passages that teach that Christ is God, who existed with the Father before all eternity and will continue to be with Him throughout all eternity of the future). For these reasons we reject the interpretation that the phrase, "the beginning of the creation of God," means that Christ was a created being. In the Colossian Epistle there is an expression which is somewhat similar to this one, and which is that Christ was "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible ..." (Col. 1:15,16). Christ was "the firstborn of all creation," because, as we are told, in Him were all things created. Thus this passage tells us in what way He was "the beginning of the creation of God," or "the firstborn of all creation," namely, He was the Creator of all things.

That Christ was God in human form, entering the world by miraculous conception and virgin birth, is the cardinal doctrine of the Christian religion. Any system of teaching or group of people that rejects this fundamental doctrine is anti-Christian.

Again, Christ recognized the works that had been performed by the Laodicean church. They were in a pitiful condition, "neither cold nor hot." The Lord would have people either to be for Him, or to be out-and-out for the devil. Those who are neither hot nor cold are a positive detriment to the cause of Christ.

Because they were in this lukewarm state, the Lord declared that He would spew them out of His mouth. Judgment was bound to fall upon them if they continued in this condition.

There seems to have been quite a bit of wealth in this church. Unfortunately, most people cannot stand prosperity. They immediately focus their attention upon riches, that are here today and gone tomorrow. Because these people were depending upon their wealth and their riches, the Lord counseled them to buy of Him "gold refined by fire," that they might become really rich; and white garments, that they might clothe themselves in order that their nakedness might not be seen; and eyesalve, the real thing, that they might anoint their spiritual eyes and see realities as they are. When we consider all things, we come to the conclusion that nothing counts for anything, so far as eternity is concerned, except being in harmony with God's will and doing the same.

The Lord informed this church that He reproves and chastens everyone whom He loves. The time has come, declared the Apostle Peter, that judgment must begin at the house of God. The wicked receive their punishment in the eternal world, but the children of God are chastened and corrected now, for their good.

The Lord represented Himself as standing outside the door of the Laodicean church and knocking in order that He might gain entrance. He did not expect the church as a group to open the door and welcome Him. He therefore called upon each individual who would hear His voice and open the door, and to such ones He said that He would come in and would have fellowship with them. The gospel with all its privileges of association and fellowship with Christ is a personal matter. He is ready to have fellowship with anyone, no matter how humble he may be, if he will only accept the invitation.

In the letter to this church the Lord made a promise to those who would overcome. He informed them that He would allow the overcomer to sit down with Him in His throne, as He had sat down with His Father in His throne after He had done the will of God here in His first advent. Those who are Christ's, and who suffer with Him, will reign with Christ, when He returns.

This last of the seven epistles closes with the usual call for those who are willing to hear to do so and to listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. God and Christ and the Holy Spirit are all eager to pour out the fullness of their blessings upon all who will receive.