Revelation 2-3 are the specific notes John writes to each of the seven churches who were to receive this letter. These were actual churches, in a specific place and time, with particular issues (and you can still visit many of their ruins today!) In this difficult season of persecution by Roman emperors, these churches will be forced to decide between compromise and accommodation of the world or faithfulness to God.

As you read the note to each church, note they follow a specific pattern: A statement about Jesus’ identity, things the church is doing well, things the church is failing at, a call to action/command, and a reward for the “one who conquers and keeps My words to the end”.

If I had a white board, we would make a list of what we learn. It might look like this:

Things the churches are doing well:

• Patient endurance, have not grown weary (2:2-3,19)
• Cannot bear with those who are evil but test people (2:2)
• Enduring tribulation, poverty, and slander (2:9)
• Holding fast to the name of Jesus, did not deny faith (2:13)
• Works of service, faith, love for people (2:19)

Things the churches are failing at:

• Abandoned your first love (2:4)
• Allowing false teachers to remain, tolerating sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols, causing others to stumble (2:14-15)
• Tolerating false teachings and encouraging sexual immorality, causing others to stumble (2:20)
• Refusing to repent (2:21)

Call to action/Commands:

• Repent (2:5,16,22) *major theme
• Do not fear prison or death, be faithful (2:10)
• Hold fast to what you have until I come (2:25)

We will look at the remaining three churches tomorrow, and at the rewards promised – but in the meantime, do you see a theme?

They are in a season of tribulation, where Christians are being singled out. The call is for churches to hold fast to the faith, to repent and not tolerate false teachings, which often encourage immorality and cause Christians to stumble. How might these themes be relevant to our churches today?