In this Meditation we want to examine how God dealt with the churches in the book of Revelation that did not obey God’s Spirit and God’s Word and did not pursue Christlike holiness. (For the way Jesus Christ, the Messiah, lectures these churches in Revelation see also Meditation 54).
The powerful Church in Ephesus (modern Turkey)
At the end of Paul’s second missionary journey (c. AD 52) he paid a short visit to Ephesus (Acts 18:19-22). It was his first visit to this town while he was on the way to Jerusalem and Antioch.
His third missionary journey (c. AD 52-56) was first of all aimed at Ephesus. Paul stayed there for over two years evangelising and planting a church in this, the largest city of Asia Minor and the centre of the Roman administration in that province (Acts 19:8 and 10).
When Paul departed from Ephesus, he left his co-worker Timothy there to consolidate the new church and warn against false teachers (see Paul’s first letter to Timothy).
Later on the Lord Himself addresses the powerful Ephesian church for having tragically lost the way of pursuing Christlike holiness.
He threatens them with His judgment if they do not repent:
“ I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first!
Look how far you have fallen from your first love! Turn back to me again and work as you did at first. If you don't, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. (Revelation 2:4-5)
As I wrote in Meditation 54, ‘the removing of the lampstand’ might be an expression that announces the end of the involvement of God's Spirit in a church’s transformation into the likeness of Christ.
When passionate love for the Lord and for each other dies in a church, the church’s business may continue as usual, but the governing and transforming presence of God’s Spirit is stifled and gone.
The permissive Church in Pergamum
(modern Turkey)
The church in Pergamum is only mentioned in the book of Revelation. As I wrote in Meditation 54, this church tolerated ungodly behaviour and false teaching in their midst:
“And yet I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you who are like Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel.
He taught them to worship idols by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. In the same way, you have some Nicolaitans among you -- people who follow the same teaching and commit the same sins” (Revelation 2:14-15).
The Lord seriously warns this church. He tells them what He will do when they don’t deal with the false teachers in their midst: “Repent, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them [false teachers] with the sword of my mouth” (Revelation 2:16).
The compromising church of Thyatira
(modern Turkey)
As I said in Meditation 54, the Lord severely condemns the church in Thyatira for condoning those who preach, practise and promote libertinism and debauchery:
“I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman -- that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet -- to lead my servants astray. She is encouraging them to worship idols, eat food offered to idols, and commit sexual sin” (Revelation 2:20).
If this church and its false prophetess do not repent, the Lord’s judgment on this church will surely come: “I gave her time to repent, but she would not turn away from her immorality. Therefore, I will throw her upon a sickbed, and she will suffer greatly with all who commit adultery with her, unless they turn away from all their evil deeds.
I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.” (Revelation 2:21-23)
The ‘contaminated’ church of Sardis (modern Turkey)
In Meditation 54 we saw that this active church made a positive impression on outsiders. Yet, in the opinion of the Lord it was ‘dead’. It had contaminated itself with the impious ways of its pagan surroundings. No pursuing of Christlike holiness here!
The Lord addresses the unholiness of this church, saying: “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive -- but you are dead. ... Your deeds are far from right in the sight of God” (Revelation 3:1-2).
The Lord calls this church to repentance and threatens it with judgment: “Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly and turn to me again. Unless you do, I will come upon you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief” (Revelation 3:3).
The apostle Paul might not have visited this church personally. Yet, he mentions it in his letter to the church in Colosse (Colossians 2:1 and 4:13-16).
In Meditation 55 we wrote that this church had grown into a wealthy, hardened and self-sufficient community. The Lord Jesus severely rebukes this worst of the ‘seven churches’ because of its proud, half-hearted, in-name-only piety. There was no passion for pursuing of Christlike holiness in this church!
The Lord harangues it, saying: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! ... You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!'.
And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.
I advise you to buy gold from me -- gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich.
And also buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness. And buy ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see” (Revelation 3:15 and 17-18).
The Lord gives this church a very severe warning: "So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:16).
Since Meditation 78 we have looked into the question of how God dealt in New Testament times with churches that did not obey His Spirit and His Word and did not live up to His view on Christ’s church.
In the coming meditations we want to consider what God might want to say to our churches through His dealings with those New Testament congregations.
(to be continued)
Revelation 3:16 and Hebrews 12:10 are quotes from the New International Version. All other quotes are from the New Living Translation.
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