Slides: Churches

^1:10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,¹¹ which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” 

¹² I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands,¹³ and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. ¹⁴ His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.¹⁵ His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.¹⁶ In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.¹⁸ I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

^{19 “}Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later. ²⁰ The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”

^2:1 To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: ² I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. ³ You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

⁴ Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. ⁵ Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. ⁶ But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

⁷ He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

Letter

1. Jesus
2. Praises
3. Rebukes
4. Commands
5. Warnings
6. Promises
7. Listen!

Jesus

• Holds angels, among churches
• First and last, died and rose
• Sharp, two-edged sword
• Son, fiery eyes, fierce feet
• Holds seven spirits and stars
• Holy, true, holds keys
• Amen, witness, beginning

Praises

• Orthodox, upright, steadfast
• Spiritually rich, persecuted
• Faithful amid Satan’s attacks
• Love, faith, service, endurance
• Unsoiled remnant in dead church
• Spiritually strong, keep Word

Rebukes

• Lost first love, not shining
• Blend religions, permissive
• Tolerate false, immoral teachers
• Dead despite name & heritage
• Lukewarm, self-satisfied

Commands

• Remember, repent, renew love
• Stay faithful unto death
• Repent
• Hold fast, keep Christ’s works
• Wake up, recall, strengthen
• Hold fast to what you have
• Get serious, receive Jesus

• Remove lampstand
• Attack with sword
• Disease, death, payback
• Come like a thief
• Spit out

Promises

• Eat from tree of life in Paradise
• Crown of life, unhurt by 2^nd death
• Hidden manna, engraved stone
• Rule nations, morning star
• Dressed in white, book of life
• Pillar in temple, names engraved
• Christ within; share his throne

Listen!
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Letter

1. Jesus
2. Praises
3. Rebukes
4. Commands
5. Warnings
6. Promises
7. Listen!