​Note: Letter to the Seven Churches: “Though each message is different, the letters have some similarities. In each one Christ declared that He knows their works; each one includes a promise to those who overcome; each one gives an exhortation to those hearing; and each letter has a particular description of Christ that related to the message which follows. Each letter includes a commendation (except the letter to Laodicea), a rebuke (except the letters to Smyrna and Philadelphia), an exhortation, and an encouraging promise to those heeding its message. In general these letters to the seven churches address the problems inherent in churches throughout church history and are an incisive and comprehensive revelation of how Christ evaluates local churches.”*

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1. Renewal of First Love: The church in Ephesus had many great qualities including good deeds, hard work (the Greek word means, “toil to the point of exhaustion”), perseverance (under trials), keen in doctrines (tested false apostles), and not tolerating wicked men. However, they had forsaken their first love, and they were exhorted to “remember” their first love, to “repent,” and to “redo” what they did before. Likewise, we may be busy with our lives and even in the ministries; but God desires us to love Him more than anything. Evaluate your love towards God and see if you have fallen from your first love; if so, come before Him to renew your commitment and your love to Him.

2. Be Faithful: The church in Smyrna was under afflictions, poverty, slandering, persecution, and imprisonment. They were encouraged not to be afraid and were charged to be faithful even to the point of death. Do you find it hard to stand firm and be faithful under trials and affliction? Why or why not? 

3. Do Not Compromise: The church in Pergamum remained faithful even under persecution; however, some of them followed the teaching of Balaam and held to the teaching of the Nicolaitans, thus compromised their faith and involved in idolatry and sexual immorality. In what way(s) have you been compromising with the world? What could you do to fight against the compromising spirit?

4. Do Not Tolerate Evil: The church in Thyatira had good deeds, love, faith, service, and perseverance; and are doing more than they did at first (note the sharp contrast with the Ephesian church). However, they tolerated a false prophetess, Jezebel, who influenced the church with idolatry and sexual immorality (it is unlikely that Jezebel was her real name since such an infamous name would not be given to a child; just that her behavior reflected that of the wicked Queen Jezebel cf. 1 Kgs. 16:31-33). In what way(s) has the world been pressuring us to tolerate evil? How do you respond to such pressure?  

5. Your own insight: (fill in yourself)

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Meditation and Application:

Meditate on the above questions along with the necessary actions. Out of the four churches in Rev. 2, which church do you resemble the most? Focus on the exhortation/recommendation to that church and see how you could put them into practice. 

 

* The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.