Seven Letters Session 1 |What Would Jesus Say? Overview of Series- I think many of us would like to know specifically what Jesus would say to His church if He were here on the earth today. Well, in the first three chapters of the book of Revelation, we have such an account. Jesus made three statements to each church. I know your works, He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches, and to he that overcomes. These statements show us that Jesus has intimate knowledge of His church including corrections and exhortations. In these three chapters, Jesus addresses seven different churches that were a part of His body in the first century. We know that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever and with that knowledge we can practically apply these truths to our church today and gain valuable insight from Christ Himself. Join us as we explore some life changing words from our savior in these seven letters to His church. Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Setting: The apostle John likely moved to Ephesus-the leading city in Asia Minor (today is western Turkey)-sometime before the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. It was from Ephesus that John wrote the gospel bearing his name and his 3 epistles. Late in the first century, a Roman emperor name Domitian exiled John to the island of Patmos, approximately forty miles off the coast of Asia Minor in the Aegean Sea. The apostle provides no details to the nature of his crimes, except to say that he had been banished for preaching the word of God and for his testimony about Jesus. (Rev. 1:9) It is believed John spent 18 months exiled on Patmos. During his reign, Domitian declared himself to be God and demanded to be acknowledged accordingly. This presented a huge problem for the early church since they worshipped Christ as Lord only. Their refusal to participate was a punishable offense. Some early Christians faced economic reprisals and loss of jobs, beatings, imprisonment, banishment, and even death. By the time of Johns exile to Patmos, he was the only surviving member of the original apostles. Other than Judas, who took his own life, the rest of the apostles and other notable ministers in the early church had been martyred for their faith. · Persecution and punishment (John did things right before God) · Look what God can do in horrible circumstances (Jesus invaded Johns exile and gave him a revelation that dramatically impacted believers in his day and continues to impact millions today.) · It was because of their faith they were martyred not a lack of faith. · Let’s stop fighting for God to change our circumstances to what we think we want and seek God for what He wants in any circumstance. · There is one sure way to avoid persecution for your faith-compromise. Map Patmos, and the Seven Churches Revelation 1:1-8 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:9-20 9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. 19 Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. 20 The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches. · Some people believe the first three chapters of Revelation were fulfilled in the first century and the rest of the book is to unfold in time. · Look at Johns response to the glorified Christ. This is the same man that sat with Jesus face to face when He was here on the earth. · Brother and companion in the tribulation. Angelos-messenger, angel Each message to an individual church was also apparently intended for the six other churches. Three statements Jesus made to all 7 churches: 1. I know your works (Jesus has intimate knowledge of each of our contexts) behavior, action, deed 2. He that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches The sense organ for hearing. (whisper) 3. He that overcomes… Prevails, conquers, victorious 3 Grids Jesus spoke through to each church in these 3 statements Jesus had a personal revelation of Himself to each church Praise and exhortations Corrections and warnings It was because of their faith they were martyred not a lack of faith. Hebrews 11:32-12:2 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 1 Peter 2:11-12 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.