Christ's words in the Apocalypse to the churches are full of wisdom. This much neglected book has so much to challenge us with for our own day. The dispensationalists, have, in some measure, taken the text away from us by proposing that the seven churches refer to successive church ages, which creates a mystery that is quite unfathomable. How can we be in the age of Laodicea (apostasy), and yet still await the promise of Philadelphia (rapture)?
Some have restructured their thinking to escape the foolishness of such eisegesis, such as Robert Thomas, whose two volume work on Revelation published by Moody is at least responsible exegesis, yet still mistaken on many matters!
So, the truth about the seven churches really is that these characteristics are found in any number of places of worship in any age or time-frame and in any combination. The original settings may have been historical churches with specific occasional problems, but they also depict the types of challenges that Christian congregations will face in light of ungodly culture that persecutes believers throughout church history.
So, doctrinal purity and deficient love may be a symptom of the local Baptist church down the lane. Basking in millions of dollars yet being spiritually impoverished may be the condition of the elegant Episcopal church on Main street. You get the picture!
What jumped out at me in the survey of the first three chapters was the amazing vision of the glorified Christ, and how quickly the church may lose sight of Him. Texts like these are designed to be gazed upon repeatedly. We must see the Lamb of Judah as the triumphant Lord. He has the keys in hand. He has overcome all the foes, especially the most deadly. He holds the church in His hands speaking of the believers' security, yet He walks amongst the candlesticks ensuring that He sees all, obviously stressing our accountability.
What does He see?
In short, everything. Again, and again, the refrain echoes: "I know your Works." All of our doings, and our lack of doing as well, are under His careful gaze. One may ask, “Why?” What is the big deal that such an intimacy is bound up with the churches?
It is because the church is the bride to be. He has shed His blood to redeem her, and He longs for her purity. He expostulates, He exhorts, He encourages, and He exposes! There is no rock that Christ has left unturned. He knows all our dirty little secrets. He knows that we are compromised, He knows where we are afraid, He knows when we are persecuted, and He knows when we are victorious.
For some, He laments and spews us forth like vomit. For others, He gently urges that they keep going in the same correct direction. "Strengthen the things that remain," he reminds the dead church! Indeed, a miracle is needed here. Whereas, to the persecuted, He demands that they be "faithful unto death,'" so they can emerge as conquerors with a crown of life!
What does Christ think of the Church? Well that depends on What type of "church" one is!!! Let us learn from these three practical chapters what pleases and what displeases the Lord, the head of the Body.
So, with confidence we can go forward, not fearing that our lampstand might be removed or our children killed!!!
Theodore Zachariades, Ph.D.
