A Deeper Dive Into the Book of Revelation - Part 55
In Revelation chapters 2 and 3, John wrote as Jesus dictated seven letters to seven churches that were in Asia Minor at the time of John’s writing. These were not the only churches in Asia at that time. We know that there were churches in Antioch, for example, and Colossae, and Galatia, among others.
These seven churches were chosen by Jesus for specific reasons. The letters are just as meaningful and relevant to us today as they were to the churches at that time.
William Branham points out that all seven churches were Gentile churches. God did not include the Jerusalem church, or any other churches which were mostly made up of Jewish believers. (Branham, p.71)
The Church Age is primarily a Gentile age. After the Jews’ rejection of their Messiah, Paul tells us in Romans 11 that the Jews were cut off and out of favor with God. But restoration is coming for the Jewish people! Israel will be saved through a remnant that will be sealed by God. John was allowed to watch this happen in Revelation chapter 7.
Praise and Warnings
Each of the seven letters follows a similar format.
Each letter is addressed to the angel or divine messenger of the church. We know from the first chapter that these are the stars that Jesus holds in His right hand. Even though most translations use the word “angel” here, it makes more sense to understand that these are the pastors or leaders of these churches.
After this address, Jesus then identifies Himself as the author of the message.
Most churches received praise from the Lord for characteristics and works that pleased Him. But sadly, when He came to the church in Sardis, Jesus could only find a few people worthy of His praise. The others only received a call to repent.
Even worse, when Jesus addressed the church in Laodicea, He found nothing in that church that was worthy of His praise. Jesus had nothing good to say about the church in Laodicea. We will find out later that the church in Laodicea represents the Church of this current age in which we are living.
Most churches had issues that needed to be addressed. Jesus did not overwhelm the churches with burdens that they could not bear, but He lovingly but firmly identified a few specific issues that needed to be corrected.
With Smyrna, it was different. Through no fault of their own, they were going to experience severe persecution and tribulation. Some would face prison. Others would face death by martyrdom. Jesus’ message to them was a message of encouragement, urging them to be faithful unto death.
Philadelphia, like Smyrna, received no words of correction, but their message was very different from the message to Smyrna because they had a very different calling. Jesus set before them an open door that no one could shut. He praised and honored the Philadelphia church, promising to spare them from the Tribulation to come. It is interesting to note that this is the only church that received that promise.
Rewards of the Overcomer
Near the end of each letter, after addressing the issues that each church needed to deal with, Jesus spoke “to him who overcomes.” This part of each letter was not spoken to the entire church, but was only directed at those individuals in each church who overcame all of the issues that Jesus pointed out to them.
In these messages to the overcomers, Jesus promises incredible and unmatched rewards. Jesus offers the greatest rewards in His Kingdom to these individuals who overcome the issues that He points out. He even offers these individuals the reward that the mother of James and John was seeking for her boys of being seated with Jesus in His Kingdom!
“And He said to her, ‘What do you wish?’ She answered Him, ‘Command that in Your kingdom these two sons of mine may sit [in positions of honor and authority] one on Your right and one on Your left.’”—Matthew 20:21 (AMP)
That is promised “to him who overcomes” in the letter to the church of the Laodiceans:
“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”—Revelation 3:21 (NKJV)
These promises are not offered to the entire church. These promises are only offered “to him who overcomes.” Most Christians will not value these promises, nor will they do what is necessary to qualify to receive these promises.
In fact, most Christians may not even be able to hear or understand what is promised to the overcomer because each promise is accompanied by this qualifier:
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
During the time of His ministry on earth, Jesus said several times, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” But in these letters to the seven churches, the message is different. Jesus is not speaking to the one who has ears, but to the one who has an ear (singular). Jesus is speaking to the disciple who only has a single ear for the voice of his Master. Jesus is speaking to the one whose ear is attuned only to follow one voice—the voice of Jesus.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”—John 10:27 (NKJV)
“But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”—John 10:2-5 (NKJV)
This “ear to hear” is also a reference to the servant who loved his master so much that he had one ear pierced by his master. From that time on, he was marked as a bond servant to his master for life. (See Exodus 21:5-6 and Deuteronomy 15:16-17.) These Overcomers are the Bond Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.
If there was any doubt that the overcomers will be honored with the highest and greatest rewards in God’s Kingdom, there is an eighth promise given “to him who overcomes” near the end of the book:
“He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.”—Revelation 21:7 (NKJV)
**Reference: **
Branham, W. M. (2005). An Exposition of the Seven Church Ages. Voice of God Recordings. (PDF)
