Understanding the Seven Letters

Today on Renewing Your Mind.

Sometimes our worship may seem insignificant, certainly ignored by the world. Jesus is saying you're really with me in the heavenly temple you really communicate with the one who is alive and who holds the keys of death and hell are certainly times that we may feel that our prayers and worship is only as high as the ceiling but today Dr. W. Robert Godfrey offers us encouragement from the book of Revelation will see that we, along with our worship and prayers are brought in the presence of God. Well, returning now to our study of the introduction to cycle one of these seven cycles going to see in the book of the Revelation and we came to that moment where John looked over his shoulder in the midst of his earthly ministry. In his earthly worship in his earthly suffering and sorrow revealed by the Spirit of God this glorious vision of the heavenly temple on and how encouraging it is to say that that heavenly reality is not far away and distant from us but is right here with us so little light come what's the prophet Elisha described this and that, in second Kings fixed talking to a servant who was all worried they didn't have the strength and Elisha said let me let you see the hosts of the Lord and suddenly was displayed the reality that surrounded them.

That's a little like what's going on here and this is intended to encourage us even if we don't see it with the audience. John did work all the saved by faith that were already citizens of heaven there will be a major theme as we go along in the book and will see it again and again so I hope already are beginning to sense a little bit of how this book becomes a blessing and I thought I would read for you. Those seven blessings. I said there were seven blessings I saw the skeptical looks on some of your faces is that really true and so here are the seven blessings and see how they encourage us in the course of this book. Revelation 13 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear and who keep what is written in it for the time is near. Revelation 14 verse 13.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on blessed indeed, says the spirit, that they may rest from their labors for their deeds follow after them. Revelation 16 verse 15 Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may know not go about naked and be seen exposed.

Revelation 19.

Nine Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Revelation 20 verse six Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and they will reign for him thousand years. Revelation 22. Seven Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22 verse 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and that they may enter the city by the gates. Notice how the blessings will begin to pile up as you get further to the book and the goal of this reminding us that this is indeed for us a book of blessings.

So John hears a voice he looks behind them and what is a C PC is an amazing site, PC seven lampstands, and any pious Jew would've known that there was a lampstand in the holy place in the temple of God in Jerusalem and that lampstand represented the presence of God among his people, and now suddenly he sees the heavenly temple NEC seven lampstands there for the seven churches will be told that explicitly at the end of the chapter so here he's seeing the church is in the presence of Christ in the heavenly temple and in the midst of the lampstands once again Christ is not far away from his people. He's right there in the midst of the men in the midst of the lampstands one like the Son of Man, and then follows a description of Jesus. Now, this figure is not explicitly named Jesus, but there's no doubt at all. But this is Jesus revealed in his glory, and these next verses are the longest physical description of Jesus, we have embarked to know how little were told about Jesus in terms of his physical appearance in the Bible we know he was a man we hardly know anything else we can assume he had a beard because the prophet Isaiah talked about plucking out the beer that we don't know anything we don't know if he was fat or skinny or tall or short tour Harrier bolt we really know nothing about them for sure, except that the prophet Isaiah said that he would have no formal comeliness that we should desire him so probably if we pass them on the street we wouldn't take a second look. He was no Saul. He wasn't even a David apparently told David was good-looking again whether what Isaiah said about a beard and about no formal comeliness should be seen symbolically. We don't know for sure, but it's amazing how little were told about the physical appearance of Jesus. This is the fullest description and as we read and think for a minute.

As you hear it, if I were an artist regulars somebody hearing this lecture is an artist if I'm an artist.

How would I think this and in the midst of the candles stands one like a son of man closed with a long roll, and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white figure of Jesus shows white-haired of the hairs of his head were white like white wool, like snow, his eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the war of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength when you couldn't think this could you, you could maybe start with a long robe and a gold sash but how can you paint a face that's like the sun fully shining and still have shining eyes and all of this is clearly symbolic. All of this is a symbol of the power and the purity of our Lord and we see that particularly don't wait in the sharp two-edged sword that comes out of his mouth. His words are determinative words for the coming judgment two-edged sword divides doesn't that separates and here is Jesus in power and glory white-haired, probably because he's being linked to the eternal God, the ancient of days and here is a magnificent description but a symbolic description of who Jesus really is in his heavenly glory and the John responds by saying when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. He felt to worship him and know sometimes people send them a dozen New Testament really teach that Jesus is divine and the answer is yes. Over and over again in all sorts of ways. But here's one of the ways, because throughout this book, John will occasionally see things that overwhelm in many falls at the feet of an angel and the angel voices stand up, don't worship me worship God. Here Jesus receives the worship of John and Nancy falls before and I saw him and when I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his hand on me, saying, fear not. It's wonderful how often God comes to his people and says fear not, the sight of God and his glory is fear evil. It's a natural response. It's even an appropriate response. But Jesus says fear not, fear not, why should he not fear. I am the first and the last glory that you see is the real corridor belongs to me. I am the beginning and the end.

But in the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and Hades who don't need to be afraid I'm alive and I'm in charge of life and death cannot hold you hello cannot hold you because I'm the Lord of life and I'm here with you. Fear not, what a wonderful encouragement I and II think in part, John is saying to us in this revelation.

When you gather for worship in this earthly sphere and sometimes our worship may seem insignificant, certainly ignored by the world. Jesus is saying there really with me in the heavenly temple there really communing with the one who is alive and who holds the keys of death and hell. So verse 19 right. Therefore, the things you have seen those that are in those that are to take place so what you're saying is partly about right now and partly about what will soon happen that's richer to write and as you like.

John, the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven golden lampstands that I'm walking among the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches in the seven lampstands are the seven churches. One of the remarkable things in the book of Revelation is that every now and again there's a pause and there's an explanation of the symbols so it it reminds us that these really are symbols will will later be told that the incense are the prayers of the saints so we don't have to be under any illusions about that when we read about seven lampstands might've thought. I wonder exactly what that is but were told exactly what it is. It's the seven churches so the churches of God parked in the heavenly temple. Now and the seven stars are the seven angels, spent a little bit of debate about that. What what is that mean the seven angels, and some people have argued while that means the ministers of the churches and that's possible because so they said angel means messenger and so would. It's possible that when he says the seven stars are the seven angels it still being symbolic of what's being said that the word angels being used for the messenger but I think because everywhere else in the book of Revelation.

Angel means angel that it probably means that here and especially since it is the interpretation of the symbol, the star and I think what is being said.

Then, in a certain sense, every congregation has a guardian angel sometimes wonder exactly why does God need angels. Why can God do things immediately and directly, and of course he can, but you could say no. Why does God need so many different kinds of birds eye we could have done with fewer birds could bring well obviously as creator God demonstrates he likes diversity. He likes fullness. He likes variety and also he has not only peopled the physical world, but he's peopled is the right firm but he has created creatures in the heavenly world as well and is given the tasks in the Bible doesn't tell us exactly what it means to have a guardian angel is a congregation that were silly not to talk to them or pray to them, but wouldn't be aware that the God shows his personal present care for us by assigning angels for an it's just another way in which we should be encouraged about the presence the power of the care the love of God for us and the then we see that a wonderfully pretrade here in this text. So that's the introduction to the first cycle and now we finally get to the substance. Sometimes the introductions about as long as the substance, but that's where John noted that I'm not here to criticize John so we have a somewhat long introduction wonderfully sets the stage for the letters because one of the features of each letter is that Jesus will identify an aspect of himself that the particular church particularly needs. And so that self identification is drawn from this introduction. So, every church can find in this introduction something to help itself and John is making that claim. By the way he develops. This now again some interpreters have said well the seven churches are seven ideals for some of even said seven angels of the church on again. I think this is making symbol where there is a noticeable these were seven well-known cities in Asia minor and there were churches there and these are letters to those churches facing those particular problems and it reminds us, not every church has the same problems and it reminds us that as we study the problems of these churches and the strengths of these churches we can be encouraged in our service to the Lord here have to turn it into some kind of weird symbol. It's just letter sermons to churches with special needs and we can use it as a kind of template to look at ourselves and our churches and say how we doing about those things. How is it working for us in relation to those things will only read the first letter. These letters are the familiar part of the book and I don't want to spend a huge amount of time on these letters because they are more familiar but nonetheless we want to see what's going on in these letters as part of the blessing and as that first cycle that is calling those churches but all of us to faithfulness in the face of suffering and struggle so to the church in Ephesus to the angel of the church in Ephesus write the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven lampstands I know your works. You toil your patient endurance and how you cannot bear with those who are evil but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be falls. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my namesake and you have not grown weary, but I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have: repent and do the work she did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. Yet this you have, you hate the works of the Nicolai attendance which I also hate. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches to the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the paradise of God.

And I hope you noticed as we read that that there are number of phrases that have been lifted from the first chapter and used in relevant in relation to this church.

That's how an introduction, works and introduces things are going to be used later and we certainly see that as we look at these letters we can see each letter almost every one of the letters contains seven elements. This was noticed by Dr. Beale in his commentary for all of the letters contain certain common elements that bind them together in each letter Christ commands John to write and that's underscoring and reinforcing that this is Christ at work. This is Christ speaking. This isn't just drawn. Secondly, Christ identifies himself here at the beginning of the Ephesian letter he identifies himself as the one who holds the seven stars or walks among the seven lampstands because is going to come and say they were all remove your lampstand so he identifies himself. Thirdly, the end almost all the letters he praises the good works of the church only to Sardis and Laodicea are there no words of praise of all and then there are words of accusation from Christ for the sins of the churches and again only true churches do not have students address Smyrna and Philadelphia. Physically, Christ is calling to repentance and or encouragement in every letter and Christ exhorts the churches sexily how to live and any conclusion seventh.

We were promised so there's a common structure that's followed in these letters that we can notice and we noticed as well that the the sins focused on in all of these letters are pretty much the sins of worldliness and idolatry, worldliness and idolatry.

That is, the sins are living too much like the world adopting too much. The standards and values of the world war compromising one's commitment to the true and living God by involving oneself in idolatrous practices what's in treatment courses.

That sounds a lot like Israel in the Old Testament done no source for the besetting sins of Israel, worldliness and idolatry. And so it shows the sort of continuity of the life and the struggle of the people of God in this world and that's why the repeated insistence is be faithful. Don't compromise don't give in, overcome, conquer, that's what the church what all of us are called to and then these letters we find some rather specific enemies are listed in room is listed as an entity that is the civil government. The civil political power as we look at the history of the church. We can see how often it was that the church was at odds with the civil government and the civil government put pressure for the church to conform to its values sometimes persecuted the church and this is not true of all churches throughout the whole history of the church, but it's true of a lot of churches in a lot of the history of the church and we see that very clearly here so one enemy can be the civil government.

Another enemy listed here are the leaders of the synagogues of unbelief where God's old covenant people have not believed and are opposing the church.

On one level, we can understand that the two real different religions going on here there is the religion that recognizes Christ as Messiah derived from the Old Testament and there's a religion that doesn't recognize Christ as Messiah derived from the Old Testament another way of putting that would be just say there's an apostolic reading of the Old Testament and there's a rabbinic reading of the Old Testament, and that there is competition between these two groups is not surprising so the the rabbinic leaders oppose Christianity and Jesus is warning the church not to be led astray by them but to follow the apostolic understanding of the Old Testament. Another temptation is pagan religion. I will see as we look at these letters that some of them were in the centers of strong pagan temples that were not only powerful centers of worship but were integral to the economy of the city and therefore to oppose the pagan religion was to undermine the economy and sometimes people are more sensitive to their pocketbook than to their prayer book and so that was enemy in a problem. The Christians had to face and then we see as 1/4 enemy that there are false teachers who claim to be Christians. So, the enemies are just out there. There also in here and these letters put Christians on notice that they have to be sensitive and thoughtful about this. We also see in these letters up all the letters are to the churches. They are also very keenly aware of the members of the church and some of the letters we see a distinction being made between faithful members and unfaithful members and that where there is a threat that a lampstand might be removed. There's also encouragement that faithful members should not lose heart. So while the focus is on the church as an institution and as a community and reminds us of the importance of the church as an institution as a community. This is not to be set over against the fact that if a church loses its way individuals are to pursue the truth and remain faithful to the award and so we see is a wonderful balancing of the individual with the community.

The one believer with the institution of church. Both are important. Both are necessary but they don't all live and stand together and so really, as we conclude we can see Jesus. I church be faithful but if you find yourself in a church that's not faithful enough to bring encouragement to us a great encouragement. Indeed, no matter what difficulty we may face in her life for in our churches, Christ is with us and encourages us not to lose heart.

Glad you joined us for the Wednesday edition of Renewing Your Mind and we web all week we've been hearing portions of Dr. W. Robert Gottfried's new series on the book of Revelation. It's titled blessed hope, and at this longtime seminary professor and president helps us understand one of the most controversial books in the Bible we been seeing just how much of an encouragement. The book of Revelation really is were also offering the entire DVD series to you for your gift of any amount. Perhaps you're the leader of a small group or Bible study and you're looking for a resource to help unpack the riches of this intimidating book. We believe this series will do precisely that.

So contact us today with your donation of any amount and we will send you your copy of blessed hope. The book of Revelation by Dr. W.

Robert Gottfried you can find us online@renewingyourmind.org or you can simply call us with your gift at 800-435-4343 800-435-4343 and we hope you'll let us know if you have any biblical or theological questions about Revelation, nor any other topics we've covered on Renewing Your Mind. We have a resource called asked Liggett here.

It's a live chat service that allows you to interact with trained staff members and ask your biblical or theological questions is available 24 hours a day, Monday through Saturday, so we do hope you'll contact us. Simply go to ask.Liggett here.org Christ had messages for seven churches of that day and the question is how does that relate to your church to my church to the visible church today will find out tomorrow and we hope you'll join us for Renewing Your Mind