Tthe seven letters to the churches authored by Jesus are as relevant today as 2000 years ago 533-2 - 8 - 2

Jesus wrote letters to seven churches of the first century; Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodiceans. These churches seems to embody the characteristics of churches throughout the ages. Within two generations of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus His message of the good news was being distorted.

Jesus had concerns about all churches except for the churches of Smyrna and Philadelphia. The church of Ephesus was the early apostolic church and guarded itself from “them which are evil” and liars at the cost of losing their first love.” It has been said that the greatest distance in the 18 inches from the head to the heart. It is one thing to read of God’s love and quite another to internalize it, to give it a home in the heart.

The church in Smyrna was the suffering, persecuted church. In the days of Nero Christians were set on fire and used to light pathways. Fast-forward nearly 2000 years and there is a growing intolerance towards Christians in the United States. Add to that the horror of torture and murder of Christian in countries that practice Islam..

The church in Pergamos allowed the gospel to be compromised by paganism, and today?  While denying the divinity of Jesus, many worship the created rather than the creator. Rather than sacrificing babies to Moloch in the last half century millions of babies have been sacrificed on the altar of a woman’s choice.

The church in Thyatira is in danger of being required to go through the tribulation. The Roman Catholic Church is at best a pagan religion with its Mary worship, veneration of saints plus not believing Jesus when he cried out on the cross “It is finished.” At its worst, the Roman Catholic Church is responsible for the torture and murder of millions over the centuries. While the torture and murder by officials within the Roman Catholic Church seem to have stopped, there is the perversion of the belief of millions thereby possibly condemning them to an eternal separation from God.

The church of Sardis foretold of the many denominations in the Protestant church. Breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church was a good start but the Reformation has never been completed. Replacement Theology crept in resulting in the marginalizing of Israel and ultimately the Holocaust. Today Anti-Semitism is prevalent throughout much of the world.

The church at Philadelphia represents the Church that I strive to be a member of and fail daily. Jesus told the church that “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Revelation 3:10.

The church of Laodiceans was lukewarm and so distasteful to Jesus that He spits them out of His mouth. Like some of today’s mega-churches, the Laodiceans considered themselves rich and did not have a passion for God. Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” So here is Jesus standing outside of the church of the Laodiceans waiting to be asked in. This is a great demonstration of the mercy of God and his desire that none should be lost.

It is time for the church to wake up and regain its early passion for Jesus and for spreading the Word to the outermost.