Chapter 2
The letters that the Lord sent to the angels of the Lampstand Churches teach the duty the servants of God ought to do.
1. Ephesus Church (1~7)
As located in the capital city of western Asia, Ephesus church deserved to be a headquarter church of western Asia. Therefore, the Lord complimented its toil and perseverance and its thorough rule over the church. (1~2)
Also, Ephesus church was the most zealous so they had been maintaining the big church, yet they were rebuked because they left their first love. (3~4)
Therefore, the Lord warns to repent deeply in the conscience of the faith, remembering from where they have left their first love. Even though they have been doing everything well, they cannot be the Lampstand Church when Jesus comes unless they repent. The first love is the love from God and if it changes, it spoils like wild grapes. So it must be considered what the nature of the love is.
① The love of God is not for the perfect man. Rather He gives the love to save men who must die of his great sin. This is the nature of the burning love. Therefore, if there is no burning heart trying to save others’ lives, the nature of Christian love is spoiled.
② The sincere love. God does not look at the appearance, but He looks at the heart. No matter how good the appearance of the church is, when there is any hypocrisy, it is not the nature of God’s love.
③ The love that endures to the end. No matter how good the beginning is, if the love cannot overcome hardships and endure it, it is not the nature of God’s love. Therefore, the Lampstand Churches will receive the second coming of the Lord only as long as they preserve the nature of the love. (5)
What the Lord hates the most is the Nicolaitans and Ephesus church did well to hate the Nicolaitans. (6)
Holy Spirit is in the purpose to work until the churches receive the second coming of the Lord. Only the churches that overcome until the end will receive the second coming of Lord and eat of the tree of life. Even if the churches stand upright, when they don’t overcome the power of the devil who is granted to appear at the end, they cannot be the remnant church in the days of wrath. (7)
2. Smyrna Church (8~11)
Even though Smyrna church was not the headquarter church, they suffered from many extreme tribulations in human’s perspective. They were told the blasphemy unjustly by so-called Jews and oppressed by the denominational hegemony, that is the Satan’s synagogue, so that they couldn’t make great outward activity, yet they were rich in spiritual part in the Lord’s perspective. (8~9)
There were not only blasphemies but also horrible persecutions of imprisonment because Smyrna church had sincere faith and warrior-like struggle. This struggle achieves the victory to obtain the crown of life by faithfulness until death. (10)
This church is where the victorious warriors gather who shall not be hurt by the second death. (11)
3. Pergamum Church (12~17)
Pergamum church was at the place where Satan’s power is extremely strong. Therefore, the church was built up completely through the blood shed by martyrs. (12~13)
But there were some who hold the teaching of Balaam. Even though the churches stand upright, when they accept the wage of unrighteousness, they must be severely rebuked. For the faith is the holy belief, the acceptance of any unrighteous demand is the harlot’s deeds.(14)
The churches of God bases on the teaching. So if they hold the teaching that is deviated even a little bit from the right thought, they will become the enemies of the Lord, for He comes again to judge according to the Word. (15~16)
Therefore, Holy Spirit requires the ones who overcome the power that is deceitful like Balaam, and they will eat properly the truth, the hidden manna, and will receive a new name of kingship like a white stone. (17)
4. Thyatira Church (18~29)
Thyatira church had the richest outward development and produced much fruit. (18~19)
But they tolerated the thought of Jezebel and they will be cast into spiritual darkness and great tribulation unless they repent of her deeds. The church that tolerates the enemies of the truth will face the woe as a military overlooking the invasion of its enemy. (20~22)
In the days of wrath, even the churches of the Lord, God will search in their minds and hearts, examine their thoughts and conscience, and repay them according to their deeds. (23)
They should not accept the teaching of the deep mystery of Satan but should achieve the mission given from God, which is to fight firmly holding the plumb line of the Word until the Lord comes. (24~25)
Whoever overcomes and keeps the Lord’s deeds until the end will be given the authority of an iron rod as Christ has, and will rule the world. (26~27)
One who obeys what the Spirit says will receive the eternal kingship like the shining morning star. (28~29)