Imagine that you discover an epic love poem written with archaic language, difficult metaphors, and historically specific references. You are able to decipher much of the poem, as love is a universal concept and you connect with the images on a gut-level basis, but some of the more specific details are more difficult to decipher due to your distance from the original author and recipient. But then imagine that you also discover an accompanying love letter written to the recipient. Within the letter you are made aware of the time, place, and situational specifics of the original context of both writings. Now, you can not only use the letter to aid in interpretation of the poem, but the poem also helps you decipher much of the letter as well.
Though an imperfect metaphor, something like this is going on with the book of Revelation. There is poetry and song within this literary masterpiece, but there is also another genre of literature - apocalyptic - that can be even more challenging to decipher than standard poetry and can easily be misunderstood if read "too literally". However, the work also contains within its bounds a more straightforward genre of writing - letters. After the introduction of chapter 1, Jesus through John delivers a letter to each of the seven churches of Asia. The scholarly consensus is that Revelation was produced in the early to mid 90s of the 1st Century, and so coupled with the messages of the letters, and then the later apocalyptic visions, we can get a pretty good handle on what the message of the book is all about.
The seven churches that these letters are directed to are in the beginning stages of a crisis that will become far worse before it gets better. Though there are many side issues that accompany this crisis, the main issue at hand is the tension and struggle that these small Christian communities face as they seek to remain faithful to the Lord Jesus, while making their way in a Roman Empire which demands absolute loyalty and even worship of Caesar, who at this point in history is Domitian (reigned from 81-96 AD). And, just as in our world, the gods of money and sex are also on offer through the smorgasbord of 1st Century idolatry.
It is also important to be aware that within the Roman Empire, Jews were allowed to continue to remain monotheistic and were given the option to pray for the emperor, rather than to him. Christianity had initially been considered a sect of Judaism, and so by extension was initially exempt from emperor worship, but by the late first century there had been a clear rupture between the church and the synagogue. Therefore, Christians were no longer "grandfathered" in under Judaism's terms. One sees this tension played out in some of the opposition that Christians receive, not only from the Romans, but also from some, but not all Jews.
Jesus speaks through the Spirit to the churches and John writes the message in a standard epistolary form of the day. Jesus has both words of condemnation and words of encouragement for these communities. These letters are not simply addressed to each church, but also to the angel of these particular churches. It may be that God had assigned a "guardian angel" to watch over these congregations, or it may simply be a literary flourish. Either way, the messages to the churches are what's really important. Each letter to the churches uses the same template. So rather than writing paragraph after paragraph detailing Christ's word to these congregations, I will use an outline form to briefly highlight the message to each church. Where necessary I will give a brief explanation of my interpretation of the meaning behind some of the references that may seem a bit foreign without greater historical context. I would encourage you to read through chapters 2-3 in conjunction with the outlines below.
To the Church in Ephesus
Description of Jesus - Holds the 7 stars in his right hand and walks among the 7 golden lampstands (the lampstands symbolize the church)
Commendation - Hard work, patient endurance, doctrinal orthodoxy
Rebuke - They have lost their first love (either their love of Jesus or others or most likely both)
Judgment/Possible Consequences - Removal of lampstand (might cease to be a church community)
Promise - Permission to eat from the tree of life in God's paradise
To the Church in Smyrna
Description of Jesus - The first and the last, who was dead and came to life
Commendation - They have remained faithful through poverty, affliction, and in the face of slander from some Jews in Smyrna
Rebuke - None
Judgment/Possible Consequences - No judgment from Jesus, but they will continue to be persecuted and tested
Promise - Reception of the crown of (eternal) life and will not be harmed by the second death
To the Church in Pergamum
Description of Jesus - He who has the sharp two-edged sword
Commendation - Have not denied the name of Jesus even in the face of extreme persecution and even martyrdom
Rebuke - Some in the church are compromising with the local culture through idolatry and sexual immorality
Judgment/Possible Consequences - Jesus will bring swift judgment (not specified, but imminent) on the unrepentant
Promise - Reception of hidden manna (spiritual and physical sustenance, like God's provision for Israel in the wilderness) and a white stone with a new name (large white stones were used for engravings in the area and sometimes small white stones were used for invitations to important local functions)
To the Church in Thyatira
Description of Jesus - Eyes like a flame of fire and feet like polished bronze
Commendation - Love, faith, service, patient endurance, and growing effectiveness
Rebuke - Toleration of a false prophetess who has convinced some in the community to engage in idolatry and sexual immorality
Judgement/Possible Consequences - Death (spiritual and physical)
Promise - Authority over the nations and the morning star (symbol of victory and sovereignty)
To the Church in Sardis
Description of Jesus - He who has the 7 spirits and 7 stars
Commendation - None (though a few have not "soiled" their garments)
Rebuke - Their reputation outranks their faithfulness; they are asleep and need to wake up
Judgment/Possible Consequences - Jesus will come like a thief to judge them
Promise - Clothed in white robes (symbol of purity and new life), they will not be blotted out of the book of life, Jesus will confess their names before his Father
To the Church in Philadelphia
Description of Jesus - The holy and true one who has the key of David - what he opens, no one shuts, what he shuts, no one opens
Commendation - Though lacking power, they have remained faithful to the name and words of Jesus
Rebuke - None (though, like those in Smyrna, they too are facing persecution from some Jews)
Judgment/Possible Consequences - None, but Jesus will convince those persecuting the Christians in Philadelphia that these believers are truly his people, and they will be spared some of the impending trials
Promise - To be made pillars in the temple of God, to be named with God's own name, Jesus' own new name, and the name of the New Jerusalem (in other words, the Philadelphian church will be full recipients of eternal life in the age to come in God's renewed world)
To the Church in Laodicea
Description of Jesus - The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's creation
Commendation - None
Rebuke - They are lukewarm (in this context, hot water would have been used for medicinal purposes and cold water would have been refreshing and drinkable, but to be lukewarm is to be useless and disgusting) and though financially secure, they are spiritually bankrupt
Judgment/Possible Consequences - Jesus will spew them from his mouth, like someone would spew lukewarm, overly calcified and mineralized water from their mouth
Promise - To be given a place on Christ's throne to share in the rule of the Father and the Son over the renewed creation in the age to come
Though certainly containing moments of rebuke and warning, all seven letters to the seven churches of Asia are love letters from Jesus. Even in the warnings of possible judgment and in the condemnation of present behaviors, Jesus is urging his beloved followers to remain faithful to him despite the challenges of living in a hostile, pagan environment. He promises them that if they repent and remain true to the end, they will inherit eternal life in God's renewed world. Chapters 2-3 of Revelation give us insight into the situation John's audience is facing in the late the 1st Century. But while all of this is taking place on earth, what's going on in heaven? Revelation 4-5 will give us insight into that. Read on. - Shay
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