This is the Truth Network. Welcome to Ignite the Light Ministries radio and podcast. It is our mission to help listeners develop a deeper relationship with Jesus by sharing what the Bible says and what it means. We aim to encourage and equip you to serve others, share the gospel, and reflect Christ in every aspect of your life. I'm Pastor White Cudd.
Thank you for tuning in.
Alright.
So today we're going to be looking doing an overview Of the seven letters to the churches in Revelation.
So let me start this morning with a story for you. Once upon a time, there was a janitor at a big university. He was in the gym and he was waiting for a group of seminary students to finish their pickup game of basketball.
So he's sitting on the bleachers waiting for them to finish. And as he's waiting patiently, he opens up his Bible and begins to read it. As the students finished their game and they were leaving the gym, they noticed this janitor reading the Bible in his lap. One of the students asked him, hey, What book of the Bible are you reading? And the old man answered, I am reading the book of Revelation.
The student was surprised and asked the janitor, do you understand such a complicated book? That prophetic literature, it can be tough. Even my friends don't agree how to understand it. And the janitor was equally surprised.
Well, yeah. Of course I understand it. It means Jesus wins. In the end. And yeah.
This simple truth is the heartbeat. of the book of Revelation. How do we get there? Today we're going to begin a journey through the letters of the seven churches. It's a journey of encouragement, correction.
And calling.
So I'm going to give an overview this Sunday, a nice 10,000-foot perspective, bird's eye view, and in the Sundays to follow, we're going to go through a couple letters at a time so we can get a closer look at what the text is saying and really do it justice. But I'm doing an overview today. And if you take away nothing else this morning, let it be this. Jesus holds the authority. And when he speaks...
We listen. Revelation, it's a fascinating book and I remember growing up I was always cautioned to stay away from the book until I'm a little older in my faith. Really, I think as a kid I would have connected with it the most. You know, I'm reading these like fantastic bedtime stories, and in Revelation, you got numbers used with significance. You have colors like white, red, black, pale green used to symbolically represent power, war, famine, and death.
You got the lamb. You gotta drag it. You have the great beast, you have the seals, you have the trumpets, the bowls full of divine wrath. This is a book that sparks the imagination.
Now I don't think the advice Wait until you're older in your faith. is necessarily bad. I think it misses the mark a little bit. To understand this book, we really have to understand what we're getting ourselves into. This is not a historical account of events that have already happened.
This is prophecy, we call it apocalyptic literature. When we read scripture, that is historical events, we understand the words to be true and describing something in a literal sense. It's literally true. This is not the case with the book of Revelation. Revelation has a mixture of describing something literal, a literal event that is going to take place, but it uses figurative and symbolic language to describe it.
Similarly, Jesus does this with the parables. The people and the events in the parables that Jesus tells are not meant to be understood as a literal historical event that has happened. He's using symbolism, figurative language to describe a literal spiritual reality. The parable of the four soils, we're not meant to understand that there was literally somebody in history that took seed and threw it around these four different types of soils. It's symbolic.
It's describing a literal spiritual reality. It's describing Four different ways that people can receive the gospel and only one of them is going to grow and bear fruit. If we show up to the parables expecting to understand it word for word as literal events, we are missing the point of the parables. We have to expect symbolism and figurative language and understand what it means. It's the same thing for the book.
of Revelation. Lots of symbolism. Lots of figurative language that is being used to describe a literal event that will happen. Another thing we can compare this to is prophecy in the Old Testament. You look in Genesis, Adam and Eve sinned and they fell, and God didn't just leave them there.
We see immediately He provides our first prophecy. It's Genesis 3:15. It says, I will put in my team. Between you, the serpent, and the woman, between your offspring and hers. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
Now this prophecy. Speaks to the time of the man and the woman in a way they can understand, but it's figurative. It's symbolic. Use it to describe a literal event that will happen.
Now that event did happen. In retrospect, we know that that's talking about Jesus going to the cross, defeating Satan, and defeating our sin. But imagine for a second you are Eve. Adam and Eve could not see the literal event that was coming because it hadn't happened yet.
So what happens? Eve gives birth to Cain. Genesis 4, 1, E declares, With the help of the Lord I brought forth a man. You can almost You can almost feel her anticipation. God said I would give birth to a son who would crush the head of the serpent.
Here he is.
Now, where is that serpent? We gotta line this up. But cane wasn't it. Cain would go on to murder his brother Abel with a spirit of jealousy. and resentment.
Eve misunderstood. What the literal event would look like from the figurative and symbolic language of prophecy. Prophecy is true. But it's speaking literal or it's speaking figurative and symbolic to describe a literal event.
Now we also have the prophecies in the Old Testament predicting the coming of Jesus. And he goes on to fulfill over 300 prophecies written about him. Every single one. In retrospect, There's no question of who he is. We can see how he fulfilled the prophecies.
But when Jesus arrived, The world didn't recognize him. He was crucified as a blasphemer against God.
So Eve. We have a prophecy. Eve got the first prophecy of Jesus. Wrong. The people of Jerusalem did not recognize the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of Jesus.
So what does that mean for us?
Well, here we are. with the prophecy of the end times. with events that haven't happened yet.
Well, if we look at the track record, We have to approach prophecy with the utmost humility. Humanity does not have a good track record for recognizing the literal happenings of figurative and symbolic prophecy God has given us. It's always in retrospect. that we see the full glory of God revealed. We're awaiting the events of Revelation.
So read the book of Revelation. But understand it's different than other books. Read it in trembling prayer. Read it with deep humility and expect the literal fulfillment of Revelation is going to be far greater, far more magnificent, far more spectacular than our imagination is even capable of. There's several different frames of understanding for reading the book of Revelation.
I certainly have my opinion. I think reading Revelation with a frame is not wrong practice. I think it's good. My only caution is humanity has a bad track record. Of predicting how God is going to reveal Himself.
He always reveals Himself. in a far greater capacity, a far greater glory. And we can imagine. He surpasses our expectations. Every single time.
Amen. Yeah. If you believe in a, if we're looking at Revelation, If you read it and you believe in a literal thousand years, and your neighbor doesn't? Or, if you don't believe in the idea of a rapture, and your neighbor does, It's okay. It is a secondary issue.
As far as I'm concerned, the only hill worth dying on is Calvary.
So we are to be peacemakers, especially on this topic. The only person that is wrong with any certainty, because the events haven't happened yet, the only person who is wrong with any certainty is the one who's not showing up to do ministry today. We can talk about revelation. We can have fun with it. We can learn from one another, but we better be having those conversations in the trenches.
If not, well... I don't care what they think. We have bigger problems going on today that they are not showing up for.
So Revelation. It's One of the only books in the Bible that's given its own title by the author. The revelation of Jesus Christ.
Now the word revelation in Greek is apocalypsis.
So where we get the word apocalypse from. It means a revealing, an uncovering, an unveiling of something. Revelation was written by John. The only disciple not martyred for his faith, written around 94 to 96 AD. Because John wouldn't stop preaching the gospel.
The Romans exiled him to a small barren island of Patmos.
Now this was a common practice for Roman civilization for political or criminal offenses. Chapter one of Revelation are the things of which you have seen. Chapter 2 and 3 are the things of which that are. This is the letters to the churches that we're going to be looking at. Chapters 4 through 22 are the things that will take place in the future.
So chapter one We have John greeting the seven churches. Revelation 1:4. To the seven churches in the province of Asia. Grace and peace to you from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before His throne.
So John goes on in chapter 1 to describe a vision. God gave him. That's chapter chapter 1, verses 9 to 20. I'm not going to read the whole thing. I'm going to summarize it.
Feel free to look on in your Bibles as I do so.
So in this vision, John sees seven gold lampstands. And in the middle of them he sees Jesus. clothed in a robe with golden sash. His hair was white like wool or snow. His eyes were like the flame of fire.
and his feet were burnished bronze. His voice was like the sound of many waters. in his right hand. He held seven stars. Out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face shone like the sun.
Same. We already got a lot of symbolism. If I drew a picture of somebody that looked like this, that person is going to look a little crazy. It's a symbolic vision. What's happening here, John is seeing something.
That is so far beyond him. He is doing his best to describe it. John, it's like he's getting a peek. Behind the curtain into eternity and into the eternal glory of God, and he can barely comprehend it. What does he do?
Revelation 1.17. I fell at his feet like a dead man. And Jesus placed his hand on John and says, Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
I have the keys of death and Hades. John is meeting his Maker. This picture of Jesus It's a symbolic depiction. of the authority He holds. The seven lampstands.
They represent the seven churches that John is writing to, lit with the fire of God.
Something interesting about these lampstands is they are they'd be portable. They're meant to be portable. I take that to mean that. As God leads us, We pack up our tent. and follow him.
This earth is not our home. Our home is with God. And he has a room, a mansion with many rooms prepared for us. That's our home. Here we are.
We follow God. as he leads. His hair was white like wool like snow. What does that mean? This symbolizes Jesus' purity.
and his absolute holiness. And it hearkens back to Daniel 7. and his vision of the things to come. There, Daniel also sees a vision of God, who he calls the ancient of days. His clothing was white like snow, and it says his hair was pure like wool.
What John is seeing is the same person Daniel saw. But we have the context of the gospel and then the context of Revelation. We know who Daniel saw. He was Jesus.
Now his eyes were like a flame of fire.
Now fire has two meanings. Fire can cleanse and burn away sin and wickedness. This is. Purifying, this is sanctifying. The fire can burn away the dead branches on us and make us look more like Jesus.
But fire can also be divine judgment. And the eyes of the Lord look upon the churches with this penetrating gaze all the way to the depths of our hearts. His desire is to purify us, to sanctify us, to see us become in his likeness. But fire has two functions. Both to the glory.
of God, cleansing and purifying or divine judgment. And it says his feet are like burnished bronze. That's interesting. What's that meant? You know, I can relate to the symbolism of white and the symbolism of fire, but burnished bronze.
What is that?
Well, in Exodus 38, God instructs the Jews to build an altar, to lay sacrifices down before God. This altar for burnt offerings was covered An overlay. with bronze. And all of the tools, all of the utensils used to make sacrifices were made. of bronze.
So what does that mean for you and me? Everything we do Every good work Our failures, our shortcomings, all of our achievements, every dollar we ever make, our children, our family, everything we own, our gifts, our strengths, our weaknesses, we will lay everything down at the altar. We will lay everything down at Jesus's. Feet. Both as individuals and as the body of Christ.
We belong to Jesus. This church belongs to Jesus. We will lay down everything at Jesus' feet. If that's the case. We should be asking the Lord today.
God, what is your will for my life? God, what is your will for our church? When I stand before you, What can I lay down? That will please you, Jesus. That's what we should be asking today.
Now the seven star is in his hand. That is the seven angels and messengers of each Church. Isn't that beautiful? We get this picture that God assigns each church. An angel to lead and guide us with instructions directly from Jesus.
And as we go through Revelation 2 and Revelation 3, you will see that each letter begins... To the angel of the church. In Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, etc., etc., to the angel of the church. He addresses the angel in the letter. Yes, of course the churches are going to read this letter, but to the angel, it is your charge to convict these churches of ABC.
It is your charge to praise and celebrate. Put that in their hearts of XYZ. And all of those angels he holds. in the palm. of his hair Angel of Art Church.
He holds in the palm of his hand. That's powerful. That's powerful. Then it says out of his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword.
So, you've got two levels of symbolism here. A sword can be used for defense. A sword can be used for attack. Ephesians 6: The armor of God, our only weapon to defend ourselves, the only weapon in our arsenal is the sword of the Spirit, the Word. of God.
And the word of God proceeds from God From the mouth, from the voice. of Jesus. What should we do with that? Know your Bible. It's our only defense against the forces of evil in this world.
It is our only defense against temptation, against sin. Know your Bible. But the sword can also be used to attack. Divine judgment. We see Jesus addressing one of these churches, Revelation 2:16.
Jesus tells the church of Pergamum to repent. Or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword. of my mouth. They've been given the word of God. They are with no excuse.
Divine judgment is coming, and the word of God will be used against them. If they do not, repent. You'll see frequently as we go through the seven letters that this symbolic picture of Jesus. is referenced. When he makes statements against these churches, it is because of this picture of Jesus and the authority he holds as the head of the church.
So when Jesus speaks We listen. When Jesus speaks We Listen. It's not when the pastor speaks. It's not when a church leader speaks. It's not when our parents or our children speak.
Husband or wife or your boyfriend or your girlfriend, when Jesus speaks, we listen.
Now, obviously, I'm not saying don't listen to each other. Listen to each other, respect one another. Jesus tells us to do that a lot. But when Jesus speaks. It's on a whole different level.
of authority over our lives. Church, I think somebody needs to do this today. You follow how Jesus leads you. Even at cost. Whether that's in our relationships.
in the world Follow how Jesus leads you, even at Cost.
Sometimes it will cause conflict. in your relationships. It's okay. Be brave. And follow Jesus.
Make no mistake, Jesus will, following Jesus will cost us.
Sometimes it can cost us Everything. but the safest place we can be. Is exactly where he wants us. Even when the storms of life and chaos is going on all around us. Follow Jesus.
And this hand is the safest place. You can be. Amen. Matthew 10. 34 through 36, Jesus says, Do not think I have come to bring peace on this earth.
I have not come to bring peace, but a sword for you. For I have set a man against his father. a daughter against her mother, a daughter in law against her mother in law. and a person's enemies will be those of his own household. You can expect turmoil.
You can expect resistance even from those closest to you when you are following the voice of God. But do not worry. Jesus is with you. And it's the safest place you can be right where he calls you.
So when Jesus speaks, we listen. He holds the authority. Hey there. I hope this sermon has enriched your day. If you like this message, I want to personally invite you to join us for Sunday worship.
We have two locations in Virginia, Trinity Methodist Church in Concord and Mount Comfort Methodist Church in Appomattox. Come join us Sunday morning at 9.45 and we will help you get connected. As always, I'm Pastor Wyatt Hudd. Thank you for tuning in.
