Year 6, Day 348: Revelation 2

Theological Commentary: Click Here

As I look at the collective set of passages in the second chapter of Revelation, there is one theme that stands out above the others: faithfulness.  We get a picture of four churches.  We hear perspectives from both sides of the issue.

The first church that we meet is Ephesus.  They are commended for being intolerant of wickedness.  They are hard workers in the faith.  They faithfully test those who profess God in their midst.  They have faithfully persevered under hardships for the sake of Christ.  Yet, they have forgotten their first love.  They are not pursuing the faith as fervently as they could be or even should be.

The second church that we meet is Smyrna.  Here is a church about whom God has no complaint!  But what is God’s words of wisdom to this church?  God tells the church of Smyrna to faithful endure, even if their faith leads them into death.  Here God does not promise an easy life, but He does promise them a crown if they remain faithful to Him.

The third church that we meet is Pergamum.  Again we hear God speak about faithfulness.  They are praised because they are able to remain faithful, even in the midst of persecution.  They are not willing to renounce their faith even when God’s faithful followers are put to death in their midst!  However, God warns them to not tolerate the Nicolaitans.  They are faithful in much, but they are tolerating the presence of some who are not faithful in everything.

Finally, we meet the people of Thyatira.  We hear that they are faithful.  In fact, their faith is increasing their fruit!  Yet this church has the same problem as Pergamum.  They are harboring a woman who is teaching things that are not in line with what Christ teaches.  Once more we hear the promise that those who are faithful will receive a reward in the end.

Faithfulness is the grand theme that ties this whole chapter together.  We see various ways of faith and unfaithfulness.  We see faith applied differently in different directions.  But in all cases we see that God values faithfulness as He looks to His people.

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