3. Each assembly has a letter directly dictated to it by the Glorified Lord.
The very first thing this brings to mind is that the Glorified Lord does NOT view “the Church” as a single, universal entity. Each assembly must stand or fall on its own account.[1] The Lord deals with each assembly and its messenger separately and directly. It is nearly certain that what was going on in the assembly at Ephesus was entirely unknown to the assembly at Sardis, etc.[2]
It ought to be a great blessing to each assembly to know that the Glorified Lord is “walking in the midst” in every time of meeting, whether the entire assembly or where two or three are connecting. It also ought to be the source of great conviction since it is the Glorified Lord that is there “among them.” It is He with the eyes of flame, the voice like many waters, and out of Whose mouth went a sharp two-edged sword.
The fact that He personally and directly dictates each of these epistles to the churches, serves also to remind us of the precious Truth of the Inspiration of Scripture. We are inclined to look at these epistles dictated by the Glorified Lord here in Revelation as though they have some kind of “special” significance, above other Truth in the Bible. But that is absolutely not true. The entire Bible is a direct communication from God to man, every word of the inspired writings.
It might be wise for each of us, as we read God’s Word [words][3] to always remember that these are the words of the Glorified Lord. After all, we are told that:
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.[4]
Each of these epistles begins with one or more aspects of the Vision of the Glorified Lord given to John in chapter one. This suggests that the Glorified Lord wants all messengers, assemblies and individual Christians to never forget that it is Christ in His glorified state that is addressing them. This is no longer Jesus of Nazareth in His state of “humiliation” as He was during all of His days among them. He never introduces an epistle with anything like the following.
· Thus saith He that is laying in a manger.
· Thus saith He that walked with you by the lake.
· Thus saith He whose feet needing washing from walking along dusty roads.
· Thus saith He that hung as a common criminal on a Roman cross.
All of these things are true, and He could have used any of them in addressing the assemblies. Instead, He emphasized for them [and for us] that if we are to receive what He is saying to His assemblies, we must see Him as He is, not as He was.
Beginning each epistle in this manner also suggests that the aspects [or aspects] that He chose to use in addressing a specific assembly is directly relevant to the message He has for that particular assembly. We will see more of this as we move into a consideration of each epistle separately. Whatever each assembly is facing, it is the Glorified Lord that is going to be “more than enough” to empower it [them] to face it in a way that will magnify His glory.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.[5]
4. The Glorified Lord knows everything about every assembly.
It is plain to see that, after inserting aspects of His Glorified State, He begins His epistle to each assembly with the words: “I know thy works.”[6] This Greek word [works] is the same one used in very familiar passages, such as: [All spoken by the Lord during the days of His humiliation]
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.[7]
What is done in every assembly, whether for good of for ill, is fully known by the Glorified Lord. As He addresses the assembly,[8] His statements and questions reveal His perfect knowledge of their “works.” When The Revelation is studied appropriately, there will be fruit in the lives of those that hear and heed it.[9] Too often, this is not the result because the Glorified Lord is not truly encountered in the study in all of His full authority over the assemblies. May it not be so among us.
[1] This, by the way, plainly undergirds the Baptist Distinctive of the autonomy of the local church. [2] One bane of the age of “the information highway” is the immediacy of people [and churches] knowing other folk’s [or church’s] business. It becomes entirely too easy to bypass what the Glorified Lord is seeking to do in “my” church by simply getting all into what “is going on” in other assemblies [gossip]. [3] Or as we attend meetings in which it is read. [4] Hebrews 13:8. [5] Ephesians 3:20-21. [6] Revelation 2:2, 2:9, 2:13, 2:19, 3:1, 3:8, 3:15. [7] Matthew 5:16, Matthew 23:3, Mark 13:34, and John 14:12. [8] And we must remember that when He addresses each assembly, He is addressing every Christian [or professing Christian] aligned with that assembly. [9] Recall the words of Revelation 1:3: “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written herein…”