Revelation is a letter.

The book of Revelation is a letter written to seven churches in modern day Turkey. In Revelation 2, John records the words of Jesus Christ to Christians living in Ephesus. The risen Lord walks among his people as a shepherd walks among his sheep to observe, inspect, and instruct them. 

Christ commends the Christians in Ephesus for holding firm against false teaching and doctrine. They firmly rejected those who peddled a version of Christianity that compromised bibilcal truth with pagan living. However, Christ says the church in Ephesus "abandoned the love you had at first."

While they held firm to sound teaching, they lost their first love. They were no longer being a light in their community. The church is represented as golden lampstand in a spiritually dark world, yet the Christians in Ephesus were failing to be a light to the world. They were falling short of their calling to share the light of the gospel with others.

After his words to Ephesus, the Lord Jesus Christ gives words of encouragement to the Christians living north of Ephesus in Smyrna. "Do not fear what you are about to suffer...Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."

The Christians in Smyrna were facing increasing opposition and persecution in their town. In the years to come, many Christians would be imprisoned and others would be sent to the city coliseum to face hungry lions or flames of fire. They were faithful to Jesus Christ and that faithfulness would lead to persecution by their neighbors and coworkers.

Yet Christ encourages them to be faithful. He is in control. He will provide for their needs. They need not fear physical harm or death because Jesus Christ has conquered death and offers eternal life to all those who belong to him.

These words from Jesus Christ to Christians in Ephesus and Smyran remind you of two important truths. First, because Jesus Christ is on the throne in heaven and has conquered death, he is the sovereign ruler over all things and can be trusted even when his people face suffering or death.

Secondly, we need to be committed to biblical truth like the Christians in Ephesus. We need to reject the cultural compromise that has plagued so many churches and denominations in America today. However, our commitment to truth should lead us to share the light of the gospel with those around us and empower us to point people to Jesus Christ as the only light in a dark world.