Summary
This chapter begins with Jesus telling John to write a letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. I think that is really interesting. He is writing a letter to the angel. I can't help but wonder about this. Why write a letter? How will he send it if he's in Patmos? There are so many mysteries here!
The first letter is to go to Ephesus. Jesus begins by congratulating these people, because they work hard, they have good endurance, and they are faithful to seeking the Truth in the apostles and to not tolerate imposters. Interesting. Don't tolerate? Some people these days will have a freakout about that one! He also recognizes and acknowledges that these people have suffered for Jesus, and they have great endurance in their suffering. But He goes on to say that they have lost the love they once had. They have fallen victim, essentially, to routine. At first, they had energy, enthusiasm and excitement. Now they don't. Jesus tells them to get that back. Love out of love, not out of work or habit. He specifically references the Nicolaitans, who where heretics, and actively taught immoral behavior.
He concludes this letter by saying that anyone with ears ought to hear what is said to these churches (not just the churches), and that the victor will be allowed to eat from the tree of life.
Next he is to write to the angel of the church of Smyrna. He tells them that He knows what they have suffered due to their poverty, but He tells them that they are actually rich (spiritually, I'm sure). He says that He understands that there are those out there who claim to be Jews but aren't, but who are actually worshipers of Satan. He warns them that they will suffer more, that their faith will be tested and that they will be imprisoned. But they shouldn't fear, because if they remain faithful, they will inherit what He calls the "crown of life."
He concludes this letter by saying that anyone who hears these words and heeds its message will not be harmed by what He calls "second death."
He goes on to tell John to write to the angel of the church in Pergamum. As is His way, He begins by congratulating them. He says that they have done good in remaining faithful, even though they live where Satan lives. He references Antipas, who was martyred in Pergamum. But He says that He holds a few things against those in Pergamum, mainly, that some people there hold to the teachings of Balaam. You remember Balak and Balaam? Of course you do. How could you forget a story in scripture about a talking donkey that saves a man's life? Well, if you haven't ever read it, look back in Scripture (starting in Numbers 22) where you'll find that Balaam was "hired" by Balak, who was the King of Moab and an enemy of the Israelites, to curse the Israelites. Balaam was unable to curse them, though, as God prevented that from happening. It was because of Balak and Balaam that the Israelites were plagued, since the Israelites were sleeping with harlots from the Moabite tribes! So, when Jesus says that there are people in Pergamum who are following the ways of Balak and Balaam (and the Nicoaitans, who we've already discussed, are bad), He tells them to repent, or else God will wage war on them.
To anyone who reads and heeds this message, they will be given hidden manna (remember that manna is the bread that comes only from Heaven, that God provided to the Israelites in their desert wanderings). They will also be given a stone with a new name written on it.
Finally (for this chapter at least), He tells John to write to the angel of the church in Thyatira. Again, they have impressed Jesus (who is described here as having eyes like a fiery flame and feet like polished brass), by their works, love, faith, service and endurance. But, He says that they have tolerated (notice that word again, used negatively) the woman Jezebel, who pretends to be a prophet, but who misleads the people (see 1 Kings 16-?). He says that they will be punished, as will her children. He says that He will do this so that they will know that He is the "searcher of hearts and minds" and that they will get what their works deserve. He does promise to bless and give life to those who don't know Satan, and aren't familiar with his works. However, they must protect what they have (innocence, essentially) until He comes.
He concludes this chapter saying that the victor is the one who keeps His ways until the end, and the victor will receive authority over the nations.
My Reflection
Tolerance. This word is a hot-topic today. I think that when people use that word, what they really mean is love. But, of course, those two words have completely different meanings. Tolerance is anything but love.
I don't tolerate the things I love. And I don't want to BE tolerated. I can imagine it now: I'm in a relationship with someone. I'm crazy about that person. One day, I get up the nerves to tell him that I love him. I say it. There is a pause. I wonder what that means. Will he say, "I love you back?" This pause makes me think that maybe he won't. Maybe he'll say something horrible, like, "Thank you." Yuck! He opens his mouth. He's about to speak. He says, "And I tolerate you."
Could you imagine if that happened? Don't you see? Tolerance and love are not synonymous. And Jesus does not want us to tolerate certain things, specifically evil. In fact, Jesus makes it very clear that those who tolerate evil, who simply allow it to continue, but don't do anything about it, are as guilty as those who commit the evil. This is rather scary, considering the emphasis that our world places on tolerance these days. Jesus is quite plain here. He congratulates them for not tolerating false prophets. He condemns them for not tolerating those who support Balak and Balaam. He does not allow them to tolerate Jezebel. Did Jesus tolerate? No. He sure didn't.
But just because Jesus tells us not to tolerate evil, doesn't mean that He lacks compassion. In fact, the way He begins each letter shows how compassionate He is. He understands the difficulties of the people to whom He writes. He gets it. But He calls them to a higher standard. He doesn't want them to just settle where they are; He makes them uncomfortable. And that's a good thing. Because by being uncomfortable for a while, they will be happy for longer. The rewards, which He describes in detail, will be wonderful.
If. There's always an "if." If we are obedient, than we will receive these rewards. If we return to the love that we had in the beginning. How passionate were you when you first had your conversion? I'll tell you what, I was crazy passionate! I was at church all the time. I was always at daily Mass. I would go with my friends to pray the rosary or to do praise and worship. Prayer was ingrained in me and my group of friends, because we loved it so much. It was just something that we did together. And it was great. When Jesus tells the angel of the church in Ephesus that they have lost the love that they once had, I can see how dangerous a thing that is. For church to become routine is scary. It's not supposed to become habit. It's supposed to be new all the time.
All of the warnings that He gives to these churches can so easily be applied to our world today. But, what we have to keep reminding ourselves of, is the fact that Jesus is the one who searches hearts and minds. Don't be fooled by scripture's definition of "heart," though. It is not the place of feeling. It is the place of the covenant. It is the whole being. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2562-2563) defines it like this:
- Where does prayer come from? Whether prayer is expressed in words or gestures, it is the whole man who prays. But in naming the source of prayer, Scripture speaks sometimes of the soul or the spirit, but most often of the heart (more than a thousand times). According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain.
- The heart is the dwelling-place where I am, where I live, according to the Semitic or Biblical expression, the heart is the place "to which I withdraw." The heart is our hidden center, beyond the grasp of our reason and of others; only the Spirit of God can fathom the human heart and know it fully. The heart is the place of decision, deeper than our psychic drives. It is the place of truth, where we choose life or death. It is the place of encounter, because as image of God we live in relation: it is the place of covenant.
Revelation Chapter 2:
To the angel of the church in Ephesus, write this:
"The one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks in the midst of the seven gold lampstands says this:
'I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked; you have tested those who call themselves apostles but are not, and discovered that they are imposters.
Moreover, you have endurance and have suffered for my name, and you have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the woks you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. But you have this in your favor: you hate the woks of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor, I will give the right to eat form the tree of life that is in the garden of God.'"
To the angel of the church in Smyrna, write this:
'"The first and the last, who once died but came to life, says this: 'I knew your tribulation and proverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who claim to be Jews and are not, but rather are members of the assembly of Satan. Do not be afraid of anything that you are going to suffer. Indeed, the devil will throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will face an ordeal for ten days. Remain faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The victor shall not be harmed by the second death.'"
To the angel of the church in Pergamum, write this: "The one with the sharp two-edged sword says this: 'I know that you live where Satan's throne is, and yet you hold fast to my name and have not denied your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was martyred among you, where Satan lives. Yet I have a few things against you. You have some people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who instructed Balak to put a stumbling block before the Israelites: to eat food sacrificed to idols and to play the harlot.
Likewise, you also have some people who hold to the teaching of [the] Nicolaitans. Therefore, repent. Otherwise, I will come to you quickly and wage war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the victor I shall give some of the hidden manna. I shall also give a white amulet upon which is inscribed a new name, which no one knows except the one who receives it.'"
To the angel of the church in Thyatira, write this: "The Son of God, whose eyes are like a fiery flame and whose feet are like polished brass, says this: "I know your works, your love, faith, service and endurance, and that your last works are greater than the first. Yet I hold this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, who teaches and misleads my servants to play the harlot and to eat food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her harlotry. So I will cast her on a sickbed and plunge those who commit adultery with her into intense suffering unless they repent of her works. I will also put her children to death. Thus shall all the churches come to know that I am the searcher of hearts and minds and that I will give each of you what your works deserve. But I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not uphold this teaching and know nothing of the so called deep secrets of Satan: on you I will place no further burden, except that you must hold fast to what you have until I come.
To the victor, who keeps to my ways until the end, I will give authority over the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. Like clay vessels will they be smashed, just as I received authority from my Father. And to him I will give the morning star. Whoever has ears ought to hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"
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