The Names of Jesus - Elmer Towns

to be encouraged that he was in the right hand of the Saviour as he undertook to lead the flock in
that city.
The church at Smyrna was a congregation under intense persecution. Many of their
members had already lost their lives because of their faithfulness, and many more would do so in
the days to come. They are not criticized in any way by the Lord, only encouraged to remain
faithful. To encourage this church, Jesus reminded them He was “the first and the last, which
was dead, and is alive” (2:8).
Unlike the above churches, the church at Pergamum (or Pergamos) was a congregation
with a mixed multitude. Some of its members gave no evidence of being saved and committed to
the Lord. They were somewhat lax in their standards of personal separation and engaged in
activities most of the Christians of that day considered wrong. It was a church that was bending
to social pressure to conform to the standard of the world and as a result had begun wandering
away from their commitment to Biblical authority. More than anything else, the church needed a
“back-to-the-Bible revival.” To this church, Jesus revealed Himself as “he who hath the sharp
sword with two edges” (2:12)-that is, the Word of God.
The church at Thyatira was one which would probably have been rejected as a legitimate
church by most evangelical definitions today. A prominent woman in the church was introducing
several pagan practices into the church, including immorality and idolatry. Of these two named
sins, Jesus appears to be most concerned with her refusal to repent of fornication. As a result, He
introduced Himself to that church as the Son of God coming in judgment with His burning eyes
and bronze feet (2:18).
The next church Jesus addressed was the church at Sardis. It was a very reputable church,
but in many respects its reputation was all it had. Some commentators identify this church with
the Reformation movement in the seventeenth century. The church is described as dead but still
possessing a believing remnant. In many respects, although the Reformers helped the church
greatly with their reemphasis upon the doctrines of grace, they failed to be as effective as they
could be because they neglected the work of the Holy Spirit. Significantly, Jesus reminded this
church that it was “he that hath the seven Spirits of God” who addressed them (3:1).
In many respects, the church at Philadelphia enjoyed the most coveted of circumstances
among the seven Asian churches. Again, there is nothing Jesus chose to criticize directly.
Although the church was small, it had unprecedented opportunities for service ahead of it. It was
a church in the midst of revival and simply needed to be reminded not to allow the revival to
degenerate into an emotional fanaticism. To this church He identified Himself as “he that is holy,
he that is true, he that hath the key of David” (3:7). The reference to “the key of David”
originates in Isaiah 22:22 and emphasizes that Christ alone has authority to admit whom He
wishes into the kingdom. This church needed truth and holiness, but it also needed to grasp the
opportunities that awaited them in reaching their world with the gospel.
The church of Laodicea has come to represent the lukewarm compromise often
characteristic of many churches today. They needed to be reminded who Jesus was as “the
Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (3:14). He was to this