Overcomers part 1
AI Transcript
Good morning Redemption Parker. Good to see you guys. My name is Rick. I'm one of the elders. If you're new here, you can begin making your way to Revelation chapter 2. It's been a minute since I preached and we are in the book of Revelation. So buckle up. This could be a long and bumpy ride.
Growing up in, in Southern California, my, my favorite day of the year was a yearly field trip that was not put on by our public schools. Rather, my dad once a year would let us play hooky and he would take me and my two siblings to six flags magic mountain. And there was a roller coaster, one roller coaster that I eagerly anticipated each and every year.
Colossus. Yes, Colossus. Now Colossus was a beautiful white wooden roller coaster. The term Colossus means something gigantic or massive in scale. This roller coaster was just that. When it opened in 1978, it was the tallest and fastest wooden roller coaster in all the world. As a kid, as far as I was concerned, this was one of the wonders of
the world, this and maybe Dodger Stadium. Little did I know it was named after Colossus, the statue located off the island of Rhodes in the Aegean Sea. We have a pic of it here. It's a small pic. It is a big statue, though. This was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Colossus represented Helios, the Greek sun god, this beautiful
bronze statue was built in 280 BC after the Greeks won a huge military victory. It stood about 110 feet tall, roughly the size of the Statue of Liberty, built in 280 BC. And though 50 years after its inception, it was toppled by an earthquake in 226 BC, its fame as a wonder of the world, its visible ruins and the stories and
cultural pride that Colossus brought to the Eastern Mediterranean world would not have been missed by any of John's hearers in these seven churches scattered just across the same sea. Writers like Pliny the Elder in the first century described the fallen Colossus as an awe-inspiring
He said even after the collapse, quote, people could barely wrap their arms around its fallen bronze thumb. This thing was huge. When John, on the island of Patmos, not far from where the statue lay in ruins, in prison because of his witness to Christ, gets a revelation on the infamous Lord's Day.
Jesus is like, you might be imprisoned on this island, John, but you're not done pastoring your flock. My people, you are faithful and you did not compromise. That's why you're here, John. And I'm going to give you a vision that will help them likewise be faithful to fortify them in these last days. Let me remind you what we read last week after John hears a loud voice like a trumpet.
And when he turns around, he sees a colossal vision. He's told to write what he sees and send it to the seven churches. Verse 12, this is chapter 1, verse 12. Then I, John, turned to see the voice that was speaking to me. And on turning, I saw seven golden lampstands. And in the midst of the lampstands, one like the Son of Man.
clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, white like wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet like burnished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. Colossus.
ain't got nothing on this colossal vision John gets of the colossal Christ. And this is not just some gnarly picture of Jesus. This vision is filled with Jewish metaphor. This picture of Jesus is not so that we can understand what Jesus looks like when we see him one day. If so, that would be interesting, to say the least.
White hair, fiery eyes, sword for a tongue. A couple chapters later, we might have to add some lamb features and eventually we'd have to give him some lion attributes. No, these metaphors, these symbols in this vision are meant to hit us deep in our core. They should spark our imagination. John's vision of Christ draws from Daniel chapter seven, the son of man.
and the Ancient of Days. His robe and stash reveal him as both priest and king, clothed in majesty, robed in authority. He oversees the seven lampstands, drawing us back to Zachariah's vision of the temple lampstand. But now, because of the seven spirits, namely the Holy Spirit, the lampstands signify his new temple, the church. And Christ himself
is walking among his churches. His white hair reflects the ancient of days. This is not just the son of man. This is the ancient of days. Our culture despises age, but here age is glory. Wisdom without beginning, the alpha and omega. This is a vision of God, the God-man. But unlike us, when we age, his power does not...
His power does not fade. His eyes blaze like fire, piercing every pretense, judging with perfect vision. His bronze feet glow, but unlike the colossus which fell in an earthquake, his bronze feet proclaim that he is unyielding, unshakable, immovable. In his hand, he holds
the seven stars, these messengers, these angels of the churches showing his sovereign grip over all things. And from his mouth comes the sword, the double edged sword. He is the word, the word of judgment and the word of salvation. This vision leaves no doubt redemption Parker that Christ is the reigning king, the sovereign
judge the shepherd God who walks among his churches. John's vision is meant to evoke white hot worship. Like John who fell on his face, we likewise need to see this colossal Christ for who he is. Now as John begins to write what he sees and send this to these seven churches in chapters two and three, so for us,
today and next week, John is going to be constantly looking back to this colossal vision of Christ in chapter one and looking ahead, far ahead to the end of all things, Revelation 22 and the New Jerusalem. Now if you weren't here last week, please listen to Mark's
sermon, it's, it's a must not only because it's the first sermon of a sermon series, but because we need to understand how to read this book. It's a different genre. It's a few different genres. This book is Mark shared last week and it is, we'll find out in weeks to come is not chronological. I think even for today, it'll be helpful to, to ground ourselves a bit before we jump in.
to chapter two. A lot of theologians say we should read Revelation backward or at least start with chapters 17 through 19 to get acquainted with some of the characters. The unholy trinity or this idea of Babylon. Ultimately this book is about living as exiles in Babylon.
John will make it very clear that Babylon is Rome, but what will also become clear is Babylon is anywhere Rome-like. And so like New Testament scholar Richard Baucam says, if the cap fits, wear it. The question all throughout the book of Revelation is this, are you a citizen of the New Jerusalem or Babylon? Or another way to put it, are you rocking with the lamb or?
beast. This morning as we hear Jesus address four of these seven churches in Asia Minor, let's remember what Mark said last week. This was written to these seven churches, but this is for us. Redemption Parker, I believe God has something to say to us this morning from the apocalypse. And as you hear how these churches who are called to live for the lamb, namely
Jesus amidst the presence of the beast, aka Satan, called to live as citizens of the New Jerusalem, that is to say heaven, while they live in Babylon, namely Rome. I want you to see how the beast makes his moves. What temptations does he throw at these churches? Because though our world in 2025 does not look exactly like
Asia Minor in the first century under Roman Empire. The beast is using the same playbook today and he is here to kill, to steal, to destroy you, your family, your church, your faith. My prayer is that we would be humble enough to see how Babylon can and does get into our midst.
and that we'd be bold enough to ask Jesus this morning, examine us. But my end goal is to show you that the promise of New Jerusalem from the colossal Christ Himself gives us all we need to be overcomers. So if you're not already there, Revelation 2 is where we will begin. Starting in verse 1.
to the angel of the church in Ephesus, right? The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. Each of these letters are going to have a very similar outline. I'm going to try to follow that flow as we go this morning. First, Christ wants them to get their eyes on him. So he's going to point back to each church.
to the colossal vision of himself. Remind the church who he is. Second, Christ is going to examine the church, strengths and weaknesses. And third, finally, Christ gives each church a promise. And what's wild, I've been reading Revelation for almost 20 years, never noticed this till this week, but each promise he gives to each church is found in Revelation 22 in the New Jerusalem. He's pointing them.
ahead. He's getting their eyes on where they are headed, where they must be living for now. Well, let's get rolling here in Ephesus to the angel of the church in Ephesus. Wait, what? The angel of the church. Now we can't build an angel ology here and that is a word angel ology, but angels are prominent characters in apocalyptic literature. would be
blown away if we could see what was really present. And if we knew our Old Testament, Deuteronomy 32 and Daniel 10 seem to give us the idea that there are angels that are over certain regions. There's one passage in Matthew's gospel that might give us a clue that each child has an angel. Again, not enough here to build out a theology of angels, but Revelation...
two and three in light of this crazy chapter in first Corinthians 11 seem to make the case that each church has an angel. Kind of cool to think about, right? I wonder what the RP angel is like. But before we start to speculate, it's not what we want to do here. What is much cooler than that, and I guarantee the angel, the RP angel would agree, is what the Ephesian church is told about their savior.
He holds the angels and walks among us. Christ is present in His church. Let that sink in. Christ is present among His church. Even now. Well, after this, he's going to examine this church in Ephesus, verse two.
I know your works, your toil, your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know that you're enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. So far, so good. It seems like on all fronts, these guys are checking off the boxes, working hard for the Lord. Check. Patient endurance.
Check, not growing weary. Check, not compromising in sin. Check, not believing false doctrine. Check. mean, look at verse six. hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Again, this church is killing it. And wouldn't you expect that? The church in Ephesus was one of the most significant communities in the entire New Testament. mean, Paul planted this church for crying out loud.
This is where Aquila and Priscilla preach. Apollos ministered here. Timothy pastored this church and according to the sign outside some ancient landmark when Holly and I visited Ephesus, the apostle John posted up here along with Mary, Jesus' mama. And the ink spilled here, second to none. For instance, Ephesians is a letter we have from Paul for this church. First and second, Timothy.
letters addressed to Timothy while pastoring this church. First, second, third, John, possibly written from this city. Yes, of course, they're killing it. And yet look at verse four, but I have this against you that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen.
Repent and do the work you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place unless you repent. Yikes. This sounds intense like come on Jesus. But then you remember the importance of love. mean, their founding pastor, Pastor Paul once says the only thing that counts is faith.
expressing itself through love. Now scholars are all over the place on the question for the Ephesian church. Is this love for God or love for others? I think the answer is very clear. Yes. mean, Jesus says the most important command singular love God, love others, plural or first John. can't say you love God unless you love
your brothers and your sisters and this powerhouse church in Ephesus has abandoned. This is a strong word. They haven't left. They abandoned their first love, the love they had at first. this morning I feel like a dying man preaching to dying men and women. I remember like yesterday the love I had at first.
I remember walking into that mega church 18 years ago. was lost, broken, looking for answers to life's biggest questions. And as I searched for answers to no avail, next on my list, check out a church. So I showed up for a Saturday night service, joint in my pocket, ready to get out of there and go party. God had other plans. Ain't no.
party like a Holy Ghost party because the Holy Ghost party don't stop. That night I heard the gospel and by faith alone in Christ alone I received life. And that season was filled with well love overflowing overwhelming love love for God and what he did to save my soul love for my new brothers and sisters and his family called
church and love for the lost world around me. I love for them that they would know Jesus. This week has been convicting to me to say the least. What about you? Can you remember the love you had at first? Is it still intact?
If not the call for us is the same that it was for this church. Repent, turn back, turn to the one who loved you and gave himself for you. And finally, look at the new Jerusalem promise there in verse seven. love this. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches, to the one who conquers or overcomes. I like that translation.
This book is for the overcomers church to the one who overcomes. I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. The whole Bible can be summed up in four words, Eden lost Eden restored the tree that was taken away in the garden will be restored again in the new Jerusalem see revelation 22. And I love.
church history because sometimes it helps us answer these questions like I wonder if the church at Ephesus had ears to hear. Well about 20 years after John penned these verses the bishop of Antioch Ignatius was arrested for his faith and was sent to Rome for execution. On his way he stopped in Smyrna not far from here while there the Ephesian church sent a team to care for him. In response he wrote a letter thanking them in it he said
The Ephesians were quote characterized by faith in and love for Christ Jesus our savior. He rejoiced that they quote love nothing in human life only God. He praised one of their elders as a man of inexpressible love and said that that he could see the love of the whole Ephesian church reflected in the love of the team they sent. I it seems that they had ears to hear what the spirit said to.
their church. Let's move to the next church. Look with me at verse eight. And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, the words of the first and the last who died and came to life. Here we see the heart of the gospel. The first and the last died and came to life. The one who has always existed as the son of God, the second person of the Trinity took on flesh and became
the Son of God incarnate. And as the God man, He lived and died as the suffering servant. The one who died for our sins came to life for our justification. Well, in verse nine, He examines the church in Smyrna and only commends them. But verse nine, I know your tribulation and your poverty, but you are rich.
And the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you're about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison that you may be tested and for 10 days you will have tribulation. Y'all are suffering. Jesus is saying, and this is a mark of my church. So you're doing well. Smirna. J.I. Packer sees each church in revelation two and three exhibiting a different mark.
These are the marks of a healthy church. Love in Ephesus, suffering here in Smyrna. The next two churches will be the marks of truth and holiness. But here, Smyrna is holding it down. They are suffering well. Because they will not succumb to the pressures around them, they are being slandered. Because they won't call Jesus Lord, they are in poverty.
And according to Jesus, are only going to get worse. Physical persecution is going to be more intense. Yet what does he say? Y'all are rich, filthy rich, spiritually speaking, that their ultimate citizenship is not in Babylon, but rather New Jerusalem. And then his Revelation 22 New Jerusalem promise comes in verse 10. with me.
faithful unto death. And I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. If your home is Babylon.
If your home is Babylon, and some of us need to hear this. If your home is Babylon, you will be hurt by the second death. Don't let this be home because if here you have no lasting city, but you seek the city that is to come, you will gain the crown, namely eternal and abundant life, faithful unto.
Death again, one more church history story. was a dude sitting in these pews in Smyrna in his twenties at the time, Polycarp. He would have heard John's letter read out loud. They didn't just come to church twice a month back in those days. He would have heard loud and clear, be faithful unto death. Well, Polycarp eventually became the pastor of this church and fast forward more than 50 years, another
Another wave of persecution came rolling in. Ten days was not literal, FYI. As the pastor, Polycarp was taking to the local stadium where the sport of burning Christians was underway. The story is told like this. The crowds roared in the stadium. The procouncil pressed the old man. Swear by Caesar, curse Christ and I will release you. Polycarp replied, I love this.
86 years I have served him and he never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me? Pressured with wild beasts, warned with fire, he declared, you threaten me with fire that burns for a time and is quickly quenched, but you do not know of the fire that awaits the ungodly in the judgment to come. Remember, he knew he wasn't going to be touched by the second death and
As the flames rose, Polycarp lifted up his eyes and prayed, Lord God Almighty, I bless you that you have counted me worthy this day and hour to share the cup of Christ. And with that, the pastor Smyrna entered glory, faithful unto death. You might be thinking that that's inspiring, Rick, but look around.
What does this have to do with us?
everything. We might not be living in severe persecution, at least not right now, but are we willing to embrace suffering? Have you counted the cost of your discipleship? Are we dying the little deaths of ego or are we clinging like many in our town for dear life to ourselves?
We do not receive the life of Christ without the death of self. So to even get more practical, have you died to your control? Our town statue is the self-made man. We love being in control.
Have you died to your comfort? Again, we're doing everything we can to build more comfort. Have you died to what others think about you? Are you truly willing to embrace suffering for the sake of Christ? Because the Christ's life does not come to those who preserve themselves. It comes to those who lose themselves for his sake. Amen. Next up.
Pergamon and we gotta pick up the pace. I still got two more churches
Look with me at verse 12. to the angel of the church and Pergamon write the words of him who has the sharp two edge sword. This time Christ wants his church to focus on his double edge sword. So he reminds them right away. I am the one who judges. I am the one who saves. Verse 13 examination time. I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Let's pause here real quick. I know we live in bougie.
Douglas County, everything is clean and nice and we like it this way. The last days, this phrase that John is going to keep using throughout the book of Revelation, this phrase, the last days, which is used by all the New Testament authors is the time from Christ's ascension after his resurrection to his second coming. Friends do the math. We are living in the last days.
Theologian slash rapper slash author, Lecrae Moore interprets the phrase last days to mean quote, it's ghetto down here. Yes. And amen. This is true even in Parker, Colorado, where Satan's throne is. Let's keep reading. Yeah. You hold fast my name.
And you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness who was killed among you where Satan dwells. These are solid Christians holding down the faith once delivered to the saints, even had a member of their church killed for the name of Christ. Imagine what that would do to our church. Just think about that for a second, right? And Joe gets killed for being a Christian. Man, that's a good church.
So chill.
But verse 14, I have a few things against you. You have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam who taught Balaam to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel so they might eat sacrifice food to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent. If not, I'll come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.
Unfortunately, we don't have time to get into the details of all the teaching here. And quite frankly, it is a little vague, but in short, some from this church were being sold a bill of goods. Don't think for a minute that teaching doesn't matter. Truth matters. Doctrine matters. If you don't care about theology, you don't understand that you are a theologian. Are you a good one?
According to this passage, there's a lot on the line. We must be good theologians, church. What story are you believing? Is it the one in scripture or is it something else? What is holding your affections? What are you believing about yourself, about God? And where are you getting it from? Verse 17, Jesus again, pointing this church.
to the New Jerusalem promise says, he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna and I will give him a white stone with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. When I told my oldest Eden about this passage, she was a little bit confused, but dad, I like my name. Again, metaphors in revelation. This is speaking of nourishment.
and protection, namely life in New Jerusalem. Well, we've had three marks of the healthy church so far. Love, suffering, truth. Let's look at the final one, holiness. Verse 18. The angel, the church, and Thyatira write, the words of the Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. Jesus is now getting their eyes on his
Stability, having them look into his eyes of perfect judgment tells them this. Verse 19, I know your works, your love, your faith and service and patient endurance that and that your latter works exceed the first. Again, really good start. Sounds like gospel culture to me. But first 20, but I have this against you that you tolerate that woman Jezebel.
who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrifice to idols. gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. Behold, I will throw her onto a sick bed and those who commit adultery with her, will throw into great tribulation unless they repent of her works and I will strike her children dead. Jesus speaking.
And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart. I will give to each of you according to your works. But to the rest of you in Thaia-Taira who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden, only hold fast to what you have till I come. Yowsers.
Again, more Old Testament allusions and we don't have time to get into everything here. But what is clear from this exhortation is this. God cares about our holiness. God cares about your holiness. Like Luther says, we're saved by faith alone, but saving faith is never
alone or like he says in our passage, I will give to each of you according to your works or like my dude, Dr. Craig Blomberg at Denver seminary says, being a disciple means he's Lord of your wallets and your zippers. One example, but in Babylon where we live, if you're okay with a little porn in your life, and I'm speaking to men and women, the numbers show that this issue affects both.
sexes and this is an issue in the church. But if you're okay with some porn or some erotica and you think Jesus is okay with it, meditate on these verses. Spoiler alert, he's not. What kind of shows and movies are you okay watching? What type of thoughts are you okay thinking or fantasizing about? Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount,
Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. And what's the New Jerusalem promise here? And this is where I'll land the plane this morning. Look at verse 26. The one who conquers, the one who overcomes and who keeps my works until the end. To him I will give authority over the nations. What?
And he will rule with them with a rod of iron as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my father. Wow. What a promise to reign with Christ in the new Jerusalem, given a glorified body like his and to reign with him forever. And if that's not enough, look what he says next. Verse 28, and I will give him the morning star.
It's easy to read this verse and be like, Whitestone, new name, Morning Star, where are we going for lunch after church? But if you read Revelation 22, Jesus will tell us He is the Morning Star.
The promise is more than just a promise. is what theologians call the beatific vision, the doctrine of all doctrines. It's the blessed hope that one day we will see God. That one day, Redemption Parker, we will be given the morning star. Namely, we get Christ himself in all his glory. This is our
This is New Jerusalem. So are you a citizen of New Jerusalem or Babylon? Are you rocking with lamb or the beast? Imagine, Church, if we took these promises of New Jerusalem from the colossal Christ himself to these churches and for us, imagine if we took these promises seriously. Imagine.
the kind of overcomers we would be. Amen? Amen. Let me pray.