Jesus’ messages to the seven Churches of Revelation provide us encouragement in our walk of faith and sufficient warnings for us to avoid the pitfalls of apostasy (a/k/a “drifting away” (Heb. 2:1) or “falling away” (1 Tim. 4:1; Ps. 101:3)). Each church received a combination of praise and rebuke, except the churches Smyrna and Philadelphia that received no rebuke, and one church, Laodicea (the lukewarm church), that received no praise. As a whole, the seven churches were symbolic of the Church, universal.
The potential for apostasy should be a major concern for every believer. As an example, over one million Jews escaped from Egypt, but with “most of them God was not pleased, for their dead bodies were spread out in the wilderness” (1 Cor. 10:5). Initially, they proclaimed their faith in God (Exodus 14:31). However, at Hebrews 3:10, we read that God was not pleased with the Exodus Generation. “They always [went] astray in their hearts” (Heb. 3:10). We modern-day Christians are no better.
In many ways, the Ephesian Church was an outstanding church. The Lord Jesus commended the Ephesians for their works, labor, and perseverance (Rev. 2:2), but Jesus said, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love” (Rev. 2:4). Pleasing and serving God must be our highest priority. However, it is easy for us to drift away from God as our highest priority. We are easily deceived and distracted by the lusts of the eyes, the lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16) . Many of our desires are inherent and natural to us, but we must place God’s will and timing above our own. Waiting on God’s timing is not always easy. Furthermore, on the one hand, we can be distracted by things like sexual immorality, jealousy, and bitterness. On the other hand, we can be distracted by things like hypocrisy and self-righteousness.
Jesus warned that just as He was wrongly hated, we, too, can anticipate malice from the world around us (John 15:18-19). The potential for persecution from the world is real. Sometimes, it might appear easier to compromise our walk of faith and just get along. Sometimes, we must endure periods of hardship and suffering. If we remain faithful, God has promised us the Crown of Life. We become an “overcomer” believer by avoiding the pitfalls of apostasy. We achieve victory in the Christian Spiritual Life by remaining faithful until the end of our lives.
At our Final Judgment, we will be judged according to our deeds (a/k/a “works”) (Rev. 2:23). The emphasis is placed on the quality of our Christian walk. Yes, faith must precede our works. Before we speak or act, we should believe that our chosen words and actions will be pleasing to God. We must seek to do only the works that God wants us to do. Our works manifest our faith. Jesus said, “The one who overcomes, and the one who keeps My deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations” (Rev. 2:26). It has been God’s plan from the beginning for humans to share in God’s rule over His creation (Gen. 1:26). However, to ultimately rule with Christ in eternity, we must be obedient and faithful servants in this life.
To the Church at Sardis, we read,
But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.
(Rev. 3:4)
Their clean, white uniforms are symbolic for “the righteous acts of the saints” (Rev. 19:8). The quality and character of our faith is manifested by our walk of faith. We are required to consistently practice the Christian Spiritual Life. At Revelation 3:5, we read,
The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
The name of every believer is recorded in the Book of Life at the time of his or her first moment of faith, but if he or she falls away from his or her walk of faith, his or her name will be erased from the Book of Life. There is no need to overthink the image by imagining your name erased with every moment of distraction or unfaithfulness. Instead, just grasp the big picture. The Book of Life records the names of faithful Christians.
While addressing the issue of apostasy and God’s judgment, I want to add one additional thought for your consideration. Sometimes, there is a direct correlation between our bad decisions and our suffering. However, sometimes, there is no correlation between our decisions and our experience of suffering. Every believer, like Jesus Christ and the Apostle Paul, will experience his or her share of suffering that is unrelated to his or her decisions. During such times, we must trust in God and draw near to God, who is near to the brokenhearted (Ps. 34:18). We must learn to cast all our cares upon Jesus for He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:6-10).
Almost every atheist eventually argues that a loving God would not allow suffering like we so often experience in this life. However, in fact, “God is love” (1 John 4:8), and yes, He does allow us to experience suffering. To some degree, we are all shaped and formed by our experiences of suffering, and we will not be able to fully appreciate how our experiences of suffering have shaped us and formed us until the Endstate. Only God knows the ultimate Endstate. However, when we experience suffering and yet trust in God, we glorify God in a unique way that will no longer happen in the Endstate.
Finally, at Revelation 3:11-12,
I am coming quickly; hold firmly to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
We allow people to take away our crown when we overreact to other people’s hostility or hatred toward us. Despite how others treat us, we should never abandon or stray from our spiritual life. The Blue Letter Bible notes that the Greek noun stylos (pillar) can be “used of persons to whose eminence and strength the stability and authority of any institution or organization are due.”[1] The New Jerusalem is built on faithful servants. The faithful servant will be given permanent access to the New Jerusalem. Written on the pillar/believer will be name of God, the Father, the name of the city of God, and the new name of Jesus. At Revelation 19:13, we read that “His name is called the Word of God.”
For more information about “Avoiding Apostasy”, please see the following YouTube Bible classes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUnKvO1sHNA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFyK7RJ95jo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufLJGC_z3jQ
[1] “G4769 – stylos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 10 Sep, 2024. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4769/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.
