The messages for the seven churches (which start in
Revelation 2 and will continue tomorrow in Revelation 3) sound to me rather
like a school report with God in the role of a benevolent yet strict
schoolteacher faced with a class of less than perfect students. In most cases
the message is of the ‘could try harder’ variety: yes, some good progress has
been made, but all is not well and greater effort is required. Sit up and pay
attention, I’m talking about you Thyatira – and you can stop smirking as well Ephesus – you’re not as clever as you think… and
so on. Bear in mind that these messages
are directed at Christians – people who already know God - who are called to
turn away from sinful activities and indifference. In many ways we are like
these churches – and like them we deserve a ‘could try harder’ report. This is
a rebuke founded on love, for Our Teacher has our best interests at heart. He
admonishes to show us where we are wrong and (as we will see tomorrow)
encourages us to repent.
(member of the congregation)