What’s the most terrifying image in the Revelation? The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? The Battle of Armageddon? In today’s passage we find something that should be even more horrifying: the possibility that an apparently orthodox church can completely lose its way.

And make no mistake, the church in Ephesus had a lot going for it. The apostle John himself had been their pastor before he was sent into exile – you can’t get better leadership than that. And much like us modern Presbyterians, the people took their doctrine seriously, carefully examining both those who claimed God’s calling to teach as well as the ideas they put forward. Yes, they worked hard to keep the Church pure from all sorts of error (2:2).

So where had they gone wrong? In spite of all their hard work and patient endurance, they had left their first love (2:4). In their zeal for purity, they had forgotten that love for Christ and love for one another is the ultimate goal of Christian discipleship. In fact, they had gotten so far off track that Christ said they were in danger of having their lampstand removed (2:5). For after all, if the light of Christ’s love were to go out among them, how could they possibly hold it aloft anymore?

So, how can we keep the main thing the main thing? How can we cultivate a true love for Christ among us? How can we truly stick together as Christian brothers and sisters? The church in Smyrna sets an example for us, however difficult it might be for us to follow. For both Scripture and history teach us that churches tend to grow in purity not in times of prosperity and safety, but in times of poverty and persecution.

So yes, the Book of Revelation makes it clear that, before Christ returns in glory, all sorts of hard times are coming for believers. But if we will allow those trials to draw us closer to Christ and to one another, we can find a blessing even in the worst of them. For it is in the midst of such darkness that the light of Christ’s truth and love shines most clearly.

Revelation 2:1-11 (ESV)

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “‘I know your works, your toil and 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.
3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.
4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.
9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.
11 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.’