Revelation 2:1-11 – Lesson 4

 Revelation 2:1-7 – The Church in Ephesus, Left Their First Love

Through John Jesus identified Himself to the church at Ephesus.  He said He held the seven stars in His right hand and walked among the seven golden lampstands.  This emphasized His authority and presence in the church.  He knew all about the church; nothing was a mystery to Him.  He knew their deeds, hard work, patience, and perseverance. 

He encouraged them by telling them He knew how patient they were and that they couldn’t tolerate wicked men.  Nevertheless He had something against them.  They had forsaken their first love.  They once had the love they didn’t have anymore.  He wanted them to remember where they used to be in their love for God and one another.  They were to remember how they used to spend time in the Word and praying; remember how excited they were telling others about Jesus.  He told them to repent meaning to change direction before it was too late or He would remove His presence from the church. 

Remember from Revelation 1:20 the seven stars represent seven angels who watch over the churches and the seven golden lampstands represent the seven churches.  If they didn’t change direction, His presence would be removed.

Ways you can discern between true and false teaching are found in these passages...

Acts 17:11 – know and examine the Scriptures.

Romans 12:2 – don’t conform to the worlds pattern, but renew your mind to what is good and pleasing to God.

1 Corinthians 12:3 – if a person is specking by the Holy Spirit, they will not say Jesus is cursed but will say Jesus is Lord.

2 Timothy 3:16 – all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training.

Jesus said in Matt. 22:36-40 that the first and greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  If you have forsaken your first love, then you might have stopped reading and studying the Word because you were too busy with life. God isn’t in the center of your life as He once was.  You put others things before Him.  You become self-absorbed and think only of yourself before the welfare of others. 

Ways to express your love for God is by praying, studying the Bible, loving those around you, tithing, fasting, and being encouraging and hopeful.  Show it in your words and your actions.

Repent means to stop doing what you are doing and turn around and do the opposite with the intention of never doing it again.  It’s a change of heart and mind that brings you closer to God.  It’s turning from sin and turning to God for forgiveness.

Genesis and Revelation talk about the Tree of Life.  Genesis tells us that God planted a garden with all kinds of trees and in the center of the garden He put the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  He told Adam and Eve to eat from any tree except the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  We know they disobeyed and ate from it anyway.  They were cursed and banished from the garden.  Now because of Jesus and the salvation He gives to those who believe and trust in Him, we can once again have access to the Tree of Life – the reward of eternal life in heaven.

Revelation 2:8-11 – The Church in Smyrna, The Suffering Church

Jesus describes Himself as the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.  He knew the church’s afflictions and poverty – yet they were rich.  He knew the slander of those who say they are Jews but are a synagogue of Satan.

He encouraged them by saying to not be afraid of what they are about to suffer.  They are to be faithful and He will give them the crown of life.

I think when Jesus said they were in poverty but rich, He meant they were in material poverty but they were rich in spirit.  They were storing up treasure in heaven instead of here on earth (Matt. 5:3; 6:19-20).  Jesus willingly became poor in suffering and died on the cross, yet He was rich and secure in the glory of heaven (2 Cor. 8:9).

Jesus faced slander and persecution and suffering; Smyrna too will face what He faced.  All believers will face persecution (John 15:19-20; 16:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:12).  The Apostles faced persecution; they were arrested and jailed and even killed for their performing miracles.  Christians today face the same persecution.  They’re mocked, thrown in jail, tortured, and some even killed for their faith.

Jesus told the Smyrna believers not to fear suffering.  Matt. 10:28-33 tell us “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”

Knowing Christ equips believers to be faithful in suffering.  Suffering and trials are part of our journey; it’s what makes us stronger, gives us endurance, and builds up our faith.  It causes us to turn to Him bringing us closer to Him.  Sufferings and tribulations don’t break our faith; it strengthens it.

Next week we will continue the study in Revelation.  –  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Revelation 1 – Lesson 3

 

Revelation 1:1-3 – Purpose of Revelation

Revelation begins with the revealing of Jesus Christ.  It was given from God to Jesus to His angel to John and then to us.  John is to tell all he saw and be a testimony of Jesus Christ.  The revelation is that Jesus Christ is Lord of all.  It is the revelation of God’s power and glory.  “Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near”. - Rev. 1:3.  The book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible that says you will be blessed when you hear, read, and put in practice what it says.

To be blessed means happy or fortunate.  It implies there is great benefit to those who study and understand.  When read and obeyed, the Word of God rejoices the heart.

To “take to heart” implies courage knowing Christ’s victory overshadows all troubles.  We gain courage and confidence by being more hopeful.

“The time is near” is true more so for us today than people thousands of years ago.  We are closer to the end.  The rapture of the church is imminent.  We don’t know when, because God’s timing is different from ours.  It may be in a 100 years or it may be tomorrow.  We must know the truth and be ready.  Are you ready?

Revelation 1:4-8 – Greetings to Seven Churches

John started by giving grace and peace from Jesus Himself, which is comforting because in Revelation we will see a lot of judgments, earthquakes, and destruction of the earth and its people.  He also mentioned the 7 spirits before His throne.  “And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” – Isaiah. 11:2.  These spirits of God are the Holy Spirit in His completeness.  Jesus is described as being a faithful witness, the first born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

In Rev. 1:4-5 we learn that God the Father is eternal, existing in the past, present, and future; Jesus is the faithful witness.  He and His Word have authority because He is the Creator.  He and His Word are dependable.

These passages relate to truths about Jesus as we see in Rev. 1:5-6 ….

1 Cor. 15:3 – Christ died according to the Scriptures, buried, raised on third day according to the Scriptures.

1 Cor. 15:20 – Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.

Phil. 2:9-11 – God exalted Jesus to the highest place, gave Him the name above every name, and everyone will confess that He is Lord.

When Jesus returns every eye will see Him and every knee will bow before Him.  Rev. 1:7 – “Even those who pierced Him and all the peoples of the earth will mourn.”  They will mourn because they missed the opportunity to believe in Jesus’ death on the cross for their sins.  All will recognize Him.  Those who pierced him may refer to the nation of Israel.  Remember they cried out in Matt. 27:25 – “We will not have this Man to rule over us” and in Luke 19:14 – “Let His blood be upon us and on our children.”  They will recognize their error of rejecting Christ as their Savior.

Revelation 1:9-20 – Heavenly Vision

John was exiled on the island of Patmos because of His testimony of Jesus. He lived in poverty and probably faced loneliness because he lost connection with the world; he didn’t know what was going on in Asia.

Followers of Jesus face hardships today.  They face resistance from the world, are mocked and rejected for their beliefs, and some even killed.

John was filled with the Spirit and heard a voice like a trumpet which told him to, “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches:  to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”  - Rev. 1:11.  He saw Jesus and described His hair, eyes, feet, voice, hand, mouth, and face.  In His hand was 7 stars and out of His mouth came a sharp double-edged sword.  His face was like the shinning sun.

When John saw Him, he fell at His feet as though he was dead.  Jesus told him not to be afraid and that He was the First and the Last, the Living One, was dead and now alive for ever and ever, and that He held the keys of death and Hades. (Rev. 1:17-18)  Having the keys to death and Hades mean He has the power over them.  He proved that because He rose from the dead.  John was told to write down everything and not leave anything out. 

He gave instructions to John to “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.” – Rev. 1:19.  This is the key verse that unlocks the door to the entire outline of the book.

The 7 lampstands represent the 7 churches.  They are lamps that hold the light of Christ.  They must show His light to the world.  Jesus was holding 7 stars in His right hand, which are the angels of the 7 churches. (Rev. 1:20)  These angels are probably angels who watched over the churches.  Some believe these stars are the pastors of the churches who lead and watch over the people.

Next week we will continue our study with Revelation 2 – the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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