9-24-23 Bible Study Revelation 3

Revelation 2:1-29

I found this example in my Tony Evans Study Bible and thought that I'd share: The book of Revelation is specifically designed to explain what happens before, during, and after the return of Jesus Christ. It can be summarized in one phrase: “Things to come.” It explains what God’s prophetic kingdom program is and how it works,,, and it offers the most comprehensive detail in all of Scripture. This book has two goals: 1 - to encourage Christians to live righteous and holy lives in light of the prophetic timetable that is to come and 2 - to challenge unbelievers about the judgment ahead if they reject Christ. The apostle John begins by telling the church how it ought to live. He tells each church the special reward believers will receive for living holy lives that are pleasing to the Lord. Then he enters into an extensive description of the tribulation that fulfills many Old Testament prophecies, as well as Jesus’s Olivet discourse. This section also describes God’s dealings with Israel after the church has been raptured and the times of the Gentiles have ended. This leads to Christ’s millennial kingdom on earth, followed by the judgment of unbelievers and the transition into the new heaven and new earth—the eternal state in which believers will be with the Lord forever. Last Sunday we stopped at the end of chapter 1 and this evening we begin in chapter 2, verse 1. Verse 1-3 said: 1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. At the time this letter was written, Ephesus was a major city of Asia Minor, a seaport, and the location of the great temple of Artemis (cf. Acts 19:24, 27–28, 34–35), one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Paul had visited Ephesus about A.D. 53, about 43 years before this letter in Revelation was sent to them. Paul remained in Ephesus for several years and preached the gospel so effectively “that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10). This large city was thoroughly stirred by Paul’s message (Acts 19:11–41), with the result that the silversmiths created a riot because their business of making shrines of Artemis was threatened. The church accordingly had a long history and was the most prominent one in the area. The pastor or messenger of the church was addressed as the angel (angelos). The word’s principal use in the Bible is in reference to heavenly angels (William F. Arndt and F. Wilbur Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1957, pp. 7–8). But it is also used to refer to human messengers (cf. Matt. 11:10; Mark 1:2; Luke 7:24, 27; 9:52). Christ was holding seven stars in His right hand and walking among the seven golden lampstands. The “stars” were the angels or messengers of the churches and the “lampstands” were the seven churches as we seen from chapter 1 verse 20. Christ commended those in the Ephesian church for their hard work … perseverance, their condemnation of wicked men, and their identification of false apostles. (False teachers were present in each of the first four churches; cf. vv. 2, 6, 9, 14–15, 20.) In addition they were commended for enduring hardships and not growing weary in serving God. In general this church had continued in its faithful service to God for more than 40 years. So the letter begins in praise! But as we see from the next verses,,, it doesn't stay that way. ----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 4-7 said: 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

This rebuke contrasts with what Paul wrote the Ephesians 35 years earlier, that he never stopped giving thanks for them because of their faith in Christ and their love (agapēn) for the saints (Eph. 1:15–16).

Most of the Ephesian Christians were now second-generation believers, and though they had retained purity of doctrine and life and had maintained a high level of service, they were lacking in deep devotion to Christ.

How the church today needs to heed this same warning, that orthodoxy and service are not enough.

Christ wants believers’ hearts as well as their hands and heads.

The Ephesians were first reminded to remember the height from which you have fallen!

They were told to repent and to return to the love they had left.

Similar exhortations concerning the need for a deep love for God are frequently found in the New Testament (Matt. 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27; John 14:15, 21, 23; 21:15–16; James 2:5; 1 Peter 1:8).

Christ stated that one’s love for God should be greater than his love for his closest relatives, including his father, mother, son, and daughter (Matt. 10:37).

Paul added that love for God should even be above one’s love for his or her mate (1 Cor. 7:32–35).

In calling the Ephesian believers to repentance Christ was asking them to change their attitude as well as their affections.

They were to continue their service not simply because it was right but because they loved Christ.

He warned them that if they did not respond, the light of their witness in Ephesus would be extinguished: I will … remove your lampstand from its place.

The church continued and was later the scene of a major church council, but after the 5th century both the church and the city declined.

The immediate area has been uninhabited since the 14th century.

At the end of this letter,,, in verses 6,,, there was one additional word of commendation inserted.

They were commended because they hated the practices of the Nicolaitans.

There has been much speculation concerning the identity of the Nicolaitans, but the Scriptures do not specify who they were.

They apparently were a sect wrong in practice and in doctrine (for further information see Henry Alford, The Greek Testament, 4: 563–65; Merrill C. Tenney, Interpreting Revelation, pp. 60–1; Walvoord, Revelation, p. 58).

My Believer's Bible Commentary says: Some think they were followers of a religious leader named Nicolas,,, but it doesn't explain who this might be.

Then it says: Others point out that the name means “rule over the laity” and see in this a reference to the rise of the clerical system.

In my Faithlife Study Bible it says: Little is known of this group,,, but,,, they are probably not connected to the Nicolaus of Acts 6:5.

Given John’s disdain for the religious practices of the Roman Empire, the Nicolaitans may have compromised by allowing pagan religious practices into the church,,, thereby avoiding persecution and social tension (compare Rev 2:14–15).

In my Wesleyan Commentary it said: that they are said to hold the teachings of Balaam who caused the Israelites to sin by practices of fornication and idolatry,,, including the eating of meat which had been offered to idols.

The same charge is made against a group in the church at Thyatira,,, who were probably Nicolaitans.

In addition,,, they laid claim to a superior knowledge of Satan,,, and this heresy is probably Gnostic in origin.

Fornication could be the result of antinomian practices which stemmed from Gnostic dualism.

Because spirit alone is good and flesh is evil, the flesh has no share in salvation.

Therefore a man’s body need not be controlled by the Christian laws of morality.

This type of “superior” knowledge was a mark of Gnosticism, on which basis the Gnostics constituted a law unto themselves.

Paul had anticipated such disturbances in the Ephesian church (Acts 20:29; 30),,, and the church had suffered greatly because of them.

In fact, it was maintained only by constant struggle.

In the time of John’s writing, although the evil-workers had been repulsed, the church members had suffered in the conflict.

Again,,, we just aren't sure.

And in verse 7,,, as in the other letters,,, Christ gave the Ephesian church a promise addressed to individuals who will hear.

He said: 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

The tree of life, first mentioned in Genesis 3:22, was in the Garden of Eden.

Later it reappears in the New Jerusalem where it bears abundant fruit (Rev. 22:2).

Those who eat of it will never die (Gen. 3:22).

This promise should not be construed as reward for only a special group of Christians but a normal expectation for all Christians.

“The paradise of God” is probably a name for heaven (cf. Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4—the only other NT references to paradise).

Apparently it will be identified with the New Jerusalem in the eternal state.

This encouragement to true love reminded them again of God’s gracious provision for salvation in time and eternity.

We don't express our love for God by just legalistically obeying commands,,, but by responding to the knowledge and appreciation of God's love,,, and because of truly understanding that,,, truly understanding everything that God does for us,,, we can fulfill the words of Jesus as stated in Matthew 22:37-40.

Matthew 22:37–40 (KJV 1900) — 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verses 8-11 said: 8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I knowthe blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

The second letter was addressed to Smyrna,,, a large and wealthy city 35 miles north of Ephesus.

And,,, like Ephesus,,, it was a seaport.

In contrast to Ephesus,,, which today is a deserted ruin,,, Smyrna is still a large seaport with a present population of about 200,000.

In verse 8,,, Christ described Himself as the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.

Christ is portrayed as the eternal One (cf. 1:8, 17; 21:6; 22:13) who suffered death at the hands of His persecutors and then was resurrected from the grave (cf. 1:5).

These aspects of Christ were especially relevant to the Christians at Smyrna who,,, like Christ in His death,,, were experiencing severe persecution.

The name of the city,,, Smyrna,,, means “myrrh,” an ordinary perfume.

It was also used in the anointing oil of the tabernacle, and in embalming dead bodies (cf. Ex. 30:23; Ps. 45:8; Song 3:6; Matt. 2:11; Mark 15:23; John 19:39).

While the Christians of the church at Smyrna were experiencing the bitterness of suffering,,, their faithful testimony was like myrrh or sweet perfume to God.

What a comfort it was to the Christians in Smyrna to know that Christ knew all about their sufferings: I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich)

Besides suffering persecution,,, they were also enduring extreme poverty (ptōcheian in contrast with penia, the ordinary word for “poverty”).

Though extremely poor,,, they were rich in the wonderful promises Christ had given them (cf. 2 Cor. 6:10; James 2:5).

They were being persecuted not only by pagan Gentiles,,, but also by hostile Jews,,, and by Satan himself.

Apparently the local Jewish synagogue was called the synagogue of Satan (cf. Rev. 3:9). (Satan is mentioned in four of the seven letters: 2:9, 13, 24; 3:9.)

In the history of the church the most severe persecution has come from religionists.

----------------------------------------------------------- Notable is the fact that there was no rebuke whatever for these faithful, suffering Christians.

This is in striking contrast with Christ’s evaluations of five of the other six churches, which He rebuked.

Smyrna’s sufferings,,, though extremely difficult,,, had helped keep them pure in faith and life.

----------------------------------------------------------- Verse 10,,, The word of Christ to these suffering Christians was an exhortation(urgent message) to have courage: Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer:

Their severe trials were to continue.

They would receive further persecution by imprisonment and additional suffering for 10 days.

Some have taken these words “for 10 days” as a symbolic representation of the entire persecution of the church; others think it refers to 10 persecutions under Roman rulers.

The most probable meaning is that it anticipated a limited period of time for suffering (cf. Walvoord, Revelation, pp. 61–2).

Scott finds precedence in Scripture that 10 days means a limited period of time (Walter Scott, Exposition of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, p. 69). He cites Genesis 24:55; Nehemiah 5:18; Jeremiah 42:7; Daniel 1:12; Acts 25:6.

Alford holds the same position, citing Numbers 11:19; 14:22; 1 Samuel 1:8; Job 19:3 (The Greek Testament, 4:567).

The problem of human suffering, even for a limited time, has always perplexed faithful Christians.

Suffering can be expected for the ungodly, but why should the godly suffer?

The Scriptures give a number of reasons.

Suffering may be (1) disciplinary (1 Cor. 11:30–32; Heb. 12:3–13), (2) preventive (as Paul’s thorn in the flesh, 2 Cor. 12:7), (3) the learning of obedience (as Christ’s suffering, Heb. 5:8; cf. Rom. 5:3–5), or (4) the providing of a better testimony for Christ (as in Acts 9:16).

----------------------------------------------------------- Believers are encouraged to be faithful by contemplating what awaits them after death, namely, eternal life.

As in all the letters, an exhortation(urgent message) is given to the individuals who will listen.

The promise is given to overcomers, referring in general to all believers, assuring them that they will not be hurt at all by the second death (cf. Rev. 20:15).

The reassuring word of Christ to Smyrna is the word to all suffering and persecuted Christians.

As stated in Hebrews 12:11, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on,,, however,,, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

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