Revelation 2:1-7
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Steve Wilson - Reading
Steve Wilson - Reading
Seven Churches?
Particular churches in particular area at particular time
Historical representation of Church ages / developments
Churches as typological … kinds of churches found everywhere
Revelation: Verse by Verse Letters to the Seven Churches, Part 1: A Truly Biblical Church (2:1–7, 12–29)
each has seven sections into which the details of each church’s situation are inserted:
1. Address (“to the angel of the church … write”)
2. Messenger formula (“these are the words of him who …”)
3. Strengths (“I know your works …”)
4. Weaknesses (“But I have this against you”)
5. Solution (commands to “repent,” and so on)
6. Call to listen (“Let anyone willing to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches”)
7. Challenge to overcome (“To the one who is victorious …”)
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Revelation: Verse by Verse Letters to the Seven Churches, Part 1: A Truly Biblical Church (2:1–7, 12–29)
When we focus on this section, we find that three churches have both strengths and weaknesses (Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira), two have only strengths with no weaknesses (Smyrna, Philadelphia), and two have only weaknesses with no strengths (Sardis, Laodicea)
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Revelation C. Letters to the Seven Churches (2:1–3:22)
A Ephesus: unhealthy church
B Smyrna: healthy church
C Pergamum: unhealthy church
D Thyatira: unhealthy church
C′ Sardis: unhealthy church
B′ Philadelphia: healthy church
A′ Laodicea: unhealthy church
The City Ephesus
Ephesus was the 4th largest in Roman world.
3 major trade routs went through Ephesus.
1/7 wonders of ancient world - temple to Artemis.
3 temples to emperors - Dom-ish-ian
Significant Jewish pop - opposed to Christianity
May have been established by Priscilla & Aquila & Apollos - Acts 18.18-25.
My Stance?
Particular church
Universal message to churches… All 7 use the plural form for us to hear !!
PRAYER
A -
C -
T -
S -
MESSAGE
Revelation 2:1 “1 “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.”
Your Work is Wonderful
Your Work is Wonderful
Revelation 2:2 (ESV)
2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil,
Separate from the world
not engaging in sexual immorality
not worshipping idols
fulfilling religious duties
Your Doctrine is Divine
Your Doctrine is Divine
Revelation 2:2 (ESV)
2 but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.
1 Timothy 4:1–2 “1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,”
1 Timothy 6:3–4 “3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,”
2 Timothy 4:3 “3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,”
1 John 4:1 “1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
Know what you believe and why you believe it
know the difference between heresy and interpretation styles
be a student of the Book for yourselves
Your Fortitude is Fantastic
Your Fortitude is Fantastic
3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.
Recognize the enemy
Consider the reward
Look to Christ as your provider/protector
1 Timothy 6:12 “12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
1 Peter 1:13 “13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Your Love is Lacking
Your Love is Lacking
4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
Wonderful Works, Divine Doctrine, Fantastic Fortitude…
The Book of Revelation (A. Ephesus (2:1–7))
Every virtue carries within itself the seeds of its own destruction. It seems probable that desire for sound teaching and the resulting forthright action taken to exclude all impostors had created a climate of suspicion in which love within the believing community could no longer exist.
1 Timothy 6:3–4 “3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions,”
1 Corinthians 13:1–3 “1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.”
Remember
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen”
who you are
who God is
what Christ has done for you
how you should respond…
Repent
John 13:34 “34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.”
1 John 4:20 “20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
Rekindle
courting / married
“do the works you did at first.”
witnessing
memorization
sermons
charity
prayer
fasting
Fellowship…
LAMP - to the world !!
Remove
“If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”
Not lose salvation… recycle the church !!
Matthew 10:33 “33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 7:22–23 “22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
1 John 3:10 “10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.”
Is this US? Is this ME? is this YOU?
Revelation: Verse by Verse Solution (2:5–6)
Right belief without right practice results in a false religion!
Revelation e. Second Commendation (2:6)
The loathing that the Ephesians have for evil, however, needs to be matched by an affection and love for God and for one another
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.’
Practical Application
Practical Application
When is the last time you witnessed to someone?
When is the last time you spent time in fasting prayer?
When is the last time you got together with another Christian just to have fellowship.
Are you serving in the body anywhere?
PRAYER
Group Questions
Group Questions
As you look through the characteristics of the seven churches, where do you see similarities to your own walk with the Lord? Where do you see similarities to your local church?
How does the description of Jesus in 2:1 give you comfort for the trials in your life?
What good deeds do you think God has for you to do? How can your church emulate the Ephesians’ diligent efforts?
Why do you think Jesus is just as concerned with doctrine as He is with good works? What doctrinal tests would you give to those who want to lead and teach in the local church?
Jesus uses strong language for His feelings towards the Nicolaitans. How should we reflect Jesus’ heart while still loving our neighbor?
How does Jesus’ holy jealousy for the Ephesians expose religious legalism as inadequate? Do you find that you obey out of love for Christ or simply because it is what you are supposed to do? How do we know the difference?
How can/should you apply the threefold prescription to remember, repent, and return?
Reflect on when you first fell in love with Christ. What works marked that period of time in your spiritual journey?
How would you explain what it means to be a “victor” or conquerer in the Christian life?
What makes paradise wonderful, from a biblical perspective, and how does this contrast with popular conceptions of heaven?