Heirs to The Tree of Life

Revelation 1:1–3 ESV

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Book of Revelation is the Revelation of Jesus Christ to His Servants

you and I… this word is for us.

The Message was given to an Angel to give to John.

Taught to be afraid of this book when it states:

Blessed is the one who reads it aloud

Blessed is the one who hears it

Blessed are the ones who keep it ( style of the Beatitudes which speak of formation.

Examine what He says to the church

It was written for Actual churches

It was written to one for the others to hear and apply

Speaks to both the conditions we as individuals can be found but is implicitly for the congregation to read, hear, and keep

Today the church is being awakened and must respond to what the Lord has spoken

Live in the Exhortation or;

Live in the Rebuke

To be heirs of the Tree of Life we must Overcome the Love of the Worldly

Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation 2:1 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.

Jesus gives a revelation from the Father to the Angel who is sent to speak to the Church

not prescriptive but indicates the care for revelation given.

Reminder HE Holds the angels of each of the churches perfectly in His hands

speaks of strongly and firmly

He is the one who is walking in our midst

makes sense later when He reveals He stands and knocks

Pay close attention to how He reveals Himself as this will cue us into What and Why He speaks to the church

Commendation for the Church

Revelation 2:2–3 ESV

“ ‘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. I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.

Two phrases which speaks of His indwelling with His people

I know your works

I know your endurance

The works

Toil

suffering at the cause of what Diocletian was doing to the region

beatings hunger removal

Patient Endurance

things are not working well

Hope in Christ

Not Bearing evil

brokenness for the product of evil

Testing those who profess to be sent by God

The rest found in Him

Enduring patiently

Bearing for Jesus

Not growing tired

These were all things they had done when they first gave their life to Christ

Rebuke for the Church

Ephesus is important

one of the first planted

geographically best situated

trade and commerce

Revelation 2:4 ESV

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

Being so important it is referenced several times in scripture

In the Book of Acts

They we initially on fire but find themselves practicing the occult

Its easy to be on fire when we first arrive and again when we return

How on fire were they?

Ephesians 3:10–12 ESV

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

When they were operating with the flame wide open there was revelation coming to the church

Reveals the work of the church

Preach: unsearchable riches of Christ

Reveal: the plan of the mystery of God

Profess: the manifold wisdom of God to the rulers and authorities in the Heavenly places

This can not be done with only a half hearted intent or practicing the things of this world… it can not be done by melting society into the church

Exhortation and Warning for the Church

Revelation 2:5 ESV

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.

Remember: Where you have fallen from

Called to be Priests of the most High God

Drawn by grace and not an object but someone the Lord desires to be in relationship with

Repent: from falling away and return to the works of the former time

Warning

If you do not I will remove your lampstand

1971 Don Mclean American Pie

Latter portion

Society Defined

Satan takes center stage

Convinces the masses he is on their side

The masses confused and perplexed are left to their own devices

The character identified by the singer

filled with indignation

seeks to find good news but has none

realizes its too late

Goes to the sacred store (Church)

No song could be heard

Seeks the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

they have left the building

This is the church who has lost its lampstand...

devoid of divine power

devoid of authority

devoid of dominion

we see a shell of a church that once was and all the remains is emptiness

Reward for the Ones that Overcome

Listen to the how the Lord gives this prophetic word that has significant consequences.

He does not dwell on the bad

Stern warning and acknowledges that in their fallen condition they stay oppose the of Nicolaitans

these were apostate preachers teaching the congregation to be more like the world to be able to grow…

Followed by hope

Revelation 2:7 ESV

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.’

I will grant you to eat of the tree of Life… not passive, more than a name in a book

Go into the garden and draw from that fruit to eat

Paradise of God speaks of both a place in which divine work is occuring and a place where the Lord is walking intimately

The Lord draws you in and says I want an intimate relationship… we’ve been their before

There is a work that will be ahead of us but its not laborious its fulfilling as we do this work of proclaiming His mysteries to the whole of creation including those things known as divine

Capped by the very life we inherit in Him that we can eat of the tree of life and rest in His paradise.