Transcript: Understanding Revelation 2: A Biblical Study Guide

To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things is he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you've tested those who say they're apostles and are not, and have found them liars. And you've persevered and have patience, and have labored for my name's sake, and have not become weary. This same powerful Jesus who controls the universe walks among the churches. Ephesus is commended for diligence, perseverance, intolerance of evil people, and fraudulent apostles. Many of today's churches couldn't be given the same praise. Nevertheless, I have this against you, that you've left your first love. Remember, therefore, from where you've fallen. Repent and do the first works, or else I'll come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place. Unless you repent. In defining the greatest commandment, Jesus was very specific as to which was the first. Love of God. We too have loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Today the sin of Ephesus continues because many have also left their first love, the love of God and obedience to his written instructions. Where have we failed to love God with all our hearts, souls, strength and minds? What works have we neglected to do? But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Nicolaism was one of many ancient heresies. Moderns may be shocked that inclusivity has boundaries and does not include apostates. The context shows that these false ideas, which had infiltrated some churches, were not tolerated in Ephesus. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I'll give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. All of us, in every age and place, are encouraged to heed this instruction. We're also encouraged to overcome the worldly influence that had crept into five of the seven churches, because most of our churches today are also two-worldly. Can salvation come even in very heretical modern churches The same principle applies today to him who overcomes The hope of salvation exists even in churches that are very corrupt And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things, says the first and the last, who is dead and is alive. Smyrna is modern Izmir, Turkey. The city was dead for 300 years and came back to life. This is only one of two churches not told to repent. I know your works and tribulation and poverty, but you are rich, and I know the blasphemy of them who say they're Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Their tribulation and poverty was caused by persecution. Could we lose everything and remain rich in faith? Contrast this with wealthy Laodicean believers, who are in spiritual reality poor. Christians of Smyrna were oppressed by the large Jewish population. Fear none of those things which you'll suffer. Behold, the devil will cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried, and you'll have tribulation ten days. Be faithful to death, and I'll give you a crown of life. The encouragement not to be fearful is to work through our anxieties anxieties and not allow ourselves to be bullied into silence and to remain faithful even if it means death. Today one in nine Christians are persecuted for their faith, most severely across North Africa and Asia, where many still experience martyrdom. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death. Again we're reminded that this is still relevant for us and we should listen. Even in a church that receives the Spirit's approval, the call remains to be an overcomer. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, These things says he which has the sharp sword with two edges. Pergamos was famous for its large library, emperor worship, and worship of other gods. The two-edged sword is a loving scalpel, removing the cancer of sin. I know your works, and where you dwell, even where Satan's seat is, and you hold fast my name, and have not denied my faith. Even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwells. Satan throne and martyrdom seem to go hand in hand But I have a few things against you because you have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication. Balaam was known for setting a honey trap, enticing Israel to fornication so that God would curse them. There are many modern equivalents to eating meat sacrificed to idols. In principle, it involves going along with any societal evil so that neighbors won't ostracize us or that we would lose business. So you have also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. The doctrine of the Nicolaitans is pictured in the many kinds of sexual sin today. Repent, or else I'll come to you quickly, and I'll fight against them with the sword of my mouth. What's the answer to our many modern sexual sins? The word of God and repentance. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knows except he that receives it. Again the Spirit encourages all to hear and be overcomers. The hidden manna is symbolic of the bread of life. The white stone may refer to a pass admitting the holder to a feast. And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write These things says the Son of God who has his eyes like to a flame of fire and his feet are like fine brass. Jesus' bright and shining eyes are explained as searching our innermost desires and thoughts. I know your works and charity and service and faith and your patience and your works and the last to be more than the first. This is a church with a living faith, evidenced by their good works. They've also grown doing better than at first. How many of our churches could Jesus say that to? Notwithstanding, I have a few things against you, because you suffer that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols. They were led astray by a woman given the same name as the wife of Israel's most corrupt king, Ahab, indicating her true character, which was marked by sexual sin and compromise with idolatry And I gave her space to repent of her fornication and she didn repent Judgment not always immediate upon apostate bishops and false prophets of the church. Sometimes God gives time to repent. Behold, I'll cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. The adultery may have been literal and spiritual. Idolatry is disloyalty to God as adultery is disloyalty to a spouse. I'll kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the reins and hearts. I'll give unto every one of you according to your works. But to you I say, and to the rest of Thyatira, As many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan as they speak, I'll put upon you no other burden. Some remain faithful, even in churches led by very sinful people. But that which you already have, hold fast till they come. God may inspire us to continue attending even an apostate church as a witness. If so, we're encouraged to hold fast to the word of God. confessing the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Hold fast to the teachings, our confession, what is good to the word. And he that overcomes and keeps my works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations. Again, overcoming is a theme, and contrary to dead faith without works, good works are evidence of a living faith. And he'll rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers, even as I received it my father. Unlike that Jezebel, Jesus is tough on sin. And I'll give him the morning star. The last star of the morning is the planet Venus. The faithful will be first in line after the darkness of this age is past, when the new day dawns of world peace. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. These messages to the seven churches are for all of us. Let's hear. Next time we'll move into Revelation chapter 3. Until then, God bless you. Thank you.