To the church of Smyrna Revelations 2:8-11
V8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the First and the Last, which was dead, and is alive;
V9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
V10 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.
V11 He that hath and ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; he that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death.
Attribute: “the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive”
Smyrna, today is Izmir, was 35 miles north of Ephesus. It was the most splendid of the 7 Cities and was the pride of Asia. The caesar cult had emerged and the Christians suffered a great deal because they would not worship Caesar. Polycarp, the bishop of the church, was martyred here in A.D. 156 because he refused to call Ceasar "Lord".
This is one of only two churches that Jesus did not find any fault with and with Smyrna He is warning them and giving them encouragement He is also addressing fear.
Jesus knows:
their works
tribulation
poverty
V8. The First and The Last
Isaiah 41:4
Isaiah 44:6
Isaiah 48:12. hearken to Me; hear and obey
V9 1 Timothy 6:17-18. ...do good and rich in good works...
V10. Fear none of those things:
Matthew 10:22. Jesus said, "And you shall be hated of all for My name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved."
Be thou faithful:
Matthew 24:13. Jesus said, "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."
Jesus is telling the church at Smyrna that He is very aware of them and what they do for Him. He knows they are very obedient to Him. He also know what because of that they are being troubled by those around them for their faith and teaching/preaching the gospel. They are a poor church but He says they rich in the Word and are storing up treasures in Heaven–Matthew 6:19-21 through being obedient.
Jesus is warning them that they will suffer because of those that are of satan's group, and some of them will be cast into prison for 10 days. But He tells them to not be afraid what those things. He always tells us to fear NOT!
Attribute applied: He also knows because He has been through it Himself when He lived here on the earth. He IS The First and The Last, was dead, and IS alive! He has lived here on the earth for 33 years and has faced what the Smyrnaians have faced. He knows they will be severally tried and He tells them to remain faithful unto death. He is telling them: ‘I have been there and come out on the other side. I am the first and last; I was dead and now alive. I know what is awaiting for you––remain faithful!!’ Don't get discouraged. Never give up. (Winston Churchill!)
He is telling us the same thing: Remain faithful!! Keep focused on Jesus and be obedient to what He tells you to do through though severely tried-remain faithful! And you will:
Reward: “Not be hurt of the second death”
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Revelation: Church at Ephesus
To the Church at Ephesus 2:1-7
V1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
V2 I know thy works, and thy labor, 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:
V3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.
V4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
V5 Remember therefore from whence thou are 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.
V6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
V7 He that hath and ear, let him hear what the Spirit hath unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Attribute: “He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
V1 The seven stars and the seven golden candlesticks represent Light.
The seven stars is the pastor of this church; the seven golden candlesticks is the church of Ephesus and also Christians today spreading his Light into the dark places.
The number seven represents perfection-Jesus is perfect, He is Light and His Light is perfect and pure. Jesus, the Revelator is shedding light onto the Ephesian Christians. He is shedding His Light on the good and right things they are doing and encouraging them and He is shedding light on what needs to be fixed and He tells them how to fix it.
V2–3 Jesus reveals to Ephesian church:
their works (2041 Gk ergon-where we get ergonomics) It means WORK
their labor (2873 Gk kopos) toil; demands the whole strength of a person exerted to the uttermost if he is to accomplish the task which is before him. Reminds me of a farmer. Farming is very hard work.
their patience 5281 hupomone the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. 1 Thess 1:3 patience of hope
how they can't not bear them which are evil
that they tried them that say they are apostles and found them liars. 1John 4:1 believe not every spirit...
2 Corin 11:10-15 Amp
and have borne (941 Gk bastazo) through the idea of removal; to lift, to bear, carry, take up John 20:15, Acts 21:35-36
have patience (5281 Gk hupomone) cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy, patient continuance (waiting)
has labored (2872 Gk to work hard and and feel fatigued (spiritually)
they have not fainted (Gk 2577) they didn't quit, or get 'sick of it',
V4 While the Lord has complimented them on many things He continues by saying “Nevertheless”. They have left their first love
What happened here is a couple of things.
They are workers! Also, they can’t “bear those which are evil have tried those that say they are apostles and found them liars”. While both of these are good things, like Peter walking on the water, he got his focus off Jesus, they left their focus from off the Lord and quit shining the Light by living and preaching the Word of God to judging and looking for evil in everyone that comes into their midst. The Lord doesn't call anyone to do that. Also salvation is not by works as said in Ephesians 2:9, "Not of works, lest any man should boast." And Jesus is telling them to STOP IT! and repent: to remember where they came from and put their focus back on Jesus and His Word.
It was like Peter walking on water. Jesus called him to Himself and Peter did great until he got his eyes off Jesus and "saw" the wind boisterous then he started to sink. Jesus called Ephesus to Himself and they did great until they got their eyes off on the problem–––or problem makers and then things went wrong.
V5 and He tells them ‘remember therefore from where you have fallen--"repent!, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will removed your candlestick out of his place except you repent."
They have left their first Love. Remember when you first came to know the Lord and have made Him your Lord as well as Savior? You felt clean, light. The burden of sin was off of you. You saw the world in a totally different way––as God's creation. The colors were brighter and it was all good. Also, you looked to God, to praise Him, to look for His guidance, to talk to Him, listen to Him.
As time goes on, we get caught up in the daily things we have to still do and may have added church work on top of that. We start feeling the weight of those things again. We get caught up in the work and leave aside reading God love letter to us and leave aside praying and listening to Him. But while doing church work we think that is just what He wants. But in reality most of that is just busy work. Most of it does not need to be done.
What The Lord wants is our first love relationship we had with Him. When we are in the relationship, our ears are keen to hear what He really wants us to do. More things will get done. It is more to the point. And we rest content knowing we are in His will. Our work should be done out of love and obedience to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Because we want to please Him.
We don't need to go looking for evil. It is all around us and unfortunately, in the church as well. I heard a preacher say once, that when you turn the light on, bugs will show up. The devil will send his group to churches where the Word of God is being preached to distract, confuse, and lead away. Once it is seen, yes, it needs to be dealt with to the point, if the person/people don't repent and do right, kicking them out of the church. That is Biblical. God doesn't want evil around to lead others away from Him.
V6 He commends them again.
V7 He is tell us the same thing: Jesus ended His letter to this church with, "He that has and ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches;..." So the messages is for us today as well as for the church at Ephesus so long ago. If evil comes in our midst, yes it needs to be dealt with in the proper manner. Don’t go looking for it!! Keep our focus on Jesus and His Word––studying it and sharing it and keep in the love relationship that we first had when we first became Born Again.
Reward: “To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
V1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
V2 I know thy works, and thy labor, 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:
V3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.
V4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
V5 Remember therefore from whence thou are 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.
V6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.
V7 He that hath and ear, let him hear what the Spirit hath unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Attribute: “He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
V1 The seven stars and the seven golden candlesticks represent Light.
The seven stars is the pastor of this church; the seven golden candlesticks is the church of Ephesus and also Christians today spreading his Light into the dark places.
The number seven represents perfection-Jesus is perfect, He is Light and His Light is perfect and pure. Jesus, the Revelator is shedding light onto the Ephesian Christians. He is shedding His Light on the good and right things they are doing and encouraging them and He is shedding light on what needs to be fixed and He tells them how to fix it.
V2–3 Jesus reveals to Ephesian church:
their works (2041 Gk ergon-where we get ergonomics) It means WORK
their labor (2873 Gk kopos) toil; demands the whole strength of a person exerted to the uttermost if he is to accomplish the task which is before him. Reminds me of a farmer. Farming is very hard work.
their patience 5281 hupomone the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. 1 Thess 1:3 patience of hope
how they can't not bear them which are evil
that they tried them that say they are apostles and found them liars. 1John 4:1 believe not every spirit...
2 Corin 11:10-15 Amp
and have borne (941 Gk bastazo) through the idea of removal; to lift, to bear, carry, take up John 20:15, Acts 21:35-36
have patience (5281 Gk hupomone) cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy, patient continuance (waiting)
has labored (2872 Gk to work hard and and feel fatigued (spiritually)
they have not fainted (Gk 2577) they didn't quit, or get 'sick of it',
V4 While the Lord has complimented them on many things He continues by saying “Nevertheless”. They have left their first love
What happened here is a couple of things.
They are workers! Also, they can’t “bear those which are evil have tried those that say they are apostles and found them liars”. While both of these are good things, like Peter walking on the water, he got his focus off Jesus, they left their focus from off the Lord and quit shining the Light by living and preaching the Word of God to judging and looking for evil in everyone that comes into their midst. The Lord doesn't call anyone to do that. Also salvation is not by works as said in Ephesians 2:9, "Not of works, lest any man should boast." And Jesus is telling them to STOP IT! and repent: to remember where they came from and put their focus back on Jesus and His Word.
It was like Peter walking on water. Jesus called him to Himself and Peter did great until he got his eyes off Jesus and "saw" the wind boisterous then he started to sink. Jesus called Ephesus to Himself and they did great until they got their eyes off on the problem–––or problem makers and then things went wrong.
V5 and He tells them ‘remember therefore from where you have fallen--"repent!, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will removed your candlestick out of his place except you repent."
They have left their first Love. Remember when you first came to know the Lord and have made Him your Lord as well as Savior? You felt clean, light. The burden of sin was off of you. You saw the world in a totally different way––as God's creation. The colors were brighter and it was all good. Also, you looked to God, to praise Him, to look for His guidance, to talk to Him, listen to Him.
As time goes on, we get caught up in the daily things we have to still do and may have added church work on top of that. We start feeling the weight of those things again. We get caught up in the work and leave aside reading God love letter to us and leave aside praying and listening to Him. But while doing church work we think that is just what He wants. But in reality most of that is just busy work. Most of it does not need to be done.
What The Lord wants is our first love relationship we had with Him. When we are in the relationship, our ears are keen to hear what He really wants us to do. More things will get done. It is more to the point. And we rest content knowing we are in His will. Our work should be done out of love and obedience to Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Because we want to please Him.
We don't need to go looking for evil. It is all around us and unfortunately, in the church as well. I heard a preacher say once, that when you turn the light on, bugs will show up. The devil will send his group to churches where the Word of God is being preached to distract, confuse, and lead away. Once it is seen, yes, it needs to be dealt with to the point, if the person/people don't repent and do right, kicking them out of the church. That is Biblical. God doesn't want evil around to lead others away from Him.
V6 He commends them again.
V7 He is tell us the same thing: Jesus ended His letter to this church with, "He that has and ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches;..." So the messages is for us today as well as for the church at Ephesus so long ago. If evil comes in our midst, yes it needs to be dealt with in the proper manner. Don’t go looking for it!! Keep our focus on Jesus and His Word––studying it and sharing it and keep in the love relationship that we first had when we first became Born Again.
Reward: “To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
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