Revelation: Summary of Letters to the Churches

 Revelation:  Summary of Letters to the Churches

Church at Ephesus:

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  “He that holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks."  
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.

Problem:  Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  

Solution:  Remember therefore from whence thou are fallen, and repent, and do the first works,

Warning:  or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.  

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.”

 
Church at Smyrna:

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  “the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive”

Problem:  None!  This is one of only two churches that Jesus did not find any fault with.

Warning:  "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..."

Reward:   "be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. "

Church at Pergamos:  

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  These things saith He which hath the sharp sword with two edges;"

Problem:  "But I have a few things against you, because thou have there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of  Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication."

Solution:  "Repent

Warning:  or else I will come unto you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth."

Reward:  "He that hath and ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto 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 saving he that receives it."

Church at Thyatira:

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  "These things saith the  Son of  God, who hath His eyes like unto a flame of fire, and His feet are like fine brass;"

Problem:  "I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest (allows) that woman jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."

Warning:  "I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."

Solution:  "But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.  But that which ye have already hold fast till I come."

Reward:  "And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers:  even as I received of my Father.  And I will give him the morning star."

Church at Sardis:

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  "These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars"

Problem:  "I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead."  "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die:  for I have not found thy works perfect before God."

Solution:  "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent."

Warning:  "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee."

Commending:  "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white:  for they are worthy."

Reward:  "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels."

Church of Philadelphia

Attribute Jesus gave them about Himself:  "These things saith He that is holy, He that is True, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;"

Note about the door that He opens and no man shuts and shuts and no man opens:  Once the door is opened, and it now is, anyone can receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  But once that door is shut, judgment is sure.

Problem:  None.    "I know thy works:  behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."

Jesus' promise:  "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.   Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

Reassurance:  "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Behold, I will come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

Reward:  "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:  and I will write upon him the  name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God:  and I will write upon him my new name."


And to every church and to all of us the Lord says:  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

These letters act as a mirror for us to look into today.  To see where we need to repent, where we need to make changes, to receive encouragement, to hear and pay attention to warnings of up coming things, warning of what will happen if we don't repent.  These are to be taken to heart.

Revelation: Church of Laodicea

 Revelation:  Church of Laodicea

To the church of Laodicea 14-22
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodicians write;  These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God;  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot:  I would thou were cold or hot.  So then because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.  Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor and blind, and naked.  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.  As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore, and repent.  Behold, I  stand at the door, and knock:  if any any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and Am set down with My Father in His throne.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.  

Attribute:  The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God.  

This church is in serious trouble.  They are rich and increasing in material wealth.  Laodicea is known for their wealth and known as a banking center.  They had a famous medical school.  So they are very comfortable, self-confident, self-satisfied and complacent.  They think they are alright with the Lord.  What they are doing is playing both sides.  But they don’t know how very destitute they really are.

V 15    The Lord says I would rather you be one or the other.  

Hot means to be fervent-fervent for the Lord.  
Cold is not walking with the Lord but is able to be persuaded when confronted with the truth.  

V 16    But lukewarm is a very danger position.    They are contented.  They think they have no need.  They are ok financially, socially, they are just contented.
The Lord say He will spue or vomit them out of His mouth.  He will fling them away by force.

V17    In the case with Laodicea they are so wealthy they have no need of any material things and full of pride of what they do have.

Mark 10:17-27 story of the rich man.
V27 Jesus said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
    * this is not impossible, just hard
    * eye of the needle is a small gate in Jerusalem
    * the camel has to be unloaded, brought to it's knees and shimmied     
        through the gate.

 Like a young woman that I once knew:  She is from a well-to-do family, self-sufficient;  she told me, "I don't need Him."

It isn't just rich people that are contented either.  It is hard to get people in this position to see the truth.  

Jesus said they don't even know they are wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

Wretched––According to Webster's dictionary:  a pitiable person, a poor little person; a banished person, an exile; driven out.

V18    
Buy of Me gold tried in fire, that you may be rich (truly rich)

Gold represents true riches and high quality tried in fire so it is pure.
*Proverbs 23:23-24 Buy the truth

Proverbs 4:1-7 Wisdom is the principal thing = meaning beginning, the first, the chief, the best, the firstfruits.  Used 51 times "it holds the honor of being the first word written in the entire Bible! (Genesis 1:1––In the beginning)

The Word of God is true, fine Gold which brings us salvation, righteousness, brings us into right standing with God, cleans us up and makes us whole.
Isaiah 55:1-2 Buy without money
Reminder:  Proverbs 23:23––Buy the truth and sell it not...

White raiment:
Isaiah 61:10 robe in righteousness
    Matthew 22:12 man came without wedding garment; called friend
    2 Corinthians 5:21 ...we made the righteousness of God in Him
    1 Peter 5:5 clothed in humility
    Ephesians 4:22-24 you do!

Nakedness = being worldly, a person caring more about life here on earth than the Word of God in their life and living it.  It not having the righteousness of God in our lives.

Eye salve = poultice to put on eyes for healing
––the world will put a lot of trash out there in pictures an in writing and the demons will make sure we see them.
Remedy:  Psalm 17: 15 ...behold Your face in righteousness...
           Hebrews 12:2-3 Looking unto Jesus...        read in Holman
That is a lot to think about!!––to keep our eyes on.

V19    Job 5:17 Happy is the man whom God corrects:  therefore despise not the chastening of the Almighty.

V20    Jesus is calling to them.  Picture of Jesus standing at the door.










V 14   This is where this attribute fits:  

Amen 281 means firm, trustworthy; surely.
Faithful 4103 trustworthy, trustful, faithful, sure, true.  Worthy of belief, trust, or confidence, faithful, worthy of credit.  Faithful in duty to oneself and to others of true fidelity––(Webster's––faithfulness, adherence to right; careful and exact observance of duty or discharge of obligations.  Adherence to a person or party to which one is bound; loyalty)
True 228 alethinos true, real, genuine.  Conformed to the truth.  Real, unfeigned, not fictitious.  i.e. loving truth, veracious (observant of the truth; habitually speaking the truth; truthful.)
Witness 3144 one who testifies or can testify to the truth of what he has seen, heard, knows.  Especially of those who witnessed the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, who bear witness to the truth as it is in Jesus, and testifies to the world what God reveals through Him (A Martyr, One who by His death bears witness to the truth.)
the Beginning of the creations of God.   The Originator and cause of creation


God wants the Laodiceans and us to be trustworthy and faithful to Him.  To be true, genuine, conformed to the Truth and unfeigned––not fictitious and to be a good, true witness of these things, and to Him before others to the point of dying for the Truth if need be.

 In verse 20, He wants to have true fellowship with these people and with us.  He wants us to see how rewarding that fellowship is.  To him that repents and overcomes:

Reward:  “I will make to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.”

Revelation: Church of Philadelphia

 Revelation:  Church of Philadelphia

To the church  of Philadelphia 7-13
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write;  These things saith He that is holy, He that is True, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;  I know thy works:  behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.   Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Behold, I will come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out:  and I will write upon him the  name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God:  and I will write upon him my new name.  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
 
Attribute:  “He that is holy, He that is True, He that hath the key of David, He that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts and no man opens.”

Jesus said I know:  
 your works
 you have little strength
 you have kept My Word
 You have not denied My Name


V7      "He that"
He that is Holy, and He that is True, He that has the key of David, He that opens and no man shuts; and shuts and no man opens.

These things says He that is Holy, He that is True:
Holy 40 sacred, pure, moral blameless, consecrated
True 228 truthful, real, genuine, conformed to the truth, opposed to that which is false or pretend.

He that has the key of David,  
Key–2807 Kleis, a key as shutting a lock  
*Isaiah 22:21-25.  22

V8    I have set before you and open door..

Door 2374 door, portal or entrance (the opening or closure)

 1Corinthians 16:8-9 Paul said, "But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.  For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries."  (Opportunities as well as enemies were waiting.)
Effectual1756 energes––active, operative, powerful

  2 Corinthians 2:12 "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,"

 Acts 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

 Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:  That I may make it manifest, as I speak.

  John 10:9 I Am the Door:  by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

**Matthew 25: 1-13:  The parable of the 10 virgins.
...Key of David once the door is open–salvation is assured.  Anyone can come and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior.  But once the door is shut–judgement is certain.  

*We have a door set before us.  A door of opportunity.  A GREAT opportunity!  
John 4:35   Jesus says:  "Say not ye, ' There are yet four months, and comes harvest?'  behold; I say unto. you, 'Lift up your eyes and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.' ß
We need to take that opportunity and use it fully!  People are waiting for us to tell them about Jesus.
    
 
Strength 1411 dunamis power, miraculous power.  Ability, abundance.  Spoken of intrinsic (internal) power.
Little 3398 mikros small in size, quantity, number or figurative dignity.  least, less, little small.
BUT they have kept God's Word and have not denied Jesus' Name.

V9   Jesus said, "Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you."

These people which worship satan are  wearing out the Christians of Philadelphia, that is why they have 'little strength'.  They have not nor will they let go of God's Word.  Jesus is going to step in and they will know they can not mess with God's people.

"I will MAKE them come to worship at your feet...."

Every individual is responsible for doing certain things.  Such as:  each person is to judge themselves, come to the Lord, answer the call He has put on their life,

V10   Condition...Because you have kept the Word of My Patience, I also will keep you...

V11   hold that fast to that which you have, that no one takes your crown.

The word for Churches today is to hold on to God's Word––The Truth no matter how weary we get, hold on and don't let go.  Keep working for the Lord doing what He tells us to do.  He will step in and will deal with the enemy of God's Word and our faith.  We have assurance of salvation and the comfort of belonging to Him and a community of people of like precious faith.


Reward:  He that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God and he shall go no more out (assurance of salvation): and I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, which is new Jerusalem (belonging), which cometh down out of heaven from My God:  and I will write upon him My new name.

Revelation: Church at Sardis

Revelation:  Church at Sardis

The church in Sardis Revelation 3:1-6
And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;  These things saith He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.  Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die:  for I have not found thy works perfect before God.  Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent.  If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.  Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white:  for they are worthy.  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels.  He that hath and ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Attribute:  He that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars.

This church is hanging on by a thread.  There is just a few things that remain that is worth anything and they are told by the Lord to strengthen those things for they are ready to die.  Their works before God has NOT been perfect and they need to:

 Remember how they have received and heard the Word of God.  They are to go back to their first love.  When a person first receives Jesus they want to learn all they can about Him and walk close to Him.  They have let other things between them and the Lord and the Lord wants them back.
 Hold fast to it.  The Lord is telling them to hold fast to His Word and to act on it.  Not let it go.
 and Repent back to the things of the Lord.

In verse 2 He tells them:
 to be watchful 1127 Greek gregoreuo keep awake, be vigilant, to arise, arouse.  When we pray for people who are lost, or people who knew the Lord and have walked away like this church has we pray for an awakening for them.  To wake up! and be alert to their situation and the deceits of the enemy.  WAKE UP!   BE SOBER and BE VIGILANT because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.  1 Peter 5:8
 and strengthen the things which remain.  Strengthen is from 4741 sterizo which means to be steadfast;  to turn resolutely––to be decided, to be fixed, inflexible, constant and unshaken, to confirm, set, stablish

There are only a few people who are worthy to walk with the Lord in white.

The attributes given to this church is what is need to revive them and to bring them back to life in Jesus.

Seven is the number of perfection.  We are told to be perfect:  Matthew 5:48  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Seven stars: again this means light; shedding light to see and to know what is the truth.  Even in darkness God is shedding His light for people to repent and to turn to Him.  He wants everyone to come to know Him because He loves each and every one of us!

Seven Spirits of God:  Isaiah 11:2  “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord;”

  The Spirit of the Lord:  First off a church or a person needs to do is to repent and turn to the Lord.  Seek His will for congregation or self and serve Him.
  Spirit of Wisdom:  According to Proverbs 8 Wisdom is easy to get.  She says she lifts her voice wherever people are and calls to them to listen to Her.  Reading through this chapter we find there is no reason for a person to lack Wisdom.  Wisdom by definition is skillful, it is prudence:  knowing right from wrong and staying away from the wrong and doing what is right.
  Spirit of Understanding:  This is comprehension, discerning.  Job 28:28  “And unto man he said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”  A lack of this kind of understand was morally culpable (that is guilty, criminal, deserving of censure or moral blame) and resulted in sin and even more drove away God’s compassion for person who did not have it.  A lack of this wisdom is why people do and justify the wrong they want to live in.
Spirit of Counsel:    Advice, purpose, plan.  God has advice--His Word for us; He made us with and has a purpose and a plan in mind for us.  We need to seek His Word and Him in prayer.
  Spirit of Might:  This is force of valor, victory, mastery.  It means to be a powerful warrior and champion.  He has made us all this and strong in Him.  We are victorious in Christ:  1Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  
  Spirit of Knowledge:  This is cunning, learning, insight.  40 out of the 91 times used in Proverbs it is associated with wisdom.  Proverbs 24:3-5 “Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established.  And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.  A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increases strength.”  God holds unbelievers and Israelites responsible to know Him.
  Fear of the Lord:  moral reverence.  
This fear acknowledges God’s good intentions:  Exodus 20:20 And Moses said unto the people, 'Fear not:  for God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.'  
It will motivate and delight even the Messiah: Isaiah 11:2-3 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.'  
It is produced by God’s Word: Psalms 119:38 Stablish thy Word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.   Proverbs 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of the Lord.  
It makes a person receptive to Wisdom and Knowledge:  Proverbs 1:7; 9:10.  
The Fear of the Lord may be lost by despair of one’s own situation (Job 6:14) or by envy of sinner’s (Proverbs 23:17).  
This fear restrains people from sin, it gives confidence, and helps rulers and causes judges to act justly and it results in good sleep.
I suggest reading through Proverbs chapter 8.

Sardis and anyone today that is lacking; needs to repent and seek the Seven Spirits of God.  And he that overcomes
Reward:  “The same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.”
Addendum:  Proverbs Chapter 8 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

V1 Doesn't Wisdom call out?  Doesn't Understand make her voice heard?
V2 At the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads, she takes her stand.  
V3 Beside the gates at the entry to the city, at the main entrance, she cries out:
V4 "People, I call out to you; my cry is to mankind.
V5 Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced; develop common sense, you who are foolish.
V6 Listen, for I speak of noble things, and what my lips say is right.
V7 For my mouth tells the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
V8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; none of them are deceptive or perverse.
V9 All of them are clear to the perceptive and right to those who discover knowledge.
V10 Accept my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
V11 For wisdom is better than precious stones, and nothing desirable can compare with it.
V12 I, Wisdom share a home with Shrewdness and have Knowledge and Discretion.
V13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil.  I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
V14 I possess good advice and competence; I have understanding and strength.
V15 It is by me that kings reign and rulers enact just law;
V16 by me, princes lead, as do nobles [and] all righteous judges.
V17 I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me.
V18 With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
V19 My fruit is better than solid gold and my harvest than pure silver.
V20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
V21 giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

V22 The Lord made me at the beginning of His creations, before His works of long ago.
V23 I was formed before ancient times, from the beginning, before the earth began.
V24 I was brought forth when there were no watery depths and no springs filled with water.
V25 I was brought forth before the mountains and hills were established,
V26 before He made the land, the fields, or the first soil on the earth.
V27 I was there when He established the heavens, when He laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,
V28 when He placed the skies above, when the fountains of the ocean gushed forth,
V29 when He set a limit for the sea so that the waters would not violate His command, when He laid out the foundations of the earth.
V30 I was a skilled craftsman beside Him.  I was His delight every day, always rejoicing before Him.
V31 I was rejoicing in His inhabited world, delighting in the human race.

V32 And now, [my] sons, listen to me; those who keep my ways are happy.
V33 Listen to instructions and be wise; don't ignore it.
V34 Anyone who listens to me is happy, watching at my doors everyday, waiting by the posts of my doorway.
V35 For the one who finds me finds lift and obtains favor from the Lord,
V36 but the one who sins against me harms himself; all who hate em love death.

Revelation: Church at Smyrna

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”

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.”

Revelation: Letters to the Seven Churches

Revelation:  Letters to the Seven Churches

Revelation is a book of Hope, Mercy, and Redemption!

Revelation means to reveal something.  In this case it is to reveal [Jesus Christ] what the Lord will do in the last days of this earth and human life on this earth and what will take place in Heaven!  It is an exciting book.  God wants us to know that is why He made sure it was written down and He gave it to us.  He said in chapter 1 Verse 3 "Blessed {Happy} is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein:  for the time is at hand."
And it is at hand!  All the prophecies concerning Israel that needs to happen before the Lord's return has all been fulfilled.  [Not all prophesy, but all concerning Israel]  Now He is pouring out His Spirit on all flesh for an awakening to Him and to the Truth of His Word; for people to be born again and to walk closely with Him before the rapture takes place.
Chapter 1
Jesus had John write letters to seven churches in Asia-seven different messages from the mouth of Jesus and John acted as secretary and wrote.
But these letters are not just for those seven church, but the are also for us today.  For at the end of each letter Jesus tells us:  “He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the church...”           There are certain benefits given to those who heed these words.
 
These letters are given to “us” just before Jesus reveals what will happen in the very last day--the very end.  We need to listen to what is contained in them and take inventory of our lives as we read them.

V1 “must shortly come to pass”  1722 (en) and 5034(tachos)  brief space of time i.e. in haste; quickly, shortly, speedily.  
When it happens, it will happen in a short space of time––quickly.

Time shortened. Matthew. 24:22-28; Mark 13:20-23

...signified by His angel...(Webster’s)  to show by a sign; to communicate by any conventional token as words, gestures, signals or the like.  To make known; announce.   ...to John:  who bare record of the Word of God and of the testimony of Jesus


V2 John bare record:  of the Word of God
                                    of the testimony of Jesus Christ,          
                                   of all things that he saw

V3 Blessed is he that:  reads, hear, and keeps–2083 watch, observe, guard
                                     that hear the word of this prophecy
                                     and keep (guard from loss or injury; keeping an eye                         on) those things which are written therein

Blessed––Makarois–one who's in the world, yet independent of the world; his satisfaction comes from Go and not from favorable circumstances.
...for the time is at hand

    Romans 13:11 ...time closer now than when we first believed
    James 5:8 Be patient, stablish your hearts
    1 Peter 4:7...all things are at hand.   Now more than ever
Sober 4993 so-phro-eh-o. to have a sound mind i.e. sane e in right mind; not to drink.

V4-20 is a cover letter (Hilton Sutton) that was included to each of the churches along with the personal letter that the Lord had John write to each.

V4 Grace 5485 (Charis) to rejoice, joy, favor, acceptance, a kindness granted or desire, a benefit, thanks, gratitude.  A favor without expectation of return; absolute freeness of the lovingkindness of God to people, finding its only motive in the bounty and free heartedness of the Giver.  Unearned, unmerited favor.

Peace 1515 (Eirene) The absence or end of strife.  Such a state of peace is the object of divine and saving promises and is brought about by God's mercy, granting deliverance and freedom from all distresses that are experienced as a result of sin...referring to a new relationship between man and god brought about by the atonement.  To set at one again.

From Him which is, and which was, and which is to come and from the Seven Spirits which are before His throne;  
...Seven Spirits or seven-fold Spirit Isaiah 11:2
Revelation 3:1    7 Spirits of God,
Revelation 4:5   7 lamps                            > all refers to the Spirit of God
Revelation 5:6   7 horns, 7 eyes
Zechariah 3:9     7 eyes

V5 And from Jesus Christ,
    Who is the Faithful Witness,        
        John 8:12-19
        John 5:19-47
The Lord always has a witness--2 or 3; Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15-16
1. Himself, 2. John, 3. His works, 4. the Father

    Compare John 5:31 with John 8:14.  Why the difference?  Must look at John 5:30––He is not seeking His own will but the will of the Father.  If He were, His witness would not be true.  Read John 5:30-31 in Amp.

    First begotten of the dead 1 Corin 15:20-23, Col. 1:18
    Prince of the kings of the earth.
Prince 758 One first in power, authority, dominion, hence a ruler, lord
        Rev. 17:14 *
        Eph. 1:20-23
        1 Tim 6:15-16
He: washed us from our sins in His own blood

Life in the blood––Leviticus 17:11, 14

V6 made us kings and priest unto God and His Father
    (hand-outs)

Kings 935 basileus (bas-il-yooce) meaning king, monarch ie. one who
exercises royal authority and sovereignty

Matthew 28:18-20  Jesus won back the power Adam gave to satan,
            Jesus gave it to us
Mark 16: 15-18 & 20       
Luke 9:1-5  Jesus gave disciples authority

Priests 2409 hiereus (hee-er-yooce) a priest, one who performs the
sacred rites:  prayer, communion, sharing the gospel

1 Peter 2:5, 9 A royal priest...holy nation
Exodus 19:5-6 If you will obey....kingdom of priest; even in the OT before                     redemption
Malachi 1:11––Make His name great among the heathens
Acts 1:6-8   power + witness

V7 He comes with clouds
    Daniel 7:13-14
    Mark  14:62
    Hebrews 12:1––clouds of witness?

V8. Which is:  always present.
Almighty 3841––The All Ruling, i.e. God; Absolute
He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending
Isaiah 41:4 (AMP
      44:6-8
      48:11-13

V9  John:
brother 80 deriving from the same Father
companion 4791 in tribulation 2347 co-participant, partake with or in affliction, anguish, trouble
kingdom 932 royalty, rule, dominion–reign that is the exercise of kingly power
patience 5281 endurance, constancy, patient continuance, bearing up under

10-19  John talking to the 7 churches, telling them he can relate to them.
(10) I (John) was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,
(11) saying, “I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last and, what thou seest write in a book and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.”  
(12)  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me.  And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
(13) and in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.  
(14) His head and His hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire;
(15) and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and His voice as the sound of many waters.  
16) And He had in His right hand seven stars:  And out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword” and His countenance was as the sunshineth in his strength.  
(17) And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead.  And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, “Fear not; I am the first and the last:  
(18) I am He that liveth, and was dead, and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and Have the keys of hell and of death.  
(19) Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
(20) the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.  The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches:  and he seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

Lampstands 3087 luchnis (lookh-nee-ah lampstand from 3088 luchnos
a portable lamp; illuminator

First of all we see Jesus explaining the seven stars and the seven candlesticks, V20. The word angels means:  messengers,  heavenly beings or pastors.   The seven lampstands are the churches.  So it makes sense that the angels are probably pastors of the churches.  And these letters are being written to the pastor of each of these churches to be shared with their congregation.  

Stars and lampstands offer light.  Pastors and the churches are to be a beacons of light to show those in darkness the way to go.  Jesus holds the stars––pastors––in His right hand.  They are precious and valuable to Him.
The right hand––high in rank; highest honor; and it means He is their Helper and Protector.  

Secondly, we will be looking specifically at the attributes of Jesus listed in the verses above and how they relate to the different churches, and will only be looking at the highlights of each church because there is so much more to each of these churches.
Revelation chapters 2 through 3

Thirdly, after each letter, chapter 2 verses 7, 11, 17, 29, chapter 3 verses 6, 13, 22, Jesus ended each of these letters with "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches...".  So then, not only are these letters written to the actual church but to us today and we are to pay attention to what is beings said––the warning, as well as to the praises that in included in each of these.

Amos 8:11. "Behold, the days come", says the Lord God, "That I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor of thirst for water, but of hearing the Words of the Lord."

V17-18     Fear is cancelled because of verse 18
I AM He that lives
was dead, and behold I AM Alive forevermore
Amen
and have the keys of hell and of death.

No reason to fear any more.

Revelation Class Notes:

Revelation means to reveal something.  The Lord is showing us what will come to pass.  This book is an exciting book, not one to fear.

Revelation is written in an order.  1.  Chapter one tells that things are about to happen.   2.  Chapters 2 and 3 are letters to the Churches---to the pastors of the churches.  These are warning, call to repentance, and encouragement to not fear, to remain in faith, and trust toward the Lord and His Word.   These are foundational.  3.  The sensational comes after and the sensational is the judgment.  

We need to be in the foundational.  We need to have the Word of God in us and before us.  It is our life.    We are facing things today that we have never before faced in this country.  We need to know what the Lord says to us and about us.  

Chapter 1

V1  Shortly come to pass:  Shortly comes from two greek words 1722 (en) meaning "in"; and 5034 (tachos) meaning brief space of time.  The meaning then is "in haste".    It has the meaning that 'when it happens, it will happen quickly'.


V2. John bore record:   of the Word of God
                of the Testimony of Jesus Christ
                of all things that he saw.

V3. Blessed is he that:  reads, hear, and keeps
                that hear the Word of this Prophecy
                and keep those thing which are written therein
...for the time is at hand
    Romans 13:11 ...time closer now than when we first believed
    James 5:8. Be patient, stablish your hearts
    1 Peter 4:7 ...all things are at hand.   Now more than ever.

V4-20 This is a cover letter that was included to each of the churches along with the person letter that the Lord had John write to them.



V4. From His which is , and which was, and which is to come and from the Seven Spirits which are before His throne;  Isaiah 11:2

Isaiah 11:2
Revelation 3:1. 7 Spirits of God        >All refers to the Spirit of God
Revelation 4:5. 7 Lamps
Revelations 6:7 Horns, 7 Eyes

V5. Jesus Christ, Who is:
    the Faithful Witness,
        John 8:12-19
        John 5:19-47
    Compare John 5:31 with John 8:14.  Why the difference?  Must look             at John 5:30––He is not seeking His own will but the will of the                 Father.  If He were, His witness would not be true.

    First begotten of the dead. 1 Corin 15:20-23, Col. 1:18
    The Prince of the kings of the earth

V6 made us kings and priest unto God and His Father

Kings 935 basileus (bas-il-yooce) meaning king, monarch ie. one who
exercises royal authority and sovereignty
Matthew 28:18-20
Mark 16: 15-18 & 20
Acts 1:6-8
Priests 2409 hiereus (hee-er-yooce) a priest, one who performs the
sacred rites:  prayer, communion, sharing the gospel
1 Peter 2:5, 9 A royal priest...holy nation
Exodus 19:5-6 If you will obey....kingdom of priest
Malachi 1:11––Make His name great among the heathens


V7 He comes with clouds
    Daniel 7:13-14
    Mark  14:62
    Hebrews 12:1––clouds of witness?



V8. Which is:  always present.
Almighty 3841––The All Ruling, i.e. God; Absolute




V9  John:
brother 80 deriving from the same Father
companion 4791 in tribulation 2347 co-participant, partake with or in affliction, anguish, trouble
kingdom 932 royalty, rule, dominion–reign that is the exercise of kingly power
patience 5281 endurance, constancy, patient continuance, bearing up under


Lampstands 3087 luchnis (lookh-nee-ah lampstand from 3088 luchnos
a portable lamp; illuminator


Stars and lampstands offer light.  These are pastors and their churches who offer light to those who sit in darkness.