Revelations 1:18-20, Revelations 2: 1-7
Rev 1:18 I am the living One. I died, but look—I am
alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Rev 1:19 "Write down what you have seen—both the
things that are now happening and the things that will happen. Rev 1:20 This is the meaning of the mystery of the
seven stars you saw in My right hand and the seven gold lampstands: The seven
stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the
seven churches.
This should have been included the blog from February 26,
2015, We have been traveling so apologies for not keeping up. For the next
thirty days or so It may be that way. Please keep on checking Revelations is an
amazing book .
Revelation 2:1-7
Life
Application New Testament Commentary: The first letter is addressed to the
church in Ephesus—the crossroads of civilization—considered to be a city of
great political importance. Aquila, Priscilla, and Paul had planted the church
in Ephesus (see Acts 19); Timothy had ministered there (1Timothy
1:3); John, the writer of this letter, was closely associated
with the church. The carrier of this letter to the churches would have landed
at the port of Ephesus and begun his journey by visiting the church there.
The basic problem with the
church in Ephesus is that even though church members had stood fast against
evil and false teaching, they had left their basic love for Christ
and for one another.
Rev 2:1 "Write this letter to the angel of the
church in Ephesus. This is the message from the One who holds the seven stars
in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
The first verse clearly establishes who is saying this even
though John was writing the letter Jesus was dictating these words. Ephesus had
been warned against false teachers Act_20:29-31
and they had
held up that very well in this area and most other areas so why is the letter
to Ephesus being written?
Rev 2:2 "I know all the things you do. I have
seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people.
You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not.
You have discovered they are liars. Rev 2:3 You have patiently suffered for Me without
quitting.
Rev 2:4 "But
I have this complaint against you. You don't love Me or each other as you did
at first!
What did Jesus mean when he said but I have this complaint
against you. You don't love me or each other as you first. The church of
Ephesus had become arrogant. They started to believe that they were first in
God's plans. Act_20:29-30, They had been warned, John_13:34; 1John_3:18-19, Jesus commands
us to love one and another. That cannot be done if we do that in a bubble. I
remember watching a TV show called Dome. I stopped a long time ago I didn't
think it was that good. The reason I mention it was that the people in the dome
were isolated from the outside world. They could not impact it nor could the
outside world impact them. Ephesus had
the same ill. They were satisfied in Christ and did nothing to further
Christianity into the world. Do you remember what Mat 28:19 Said? Therefore, go and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit. There lies the problem. This is the same
problem many people have. My Church, Hidden Valley, (hiddenv.com) lives by Matthew 28:19. We have
grown our church not only by people moving into the neighborhood, but by
conversion to Christ.
Rev 2:5 Look how far you
have fallen! Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first. If you don't
repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the
churches. Rev 2:6 But this is in your
favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. Rev 2:7 "Anyone with
ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the
churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life
in the paradise of God.
These verse about what you have done right and
what you have done wrong. There would have been a penalty for doing wrong.
Their lampstand would have been removed. What difference would that have made? I am not
sure but they would not have been standing on the right hand of Jesus where it
is safe, other places not as safe. Ask the Canaanites they were great and
powerful and then they met God.
Neh_9:24 "They went in and took
possession of the land. You subdued whole nations before them. Even the Canaanites, who inhabited
the land, were powerless! Your people could deal with these nations and their
kings as they pleased.
Agape
Dave
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