Revelation #7

As we start to look at the individual churches this morning I want you know a couple of things. First we can look at the churches in three different ways. A. Prophetic-Each of the seven churches represent a definite time period in church history. From the first church in the first century until the final church of end time. It is my view we live in the last church period which is Laodicea, which in characterized by lukewarmness. B. You can also look at the churches from a personal view. We all have responsibilities as believers and many times Jesus says "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches". C. Then you can also look at the churches in a practical sense. These letters are applicable to the Christian of every generation. We are to live these letters in our personal lives.



Ok lets look at our first Church:



Revelation 2

To the Church in Ephesus

1"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.

2 "'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. 3I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5Remember 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. 6Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 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.'



Ephesus was an old city at this point and was a major trade center. It also had a temple to the pagan goddess Diana. The letter starts out in verse 1 reminding the church who this letter is coming from....the One who holds the pastors(stars) and the churches(lampstands) in His right hand and walks among them! Jesus! In verse 2 Jesus commends them for three things: 1. Their hard work 2. Their patient endurance 3. How they hated evil! In the remaining part of verse 2 Jesus tells the church He has tested those who who called them selves apostles and found them to be false! How did Jesus resolve they were false? By His Word! The false apostles were not keeping the Word of God. In verse 3 Jesus tells the church He knows they are staying strong for His name! I pray He can say the same about you and I. In verse 4 comes the complaint Jesus has against this church: They had abandoned their first love. Do you remember when you first accepted Christ? If you were like most we are very excited and tell anyone and everyone. It seems though over time many lose that passion. They get pulled back in by the world and are not serving Christ as they should...this is what was happening to this church! In verse 5 Jesus tells them the remedy to this problem: Remember where you have fallen from....in other words return to your early true love of Christ. Then He says repent....ask for forgiveness and turn back to Jesus. Then do the works you did before...tell everyone about Jesus....love others! If the church did not do this Jesus tells them what will happen: The church would be removed! Wow...if we don't keep Christ in proper place He will remove the true church! This happens today! True believers leave for Bible Believing Churches while the church they leave behind is full of false doctrine and no Christ....thus the true church is gone. In verse 6 Jesus gives the church credit for hating the works of the Nicolaitans which Jesus said He also hates. The Nicolaitans were a group who were attempting to set up a professional clergy with a hierarchy to satisfy their ego and to gain prestige. Then in verse 7 Jesus reminds the church and each one of us reading this to listen to what the Spirit says and to each one who conquers He will grant Heaven! Praise God! So how do we conquer:



1 John 5:4-5



4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?



Give glory to God!



Tom