Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. Revelation 1:3 NIV
Welcome, welcome, I’m so glad you’re here. This is week 2 in our study of Revelation and if you haven’t read the first one, please do.
I’m in the AMP again this week but might use some more NIV this time too. You can find both at biblegateway.com.
I have the feeling that God has much to say to us in this chapter. Let’s pray that we might notice and hear and realize what He’s trying to communicate. Because it’s not that He isn’t communicating, it’s that our ears are hard of hearing. Let’s pray.
Dear Lord Jesus, You are all over this book and I need You to lead it. I can’t do it without You. Please reveal what You want me to make note of, what I need to point out, what I need to explain, all of it Lord, please, let me hear You today. In Your Name and all for Your Glory I pray. Amen.
Read Revelation 2:1
Message to Ephesus
All praise to the One who holds the seven stars and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
Footnote:
Ephesus, the largest city in Roman-controlled Asia Minor, developed into a major trade center because of its access to the Aegean Sea. It was the primary center for the worship of the goddess Artemis (Diana). The Temple of Artemis, the largest building in ancient times, was considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The open-air theatre in Ephesus could accommodate 25,000 spectators and was used for both drama and gladiatorial combat.
Read Revelation 2:2-3
Footnote:
Here through 3:18, “your” and “you” are in the singular, referring to the angel of each church. Much of what is said is rebuke and admonishment, so if the angels are heavenly beings, they may serve in some way as representatives of the sinful people in their churches. Jewish tradition maintained that every nation and individual has a guardian angel, and that when God is about to punish a nation, He first punishes its angel. There is even a story of Michael, the guardian angel of Israel, being rebuked by God for the sins committed in the time of Ezekiel. So the original readers of Revelation might have assumed that the angels here are the guardian angels of the individual churches, sharing responsibility for the actions of the members.
Read Revelation 2:4-7
Oh Lord, put and keep within us the depth of love a relationship with You deserves.
Do the works you did at first. When you first found Him. Or rather, when you realized He found you.
At this point in time, we need more influence of the church, not less.
Nobody really knows what the Nicolaitans taught, but I read that it was likely eating food that first was given to idols and other things banned by the Jerusalem council that you can read about in Acts 15.
In fact, most of these letters have much to do with keeping God as the only God you worship; He is against idol worship. And today, in this time frame of history, we need the same lesson. For our God is a jealous God and he has always been angry with idol worshippers.
“To him who overcomes, I will grant [the privilege] to eat [the fruit] from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.”
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:5 NIV
Read Revelation 2:8
Message to Smyrna
All praise due to the First and Last (Alpha & Omega) who died and came to life again. He is absolute Deity.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” Rev. 1:8
Read Revelation 2:9-11
“Be faithful to the point of death [if you must die for your faith], and I will give you the crown of life. He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death (the lake of fire).’
Footnote:
In ancient times Smyrna (modern Izmir, Turkey) was a beautiful, cosmopolitan city. Located on the Aegean coast, it vied with Ephesus and Pergamum in importance in Asia Minor. It was closely identified with Rome and the cult of emperor worship. Smyrna was later the home of Polycarp, the great Christian church leader who, at the age of eighty-six, was burned at the stake for his refusal to worship the Roman emperor.
Be faithful to the end of your life and you too will get the crown of life.
Read Revelation 2:12
Message to Pergamum
Praise due the one who has saved us forever through His blood. For there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2 NIV) and you are covered in His Righteousness. Marked in Him with a seal. (Ephesians 1:13 NIV) Praise Him who will bring justice. For He has and wields the sharp two-edged sword.
Footnote:
Pergamum (modern Bergama, Turkey) was built on a promontory about sixteen miles from the Aegean Sea. It was famous as a worship center for many pagan gods including Zeus (Jupiter, king of gods), Dionysus (Bacchus, god of wine and intoxication), and Asklepios (god of healing). The enormous altar dedicated to Zeus is on display in the Pergamon Museum in Berlin. Pergamum also had an important temple dedicated to the worship of Caesar. Refusal to take part in the imperial cult was considered treason. A culturally sophisticated city as well as a center for pagan worship, Pergamum’s library, believed to contain over 200,000 volumes, was second only to the Library of Alexandria.
Read Revelation 2:13-17
“To him who overcomes, to him I will give [the privilege of eating] some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone with a new name engraved on the stone which no one knows except the one who receives it.”
Change your thought patterns. For it’s your thoughts that will change your behavior and He is able to transform them to align with how He wants you to think. To remember whose you are and who you are in Him. He wants to be your focus. Put your trust in Him and keep Him on your mind.
Footnote:
White stones were sometimes used as tickets of admission to public assemblies. Here the white stone may symbolize admission to the Messiah’s banquet.
Read Revelation 2:18
Message to Thyatira
Jesus, the Son of God, who has eyes like flames and feet like burnished bronze all our praise to You and Your glory.
“Know [without any doubt] that I am He who searches the minds and hearts [the innermost thoughts, purposes]; and I will give to each one of you [a reward or punishment] according to your deeds.
Hold tightly to what you have until I come. And he who overcomes and he who keeps My deeds [doing things that please Me] until the [very] end, to him I will give authority and power over the nations; and he shall shepherd and rule them with a rod of iron, as the earthen pots are broken in pieces, as I also have received authority [and power to rule them] from My Father;and I will give him the Morning Star.”
Oh Lord, keep us focused and listening.
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. Hebrews 10:35
Hold tightly to your faith in Him. For He has all the authority; you can read about that in Ephesians 1.
Rulership and whatever it means to have the Morning Star…
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” More of Him, oh please let that be the gift. For we can have all we want of Him in this time. And here is his promise that we will have even more in the end. Praise His Holy Name.