THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD. CHAPTER S 1 - 3. (Matthew 28:20) [Chapter s 1 to 3 form the basic foundation of this entire book. Revelation is made up of "picture symbols," which, like "modern art," are intended to express an idea. Each of these picture-symbols presents _one_ central idea. Be careful not... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN EPHESUS. To the evangelist. See note on Revelation 1:20. THIS IS THE MESSAGE. See Revelation 1:13; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 1:20. I KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. This church had a good past record. They had worked hard; they had aggressively carried out the Great Commissi... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU ARE PATIENT. All the Devil could do to them did not make them give up!... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU DO NOT LOVE ME. A very serious charge! Paul had planted the church here about 52 A.D. (Acts 18:19-21). This church was more than forty years old as Christ dictates the letter to John. A second generation has grown up who do not have the intense enthusiasm, spirit, and love which the first genera... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER HOW FAR YOU HAVE FALLEN! (1) They had been at a high spiritual level. (2) They had lost their hold on Christ and had dropped into the pit of spiritual defeat [_but they did not know it!_]. (3) TURN! They must actively recapture this love. It is AGAPE - _an act of will. "I will love God; I w... [ Continue Reading ]
HERE. IN YOUR FAVOR. The Nicolaitans taught that Christian liberty gave permission to live immorally. They were right to hate what the Nicolaitans did [not the Nicolaitans themselves].... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YOU HAVE EARS. A grim warning to listen carefully. TO THOSE WHO HAVE WON THE VICTORY. God's promise! Christian life is a battle. TREE OF LIFE. Note the stress on LIFE. [See Genesis 2:9; Genesis 3:22; Revelation 22:2.] GARDEN OF GOD. Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)_ -_ the home of God's people.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN SMYRNA. To the evangelist. See note on Revelation 1:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW YOUR TROUBLES. Being a Christian at that time often meant losing your job, and hardship followed. The Lord tells those believers that they must not let themselves fall into self-pity. They are poor - yet rich in spiritual things (Matthew 6:20; Matthew 19:21; Luke 12:21). Their Lord knows all... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT BE AFRAID. You may suffer, but do not fear. THE DEVIL. He is the power behind those who claim to be Jews. ["Jew" in the Bible is applied to different groups of people. Sometimes it means specifically the Pharisees, Sadducees and teachers of the Law (the group who rejected Christ).] YOUR TROUB... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT BE HURT BY THE SECOND DEATH. Life eternal to those who win the victory! The second death is eternal separation from God (Revelation 20:14).... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN PERGAMUM. To the evangelist. See note on Revelation 1:20. SHARP TWO-EDGED SWORD. See Revelation 1:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE. They lived in a center of Satan-inspired idol worship. Christians were asked to burn incense to the fetish of the emperors and to say "Caesar is our Lord." YOU ARE TRUE TO ME. They resisted the temptation to repudiate Christ to save themselves. They kept their faith even when... [ Continue Reading ]
A FEW THINGS. Probably, they emphasized individuality to the point where church discipline was ignored. In the error of Balaam (Numbers 25:2; Numbers 31:16) false teachers at Pergamum taught Christians to join in the feasts of idols and the sex orgies. They may have taught that this was allowed in o... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SAME WAY. Nicolaitans - see Revelation 2:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
TUM FROM YOUR SINS. Forgiveness requires turning from sin first. IF NOT I WILL COME. A grim warning to the unrepentant.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YOU HAVE EARS. Listen! HIDDEN MANNA. The bread of life is Jesus Christ - hidden from the world. A WHITE STONE. The symbol of being pronounced "not guilty." It implies victory over sin and the Devil. A NEW NAME. Symbolic of the new relationship the Christian will have with God and Christ in that E... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE ANGEL OF THE CHURCH IN THYATIRA. To the evangelist. See note on Revelation 1:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW WHAT YOU DO. They had. done the opposite of the church at Ephesus. They had continued to grow stronger in their "first love," and showed this in the way they helped the poor.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HERE IS WHAT I HAVE AGAINST YOU. Here in Thyatira, labor guilds were centered around an idol. Sex orgies and drunkenness were part of the activity of these guilds. Obviously a Christian could not take part in this sort of thing, so, he lost his job! This created terrific pressure on the Christia... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE GIVEN HER TIME. It is God's wish that everyone would turn from sin. Even Jezebel is offered the opportunity to repent. (See why Jesus came! John 3:16-17.)... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO I WILL THROW HER. A "bed" and "terrible suffering" are symbolic of God's wrath. Those who refuse to turn from their sin bring upon themselves certain punishment!... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL ALSO KILL HER FOLLOWERS. A grim threat of Divine vengeance upon those who "follow Jezebel" (by participating in this sin). THEN ALL THE CHURCHES WILL KNOW. God loves us (see Romans 5:8-11) and wants to bless us. But sin brings punishment, sometimes in this life (see Ananias and Sapphira - Act... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE REST of YOU. Some were faithful and had not followed the false way of Jezebel. ANY OTHER BURDEN. Only to avoid the sins of the faction. [Compare Acts 15:28-29.]... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YOU MUST HOLD FIRMLY. To the gospel of Christ which the apostles had taught them.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THOSE WHO WIN the VICTORY. The world may seem to be winning now, but it is the Christians who really are ruling the world right now at this time! (See Revelation 8:3-5; Revelation 5:8-10; Romans 5:17_.)_ I WILL GIVE THEM AUTHORITY. A just reward for the suffering Christian! (Compare Luke 19:17; 1... [ Continue Reading ]