1. Ephesus Revelation 2:1-7

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1 Session Two: Revelation, The Kingdom Yet to Come (The Great Adventure Series) page 1 Revelation is book of Hope and Encouragement not cryptic! 7 letters to 7 churches (Page 4 of study guide) There are more churches in Asia Minor. 7 is chosen, 7 is the number of completeness, speaking to the whole church 7 churches were actually on an ancient mail route, city to city Lord addresses internal life of these parishes, their tendencies to tolerate false teachers, he addresses problem areas and good things. 1. Ephesus Revelation 2:1-7 Praise Good deeds; Toil, perseverance/endurance for Christ s name; Intolerant of evil men; Testing of the False aplostles; Hate the deeds of the Nacilaitans Vice: You left your first love Promise: I will give you to eat the fruit of the tree of life in paradise. Want to overcome? Have to have relationship with Jesus. Everything in the world can take you from a vital relationship with Jesus. Persecution must be endured by avoiding apostasy Speaker is revealing 7 lampstands = churches 7 stars = pastors Jesus is the one who walks = the revealer Good news to every church: I know your situation! You are strong in this area, but weak in this area. 1. word of encouragement 2 word of chastisement (father will discipline) not meant as punishment but correction. Formula = have ears to hear LISTEN. Means something to Hebrew audience. Uses language that they know and understand. He uses their culture. Hear = Shema Jewish knew it came from: Duet 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD; Hear = doing To know = an experience Hears to hear = do what the spirit says Represents stages of our own Christian life

2 Session Two: Revelation, The Kingdom Yet to Come (The Great Adventure Series) page 2 Nicolatian/hates works A Christian sect in the early Church in Ephesus and Pergamum; it had a divisive influence because it encouraged pagan food practices condemned by the Church (Revelation 2:15). In Revelation, John speaks of them bitterly when he says, "It is in your favor that you loathe as I do what the Nicolaitans are doing" (Revelation 2:6). (Etym. Greek nikolaites [sing.], follower of Nicolaus.) It was the largest city, most important for trade. Had many temples, Artimus One of 7 wonders of the world, Center of occult activity, Book of Ephesians = many references to occult. Paul spent more time in Ephesus than any other place. (3 years). Pastor was Timothy. John lived their with the Blessed mother too. This church did not compromise on faith they knew their doctrines. They were orthodox in their faith. Only letter that does not correct doctrine or theological truths. Ignatius (105ad martyred) (40 years after Revelation was written he wrote: you all live according to truth no heresy has a home among you They were good at teaching but they lost their first love. They lacked love. They are not criticized for their orthodoxy - John corrects this they have lost their first love. Ugly Catholicism so right but sooo wrong not attractive at all If you have lost that 1 st love/get back to that. Do deeds you did at first. Love is more than an attitude. It is an action Repentant actions will cultivate and nourish a repentant attitude. Do penance when we are caught in sin. David Chilton = Days of Vengeance Ephesus was using current event.. Coast line was changing all the time. Seaport was filling up threatening to make the port useless. Endangered to become useless, cut off from sea. 2 nd century before harbor had been dredged. Once century later was again filled. Repent of negligence of not keep works. 6 miles away from sea, she lost her purpose. Ephesus is now a grassy wind swept plain. Snake, became the symbol of the city. Did not do their 1 st works. Hate the works of the Nicolatians. Followers of heretic Nicholas, (deacon chosen by apostles) unrestrained indulgences/ adultery/eat sacrificed to idols. Canadian Bishops visit to Rome, Benedict talked about spat between the gospel and the culture. The exclusion from God in public sphere. Multicultural city/

3 Session Two: Revelation, The Kingdom Yet to Come (The Great Adventure Series) page 3 2. Smyrna Revelation 2:8-11 Praise Faithful in tribulation, Poor (but rich in God); Slandered by false Jews, synagogue of Satan Vice: NONE Promise: You will not be hurt by the 2nd death; BE faithful unto death, and you will be given the crown of life 2:8-11 fell sway to emperor worship. Jews were against. Synagogue of Satan Polycarp = Bishop, student of John Virtue poor/but rich no vice, no criticism no rebuke Tested for 10 days what does10 mean? Stands for a short period of time. Dan 1:12 "Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. 2:11 Hear conquer Not hurt by 2 nd death Rev 20:14-15 [14] Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; [15] and if any one's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. 3. Pergamum Revelation 2:12-17 Praise Though you are at Satan s throne, you have held fast to my name; You didn t deny my faith even in the face of martyrdom Vice: Some hold to the teaching of Balaam and Nicolaitans; you teach believers to eat food sacrificed to idols and immorality Promise: I will give you some of the hidden manner, a white stone and a new name written on the stone, know only to the believer Come into city from south, view will appear as a giant thrown. These, along with the fact it was a center of emperor worship, tells us when Johns says, where Satan s thrown dwells because of the emperor worship. 2:12-17 City of many temples, including Zeus. Snake God = god of medicine Caesar worship Know for parchment paper 2:13 I know where you dwell..

4 Session Two: Revelation, The Kingdom Yet to Come (The Great Adventure Series) page 4 White stone,,,the white stone is a reference to the custom of showing a little stone, with some appropriate mark on it, to gain entrance to feast or banquet. The name inscribed on the stone referred to here shows that the Christian has a right to partake of the good things which the Lord reserves for those who win the victory The fact that only the recipient knows what is written on the stone points to the personal, intimate relationship between God (who issues the invitation) and the invited guest Navarre commentary page 43 Ate food sacrificed to idols, (discounted meats after offered to gods) Rome = absolute authority 2:12 But Christ has sharp 2 edged sword 2:14 Balaam, stumbling block before people. Angel w/sword could not put curse on Israel. Sin of Baal of Peor/ introduces immorality to Jews and they will bring themselves down. Number 25 Balaam strategy While Israel dwelt in Shittim the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. [2] These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate, and bowed down to their gods. [3] So Israel yoked himself to Ba'al of Pe'or. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel; [4] and the LORD said to Moses, "Take all the chiefs of the people, and hang them in the sun before the LORD, that the fierce anger of the LORD may turn away from Israel." [5] And Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Every one of you slay his men who have yoked themselves to Ba'al of Pe'or. [6] And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Mid'ianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting. [7] When Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation, and took a spear in his hand [8] and went after the man of Israel into the inner room, and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman, through her body. Thus the plague was stayed from the people of Israel. [9] Nevertheless those that died by the plague were twenty-four thousand. [11] "Phin'ehas the son of Elea'zar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy. Num 22:31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand; and he bowed his head, and fell on his face. And the LORD said to Moses, 4.Thyatira Revelation 2:18-29) Praise Good deeds; love, faith, service and perseverance,; Some of you have avoided following Jezebel Vice: Some of you tolerate Jezebel, who leads you to immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols Promise: I search minds and hearts, will reward each according to deeds; I will give you authority over the nations; you will rule them with a rod of iron; I will give you the Morning Star

5 Session Two: Revelation, The Kingdom Yet to Come (The Great Adventure Series) page 5 Military outpost, Guilds = union/trade Acts 16: [13] and on the sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together. [14] One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyati'ra, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to give heed to what was said by Paul. Each guild had a god = major problem to be a Christian tradesman. Faithfulness to Christ would affect heir liveliness. We must be intolerant to evil regardless of consequences Rev 22:[16] "I Jesus have sent my angel to you with this testimony for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright morning star." The titles applied to Jesus focus on his Hebrew and Davidic ancestry, without which he could not be the Messiah. Instead of the word root, other passages speak of his being a you, vigorous shoot which grows out of the ancient trunk of Jesse The morning star is another metaphor designating the Messiah Navarre Commentary page SARDIS Revelation 3:1-6 Praise You have a few who have not soiled their garments, who walk with the Lord in white and are worthy Vice: You are dead, your works are incomplete Promise: I will clothe you in white garments and never blot your name from the book of life; I will confess you before my father and his angels. Says Nothing good. Greedy living, deeds WAKE UP! Rev 19:8 linen garment = deeds of saints [8] it was granted her to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure" --for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 6. PHILADELPHIA Revelation 3:7-13 Praise You are not powerful but you have kept my word and not denied my name; you have patiently endured persecution. Vice: None Promise: I have set before you an open door no one can shut; I ll cause your enemies to bow down at your feet; I ll keep you from the coming hour of trial; I will make you a pillar in the Temple of my God, I will write on you the name of my God, of his new city, and my own new name. Virtue = never denied Christ Vice = NONE All 7 cities are run over my Islam now!! Philadelphia was the last one. Vs 10 kept word hour of trial

6 Session Two: Revelation, The Kingdom Yet to Come (The Great Adventure Series) page 6 Not talking about rapture but that God will keep them Pillar in Temple AD 17 Philadelphia had earthquake Tremendous collapse, God promises stability 7. LAODICA Revelation 3:14-22 Praise NONE Vice: You are neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm; You don t realize your true condition (wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked) Promise: You will sit with me on my throne as a conqueror, like myself Wealthiest city, known world wide. Leaders in: 1. banker industry / Banker = poor 2. medical industry / Medical = eye salves 3. textile/clothing industry / Clothing = woolen garments Well know for poor water system NO virtue, Greedy, cultural Christians We identify most with the cafeteria believers: If they do not like it they did not believe it. Vs 15 know your work neither hot nor cold spew out of mouth Colossi was watered by icy streams, Hydropolis supplied by hot springs, By the time the water reached Laodicea it was luke warm. Have an influence on society, not just luke warm 1 Gold refined by fire, purification by suffering 1 Peter 1:6-9 [6] In this you rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, [7] so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [8] Without having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. [9] As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls. Obedience = gold 2. White garments/to cloth and cover shame = righteous Gen 3:7 Nakedness = sign of disobedience. Aware of nakedness, hense they???

7 Session Two: Revelation, The Kingdom Yet to Come (The Great Adventure Series) page 7 [7] Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. 3 eye salve Jn 9: Blessed =refuse to acknowledge guilt and repent [40] Some of the Pharisees near him heard this, and they said to him, "Are we also blind?" [41] Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, `We see,' your guilt remains. Blind = symbol of man s falleness Vs 19 REPENT Stand at the door and knock Eucharist = dine with the bridegroom Chapter 3 ends with open door = marriage supper of bride Rev 4:1 [1]After this I looked, and lo, in heaven an open door! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, "Come up hither, and I will show you what must take place after this." Behold.. Return to him in spirit on the Lord s day in the Eucharist Listen t the Holy Spirit that is speaking to you Ccc Focus on me??? That Peter denied the Lord 1426 Conversion to Christ, the new birth of Baptism, the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Body and Blood of Christ received as food have made us "holy and without blemish," just as the Church herself, the Bride of Christ, is "holy and without blemish." Nevertheless the new life received in Christian initiation has not abolished the frailty and weakness of human nature, nor the inclination to sin that tradition calls concupiscence, which remains in the baptized such that with the help of the grace of Christ they may prove themselves in the struggle of Christian life. This is the struggle of conversion directed toward holiness and eternal life to which the Lord never ceases to call us Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essential part of the proclamation of the kingdom: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." In the Church's preaching this call is addressed first to those who do not yet know Christ and his Gospel. Also, Baptism is the principal place for the first and fundamental conversion. It is by faith in the Gospel and by Baptism that one renounces evil and gains salvation, that is, the forgiveness of all sins and the gift of new life Christ's call to conversion continues to resound in the lives of Christians. This second conversion is an uninterrupted task for the whole Church who, "clasping sinners to her bosom, [is] at once holy and always in need of purification, [and] follows constantly the path of penance and renewal." This endeavor of conversion is not just a human work. It is the movement of a "contrite heart," drawn and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God who loved us first St. Peter's conversion after he had denied his master three times bears witness to this. Jesus' look of infinite mercy drew tears of repentance from Peter and, after the Lord's resurrection, a threefold affirmation of love for him. The second conversion also has a communitarian dimension, as is clear in the Lord's call to a whole Church: "Repent!" St. Ambrose says of the two conversions that, in the Church, "there are water and tears: the water of Baptism and the tears of repentance."

The Book of Revelation. Letters to the Seven Churches

The Book of Revelation. Letters to the Seven Churches The Book of Revelation Dead Theologian s Society Catholic Student Union at Florida State University Session 2: Chapters 2 and 3 Letters to the Seven Churches Review the Context In chapter 2, we turn from