Revelation study #2 JESUS STANDING AMONG THE CHURCHES (CHAPTERS 2-3)

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Veronica Mathews
6 years ago
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1 Revelation study #2 JESUS STANDING AMONG THE CHURCHES (CHAPTERS 2-3) This week I started a series of messages from the book of Revelation. Unlike more detailed studies I have led in the past where we studied verse-by-verse, this study is focusing on the main object in this fascinating bo ok this book is the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ...in his present state, in all his resurrected glory and power. Last week, we mentioned that if you fail to read this book, you will fail to see Jesus as he really is...right now. Another key in understanding this book is to realize REVELATION DESCRIBES EVENTS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE (1:19) Some events had already happened; Some were presently happening in John s day; Some will happen in the future. e.g., In Ch. 2-3 messages are written to seven literal churches, and yet they also are relevant to churches that have existed in every generation. e.g., in 17:18 John mentions [a woman, a great harlot. The he explains who she is ] the great city which now rules over the kings of the earth a city which sits on seven hills a definite present application to Rome but also to something much larger in the future mystery Babylon. [THE BOOK OF ] REVELATION IS WRITTEN TO THE CHURCHES (1:11) This testimony is written for th e churches (1:11; 22:16). If a believer in that part of Asia was not in a specific, geographical congregation, they would have not have gotten the message; they would have missed out! Why these particular churches? Why not big churches like Jerusalem, Antioch, or Rome? These were not big churches, but they were strategic ones. See map -7 cities facing island of Patmos...The Lord picks Ephesus, the closest, and goes up and around the circle to Laodicea in east. John was writing to 7 specific local congregations of his day...his letter could be easily passed around --- circle Key number = seven (54 times in Rev.) completeness, perfection, termination. Seven churches can represent all the churches throughout history. How do we interpret these two chapters about the churches (Rev. 2-3)? [Some have tried to make these churches represent seven time periods of chronological church history over the past 2,000 years...but the history doesn t quite fit all the church descriptions!] 1

2 These letters were written to seven geographical and historical churches in Asia during the first century. But these seven churches also represent various churches throughout two thousand years of church history. The Holy Spirit can take any one of these messages and bring very specific application to a local church today. LAMPSTANDS = CHURCHES (1:20) Lampstands are a fitting word for the church as we are to shine forth the light of the Lord in the midst of this world s darkness. (Same Greek word used in Matt. 5:15) Jesus is among the lampstands (1:13). In 2:1 it says he walks among the seven golden lampstands. How encouraging even with all their problems, Jesus is still walking in the midst of the churches! He calls them golden lampstands. Gold, after it has been refined, is the richest and most beautiful of all metals; it often represents the nature of God. The church is the best creation in all the universe. WHY WE OUGHT TO HAVE A HIGH REGARD FOR THE LORD S CHURCH AND COMMIT OURSELVES TO A LOCAL EXPRESSION. The N.T. is primarily relevant to believers in a local assembly o e.g., Over 30 times the N.T. it refers to one another... These words have little relevance if we are never in regular fellowship with a variety of believers. o The book of Revelation was originally written for 7 local churches (1:11; 22:16). The church is the only entity that the Lord has promised to build. (Matt 16:18) The church is the place where truth will be found (1 Tim. 3:15)...the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. In this day, people are departing from the truth. Many professing Christians are accepting ideas and behaviors that are quite unbiblical...why?...because they are not loving truth and often because they are not in churches that teach the truth... In 2 Thes. 2:10 it says if men do not embrace the truth, they will embrace the lie. I want to encourage you to always be part of a local church that teaches the truth... If this church ever gets away from the Bible, leave and go to another church where truth will be taught and godly living encouraged. One final reason we ought to love the church and be committed to a local expression: The church is the precious bride of Christ whom he shed his blood for and for whom he coming back soon to take her for his own (Acts 20:28; Rev. 19:7). 2

3 Dear brethren, Jesus loves his church...and we should too. Next door to Teresa and my house construction workers are building a house that is almost identical to ours. At times it looks like a mess...all kinds of mud, debri, gaping holes in the structure... but the general contractor and the master architect knows the final product. At times we see the mess in the church, but we are His workmanship, a work in process, and God sees the big picture the end time product: He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. (Eph. 5:26-27 NLT) [SOME] OBSERVATIONS OF THE SEVEN CHURCHES (in Rev. 2-3) They are seven different churches Different in strengths; different in weaknesses. True of churches then; true of churches today. No one local church has it all. I have sometimes marveled how in my own lifetime, God has raised up so many evangelical churches in the Sheandoah Valley each one with a unique congregation and serving a unique purpose serving Christ. I am thankful we are a church God is using, but always remember, brethren, we are not the only one! I believe the various churches who honor Christ are all complementary to each other Commendations are usually given before criticisms. Six of seven have a commendation from the Lord. Five of seven have at least one criticism. This is a good example for us. Commend a man before you correct him! Edify a man before you exhort him! If so, it will make your criticism a lot more acceptable Five times the Lord says, I know your deeds... not I know your church affiliation. or I know your confession of your faith. He is interested in what we do. Five times the Lord says, Repent. repentance is not just for the sinner; these letters are written to Christians. Repentance is a continual turning to move in God=s direction. This is extremely important. See the consequences in 2:5 If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. What does this mean? That if a church will not change when God says change, He may eventually withdraw the presence of his Holy Spirit and His favor. We can see this is some of our older U.S. denominations which at one time were Christ-honoring with Bible centered preaching. Now, some of them are almost empty buildings with just a form of religion. This is a challenge to me personally. I want to hear God today. I want to be able to make changes and adjustments today. I pray this will also be true of us corporately. Common expression: He who has an ear, let him hear... The promises are only given to overcomers. WHO IS AN OVERCOMER? o One who stands strong in the midst of religious mediocrity. o One who keeps right priorities in the midst of various distractions. o One who may suffer some setbacks, but rises again and conquers in the end! 3

For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again (Prov. 24:16) We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don t give up and quit.

4 For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again (Prov. 24:16) We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. (2 Cor. 4:8-9 NLT) An overcomer is not a perfect person, and he is not a powerful person; he is someone who is still in the race at the end. T. A. Sparks To each church a promise is given. You will eat from the tree of life... ; I will give you the hidden manna..., etc. To the last church of Laodicea, the best promise of all is given the promise to be enthroned with Jesus in a place of glory and honor. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. (Rev.3:21) Dick Mills said, I used to think the greatest rewards were reserved for the martyrs. Surely, I thought, giving up one s life for the cause of Christ would bring great rewards. Second on my reward list were the missionaries. If anybody deserved special rewards for selfsacrifice, doubtless was this group of brave people who have given up everything to go witness to foreign people. But the truth is, the greatest reward is promised to those who can keep a zeal alive, a flame of devotion, and a spiritual intensity in a world filled with apathy and spiritual indifference. Keeping the fire of the Holy Ghost burning in the midst of ineptitude, mediocrity, and spiritual lethargy results in the privilege of sitting on the throne with Jesus. (Dick Mills) (The Spirit-Filled Believer s Daily Devotional) A couple weeks ago, John M read some verses from Rev. 3, including this one. Behold I stand at the door and knock (Rev. 3:20) This is a wonderful promise for every church. I just talked to a dear brother who is pastoring a Methodist church in another state. He faces many struggles with liberal tendencies and a membership that is not all committed to Christ. However, he is hopeful God will work, and that is a good attitude. If we just crack open the door a little bit, Jesus will take a step in. Notice a few things here: No doorknob we must open the door! Jesus gently knocks He will not force himself in Eat with him and he with me intimate fellowship We often tend to eat quickly, even on the go But this verse implies a leisurely dinner meal. NAS = dine; NLT says it like this: Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. (Rev. 3:20 NLT) 4

5 IN CLOSING We can be thankful the Lord is in the midst of the lampstands, and he sees them as golden... and he has promised to have a church in the end...a glorious bride... I hope you appreciate, too, what God has done in the local church...this one and many others...and I pray every one of you has a commitment to the local church We can be thankful for God s wonderful promises for all who are overcomers... Every congregation and every Christian needs to be paying attention to the correction of the Holy Spirit and to listen to what he is currently saying: Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. (Rev. 3:22 NLT) 5

To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

19.01.2018 JESUS MESSAGES TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:21 This week we