THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS AND SMYRNA
Revelation's 2:1-11
6-20-21
Look Back
6-6-21 The Revelation of Jesus Christ- Revelation1:1-18
No.1. Q: According to the text, who wrote Revelation and where was he? (John, the apostle, Island of Patmos)
No. 2. Q: What day was it when John saw the vision and what was he doing? (The Lord's Day (Sunday)
What ells does it say about John ( He was "in the spirit," which probably means he was worshipping God.)
No. 3. Q: What did John see, how did the person describe himself and what was he doing? (One like a man who said he was the first and the last and the living one. He was walking among seven lampstands.)
Q: Who was this and what do the lampstands represent? (The person was Jesus and the lampstands represent His churches.)
No. 4. Q: What did Jesus ask John to do? (Write what he sees and send it to seven churches.)
6-13-21
Write these things
Tell me about last week, I was out of town.
Revelation1:19-20
Chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation contain seven letters Jesus told John about, one to each of the seven churches. We are going to look briefly at the first two letters today
to see what Jesus said to the churches and to see what lessons we can learn from what He told them.
Ephesus
The message to the church in Ephesus lays an important foundation for the rest of the book of Revelation. Let’s explore what this ancient letter had to say to the Ephesians in John’s time and what we can learn today.
An Important City
Ephesus was a large and important city. It had big impressive buildings and the largest library around. The people that lived here were crazy about the pagan goddess Artemis (also called Diana). It seemed everyone worshipped her (Acts 19:27,35). Everyone except the faithful Christians in the Ephesian church. The apostle Paul had worked in Ephesus three years and there was a large and faithful church here (Acts 20:31).
A Big Problem
There was a little problem if you were a Christian living in Ephesus. Actually it was big problem. In those days everyone was expected to participant in religious festivals to honor Artemis or Diana, the local pagan goddess. Part of the festivities including eating foods offered to these pagan gods and participating in other bad or immoral activities. If you didn’t do this you could lose your business, your job and your social status. This was a big deal!
Obedience or Compromise
There were two groups of Christians in Asia. One group who gladly wanted to follow God’s instructions completely. This included not eating food offered to idols and other bad activities (Acts 15:20, Deut. 28:14). The other group thought, “What’s the big deal! Just a little compromise won’t hurt. We can still love God and keep our jobs. After all, we know these are just false Gods.”
Okay, we don’t know exactly what they said but the Bible says they were called “Nicolaitans” and Jesus hated what they were teaching (Rev. 2:6). Other ancient Christian writers like Iraneus and Hippolytus tell us this group was started by Nicolas, one of the seven deacons (Acts 6:5). Their teachings went directly against the directions given by the counsel of apostles held at Jerusalem in 49-50 AD, that they should refrain from the eating of “things sacrificed to idols” (Acts 15:29).
In other words, the Nicolaitans likely taught that Christians didn’t have to follow all God’s rules, not exactly. They could fudge a little here and there if it was convenient. You know, as long as you still followed God in your heart. Hmm? That’s sounds a little like some Christians today.
Paul had warned the Ephesians that false teachers would come into the church (Acts 20:29-30). Most of the church members had listened to Paul’s warnings because they patiently worked for Jesus and warned others about those who lied and taught false teachings (Rev. 2:2-3). They also hated the teachings of the Nicolaitans and Jesus said this was a good thing (Rev. 2:6).
One Thing Missing
The faithful church in Ephesus was missing one important thing. Though they had the truth, they had forgotten that they were once fallen sinners too and that Jesus had saved them with his great love (Rev. 2:4-5). They had forgotten the most important thing. LOVE! Love for God and love for each other. The Bible says that if we know everything that’s true. follow all the rules and share that with others, if we don’t have love all that other stuff is worthless (1 Cor. 13:2). Jesus told the Christians in Ephesus they needed to repent and remember their first love for Jesus (Rev. 2:4-5). If they did this Jesus promised to let them eat from the tree of life in the very presence of God (Rev. 2:7).
What Can I Learn?
This is what I have learned from Jesus’ love letter to the Ephesians. Do you agree?
Truth is important
Love is the most important.
Beware of festivals and activities that have pagan origins. God does not want us to compromise with the ways of the world.
Love Jesus, love others and obey God’s word – they all go together!
The Brave Church of Smyrna
A Tough Place to be a Christian
Smyrna was a rich and beautiful city in John’s time. However, the life of a Christian in Smyrna was quite difficult. Once a year every Roman citizen had to burn incense on the altar to Caesar. Emperor worship was a wide-spread practice. Well, not a practice…. a mandate. As in, if you refuse, you die!
If that wasn’t bad enough, there were some Jews in Smyrna who were also very mean to Christians, accusing them of not believing in God and not being loyal to the government. Jesus describes these so-called Jews as belonging to the “synagogue of Satan”. God does not mess around. He calls things what they are. Now remember that many of the early Christians, including John, still identified themselves as Jews too. There was nothing wrong with being a Christian Jew. It was just that some Jews in Smyrna were not worshipping the true God, even though they claimed to. Jesus calls this “blasphemy” (Rev. 2:9).
The church in Smyrna had experienced persecution and poverty (Rev. 2:9). Jesus gently told them they would face more persecution. Some would even be put in prison or killed for their faith (Rev. 2:10). What a rough and tough place to be a Christian!
Nothing to Fear – Really?!
Smyrna sounds like a scary place to be a Christian. So why does Jesus tells these brave Christians not to be afraid of what they would suffer? For one thing, He knew what it was like to suffer and have people hate you. Secondly, death is only temporary if you follow Jesus. He reminds them that if they are faithful even unto death, he will give them a crown of life (Rev. 2:10). He can raise them from the dead!
Jesus Has Power Over Death
Jesus doesn’t want us to be afraid of death. We have no reason to fear death if we follow Jesus. He has all power over death and the grave (Rev. 1:18).
Two Deaths
Jesus promises the faithful church in Smyrna that if they remain faithful the second death could not hurt them (Rev. 2:11).
The first death is when we die from old age, an accident , a disease or from something bad happening. If we have given our hearts and lives to Jesus, He will raise us back to life at the resurrection when he comes again (1 Thess. 4:16, Rev. 20:4-5). Hallelujah! That’s good news!
The second death is forever. There is no coming back to life from this death. The second death occurs at the last great judgment when Satan is cast into the lake of fire. It happens after the 1,000 years (more on that later). All those who names are not in Jesus’ book of life will die the second death – which is forever (Rev. 2:11, 20:6,14-15).
Fear God, Not Man
Jesus said these very important words.
“Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28)
Satan can only kill us in the first death. He cannot kill anyone forever. Only God can judge a person’s heart. Eventually God will do away with evil once and for all. He gives life, and he takes life away. God is the only one that has the power to kill the body and the soul. That’s the second death. Poof! Gone forever!
Before you worry if God sounds mean, check out these words Jesus said right after this warning about fearing God. “
“Even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value that many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:30-31 ESV)
Jesus loves you so much. You are more valuable to him that this tiny bird. He will do everything He can to win your heart. To fear God, really means to respect him greatly, trust him and listen to what he says.
When we fear God and trust him – we have nothing else to fear!
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