Revelation Chapter 2

Today Dr. J talks about Revelation Chapter 2.

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Welcome to Dr. J and the Bible. Quick shout out to Los Angeles, California. I hope you guys are doing good out there and it's nice and sunny. Yes, and you can send some to Virginia because we need it. We need it. It's a little bit cold lately. I think it's going to get warmer. May go up to 80 on Sunday this week. Taking a look at Revelation chapter 2 and Revelation 2 and the seven churches we're starting. Hope that you get a lot out of this. We're going to go through the churches a little fast because they're pretty straightforward. Not too hard to understand. Other parts of Revelation are quite interesting as well, as we get in 4, 5, 6, and throughout. Lots of Old Testament terminology, which we'll go back and explain, but with literal, definite literal meaning, and we believe in a futuristic aspect, perspective of the book of Revelation. It's the only book that you're guaranteed to be blessed, reading, although the other books you are too, but this one is a special blessing. So Jesus starts out with the Church of Ephesus. In the Church of Ephesus, he starts in verse 1. Did the angel of the church of Ephesus write? And so is this angel, this angel could be a pastor, could be an angel. You know, and there's often times that God sent angels throughout the Old Testament and New to talk to humans. So it very well could be an actual angel or a pastor or a human being, because the Greek word is Angulos, which means messenger. So he sent a messenger. And Ephesus was a famous city in the ancient world. It was equally famous uh church in that respect. Paul ministered, worked in Ephesus for three years. Quilla, Priscilla, Apollo served there. Paul's close Mente Timothy worked in Ephesus. And um, and there was also the Apostle John, who also ministered there. And so this city was a magnificent city. It was known for world famous as a religious, cultural, economic center of the region. Ephesus had the notable temple, Diana or Artemis. Quite interesting how Satan perverts even back then, um, in a gender, because you have Diana, feminine, and you have Artemis, more masculine. You have the Greek and the Roman um uh name, fertility goddess worship with immoral sex, they would have uh Ephesus was a self-governed city. And you also had criminals that would seek asylum there, and and and they also had this place for fertility goddess worship, and they had the temple prostitutes, which they would pay, and supposedly from their sexual desires and and uh investment, if you want to say that, uh they would have better luck with making money and agriculture, what have you. And it was a tremendous temple. Diana, supposedly, this the temple itself, this rock, whatever you call it, came out of heaven, and it was regarded as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was supported by 127 pillars, each pillar had 60 feet tall, approximately, and it was adorned with these sculptures. There was a treasury there, a banking system, and Satan really had a stronghold. If you recall in Ephesus chapter 6, you know, it talks about the spiritual warfare, and um, we don't fight against flesh and blood. And so this is the Saracity that he is in context writing. And then he says, these things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands, he, Jesus, holds the seven stars in his mighty right hand, um, speaks of sovereignty, speaks of permanence, holding them securely. That's why Jesus could say that you know uh the gates of hell will not prevail against his church. Um, same principle. And the seven messengers, and he he holds them in the seven uh lampstands, which is his church. Two through three, I know your works, your labor, your patience, and you that you cannot bear those who are evil. You have tested those who say they're apostles and are not, have found them to be liars, you've persevered, have patience, and have labored for my namesake, and have not become weary. Jesus says, I know your works. Jesus perceived, he looked at his saints, and he knew their condition. There was there's no mystery to him. He's omniscient, he knows our sin, he knows our corrupt heart, and yet he loves us, for God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes will not perish but have everlasting life. But it isn't hidden to Jesus, he knows. He still says that to us today. He knows our work. I know your works. And the church of Ephesus, their works, their labor, their patience, they were strong. This was a church that was steadfast, that had gumption, that would not quit. They fell and they got up. They were helping the widows and orphans. They were teaching the word in season, out of season, they were preaching it. And then it says, You cannot bear those who are evil. The Ephesian church wanted and really desired doctrinal purity, and that was honorable. Paul warned the Ephesians in Acts 20, 29 through 31, for I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves, men will rise up, speaking perverse things to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore, watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears. And the church today is similar to Ephesus. We must, as a church, vigorously test those who claim to be messengers from God. We know that Islam was started because of a supposed angel of light. The we also know that false religion of Mormonism. Almost all cults and false religions started by some false messenger. We have to have a backbone as a church. We tolerate way too much. Jesus says, You've persevered, you have gumption, you have patience, you've labored. I see your work. You know, there's some pastors out there, there's some people out there that feel their work is in vain. Man, I'm talking about Jesus and I'm serving God. Sometimes I feel like it's all in vain. And the fact of the matter, I want to encourage you. The Lord knows those that are serving him. And you know, do not grow weak. Weary, do not grow weary in good well doing. For in time you will reap a harvest. Oh, but unfortunately, even in a strong church that represented the apostles, I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Somewhere down the line, this church in Ephesus, this great church, they became mechanical. They had it in their head, but they didn't have it in their heart. Not that they left it or lost their salvation, but they became became more stale. The fire started stopped burning. You know, we can try to share be loving and not have truth, and that's a lie, and that's not really love at all. And we can also have truth, not love, and really it voids out the whole message. I think that's what Jesus is saying here. Cannot lose something you didn't have. Jesus says in five through six, remember therefore, where you've fallen and repent. You know, we've all fallen. It means recalling where you once were and how it used to be. A lot of marriages need to go back to when they first met and rekindle that fire because many people have lost that loving feeling. I know that's a song, but it's a very true statement. Repent. It's not just feeling sorry. It's really not feeling anything. It means changing direction and going a different way. Do the first works. Remember. Remember when you used to pray and talk to me more? Remember when you spent more time in the word. Remember how you used to tell others about Jesus. You want to get excited about Jesus, start sharing the gospel. I'm telling you, we become too self-focused many times. And when we start sharing the gospel, we'll naturally want to study the word more and pray more and also fellowship with other Christians. Yeah. Satan does a pretty masterful job of getting us, taking our eyes off what matters. Jesus says, or else I come quickly to remove your lampstand, remove your church, to write Ichabod, where the glory had what uh had departed. But just in case, I think Jesus knew, maybe they were a little discouraged. Maybe he saw, he, not maybe, he saw their faces. This you have that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. Who are the Nicolaitans? There's many, many people, not many, but several. Um, no one knows for sure. Irenaeus thought they were followers of Nicholas, who was once one of the seven first ordained by the deacon, uh, by the apostles, and they started leading people astray. Another student of Irenaeus in the third century associated the Nicolaitans with Gnostics. Gnostics believed that the flesh, the physical flesh, is evil, the material world, so to speak. They also believed in um secret, hidden messages that only they could know, and it's more like you know, only the Illumin people. A lot of cults today still use this. The latter-day saints, the Mormons, the Jehovah's Witnesses to some degree, all cults to some degree. Um, definitely the Freemasons from secret societies. Yeah. And he says, He, I also hate him, so good job, basically. Not them, not the people, but the sin, the teachings. He who has ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. You know who has an ear? All of us. Jesus wants us all to be listening. This letter was not only written to the Church of Ephesus in John's day, it's written through all the centuries. Let him who has ear, let him hear. All of us have an ear. From the rich to the poor, to the um scholar, to the uh ignorant. Let us hear. Listen. To him who overcomes, I'll give the right to eat of the tree of life in the midst of the paradise of God. I will give you the right to eat from the tree of life. The promise to overcomers. What was the overcoming? You know, we usually we usually think that the overcoming in some melodramatic manner of overcoming sin and some massive spiritual warfare. But I think in context, Jesus is just simply saying, overcome their coldness of heart and love, marked by leaving their first love. Then it goes to the Church of Smyrna, to the angel of the Church of Smyrna, right? This was a large, beautiful city, center of learning and culture. It was proud, it's standing as a city. It was a beautiful city. It's called the glory of Asia. It was wealthy, affluent. It was a great trade city. It stood at the end of the road, served the valley of the river Hermes. And uh it was a city of wealth, affluence. You know, we also are cognizant that from their history it was a city deeply committed to idolatry, the worship of Roman emperors. Famous street in Smyrna called the Golden Street stood magnificent temples. And the Greek to the one of them was the Greek uh Zeus, Greek temple Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollos. But the worship of those pagan gods was dying out. And so they began to worship Caesar worship. In verse 8, these things say the first and the last who was dead came to life. The first and the last. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. He's the first and the last. This is a title of only to the Lord Adonai, Yahweh. According to Isaiah 41:4, 44.6, who was dead and came to life. This is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. And it was to remind the Christians in Smyrna that they served a risen Lord, a victorious Savior. Death could not hold and cannot hold his people. Verse 9, I know your works, tribulation, and poverty, but you are rich. I know the blasphemy, those who say they are Jews and are not, but are synagogue of Satan. I know your works, comes Genosco. I'm very aware, very personal, I know. I know the sense that poverty, according to Smyrna, was a prosperous city, yet Christians were poor. They were not just poor, they were abject. They were totally impoverished. Yeah, it was a a lot of times they were not because they wouldn't worship Caesar and bow down to Caesar, they could not buy food, they could not work certain jobs. I know the blasphemy. Say they are Jews. Jesus knew about these Christians and how they were abused because of religious people. Religious people through the years have been just you know the re just as despicable as those that are non-religious. Because religion doesn't save you. When the Romans, Roman Empire began to persecute and martyr, you know, for every one, seven more would come of Christians. Finally they decided to become religious, and that's what Satan does. And so these religious people were blaspheming, um, and they were persecuting God's people. And Jesus says, But you are rich. Outward circumstances said that the Christians in Smyrna were poor, even destitute. Jesus saw it differently. You know, Jesus saw people that saints of God that gave up the world to gain Jesus in heaven. I've heard people say that you're too heavenly focused to be any earthly good, but I really think it's the opposite. I think that's furthest from the truth, that we we can become too earthly minded to be any heavenly good. In verse 10, do not fear any of these things which are about to suck you're about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you in prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation, ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Do not fear. Over 365 times in the Bible, do not fear. Do not be afraid. Yeah. The devil's about to throw some of you in prison, it's persecution. For a time period, ten days. Do we know it's exactly ten days? Maybe, probably not, probably a period of time that had an end. That's what the point was. You have tribulation ten days that you may be tested. Tested for what? Tested so that your faith, I believe, will be made more precious than gold is James puts. Yeah. Verse 11, he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Powerful. He whoever comes shall not be hurt by the second death. Through Satan threatened and attacked the lies, Jesus promises us to be overcome death. Then we have the third church, Pergamus, verse 12, to the angel of the church in Pergamos. This was the political capital of the Roman province of Asia. Pergamus had been the capital of that area for almost over 300 years. It had the greatest libraries of the ancient world, over 200,000 books. It was an extremely religious city. Had temples to the Greek and Roman goddess Dionysus, Athena, Zeus. And it was also a city known for as a center of worship of other deities. Asclepios, which actually was represented by a serpent. That's where a lot of doctors, the emblem today shows a like a staff with a serpent on it. That's where it came from. It represented the God of healing and knowledge. Medical schools today still use that. Medical doctors and whatnot, you still see it. And Jesus talks to Pergamos. He writes, These things says he who has the sharp-edged sword. Revelation 1.16 says, out of his mouth when a two double-edged sword, the word of God, he allows us to know the word of God. We should memorize the word of God so that if anyone ever steals our Bibles, we'll have it in our heart. Hebrews 4 12 says, For the word of God is living and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to the division, soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thoughts and tense of the heart. 13. I know your works where you dwelt, where Satan's throne is, and you hold fast to my name and do not deny my faith. Even in the days of Onepus, who was faithful martyr, who's killed among you where Satan dwells. You know, Pergamus was a stronghold for satanic power. Um the focus on a serpent. I mean, where does that go back to Genesis chapter three? And um Roman goddesses, Greek gods, hit all these. Jesus says, Hold fast to my name. You know, I know it's tough, he's saying, but hold fast to my name. Don't turn to the right or to the left. Do not deny my faith. Annipas, one specific man among them, a Pergamus, he was a faithful martyr, obviously a man who was a disciple of Jesus. You know, history note doesn't say much about him, but it's interesting how this man and his faithful walk stand out even here in the book of Revelation. You know, many people don't may not know you by name. You may be the person who is a greeter at the front door of the church, but the fact of the matter is your smile is being used for Jesus to open doors and to invite people into church that hear the gospel. You're you're that antipas. Verses 14 through 15, but I have a few things against you because you have you have there those who hold the doctrine of Baal, who talk to Baalak, to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Thus you have those who hold doctrine of Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. You have held to the doctrine of Balaam. Balaam was the really the prototype, the foreshadowing of all corrupt teachers. Numbers 22 through 24 and 31. Balaam sins, and his immorality and idolatry really was the icing on the cake. Um, and uh he taught his teachings were a stumbling block to all Israel. We know that God used a donkey to ultimately rebuke him, and we also know the relation, correlation with Roman society. Rome Roman the Roman Empire was a sexual immoral cesspool culture, and really this church was surrounded by it, of immorality, of evil, just like Balaam. And then you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, um, just like he praised the Ephesians, he's praising this church, Pergamus, the same. That's a compliment. And then he says, repent, or else I will come to you quickly, and I will fight against you. Actually, it wasn't a compliment. I said it was a compliment. It's not, because you have held the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, and so they were actually swimming with the Nicolaitans. They didn't hate the Nicolaitans, unlike the Church of Ephesus. So little uh correction there. So, yeah, they were they held the doctrines of Balaam and they held on to, they swam with the Nicolaitans. And Jesus says, repent. Simply repent. It's a command of God. We don't hear about repent very often in churches nowadays, and that's sin. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And the white stone, and on the stone, new name, written, which no one except him who receives it. So the hidden manna, the true bread. What is the true bread? Jesus is the true bread. God is the perfect provider. In John, people wanted more bread to eat. Jesus said, I am the bread of life. And I will give him a white stone. It's kind of like a white stones often could be a ticket or to some banquet or evidence of having been counted worthy. Or some people even say a sign of acquittal in a court of law. I think Jesus is saying that you had the surety of blessing. And we do have the surety of blessing. It's a blessing just to be a part of God's kingdom. In verse 18, he then talks with the church of Thyatara. Right. Thyatara suffered many significant political and religious persecution. Still, this city was a center of business, trade, trade guilds, and each having a patron deity, God, false god, Greek and Roman, Pantheon gods. We know Lydia was from Thyatara. And verse 18, these things says the Son of God who has eyes like a flame of fire, and his eyes like fine brass, feet like fine brass. Jesus first described himself with a title that stressed his Godhead. And Jewish thought was that the son of something meant you had the nature of that thing. And so when they said his Jesus is a son of God, he was the very nature God. And so we look at this, and for instance, the Son of Thunder in Mark 3:17, that the sons of thunder had a nature like thunder. And he has eyes like a flame of fire, penetrating judgment, feet of brass. You know, brass is a pure, refined, highly refined in fire. It emphasizes steadfastness, strong, durable metal, unmovable. We have an unmovable God. I know your works. Thyatora was the least significant city among seven cities that Jesus addressed in Revelation 2 and 4, or 3. Yet they were not hidden. I know your works, your love, your service, your patience. And this church was a model church. They had love, which Ephesus struggled with. The last are more than the first. And they were growing. What Jesus has against them, nevertheless, I have a few things against you. You have allowed the woman woman Jezebel, and that's a scary sight, calls herself a prophetess to teach and seduce my servants, to commit sexual immoralities, eat things sacrificed to idols, and I gave her time to repent, and her sexual immorality, she did not repent. Because you allow the woman Jezebel. Jezebel was a wicked woman in 1 Kings 16 through 21. I don't believe her name was literally Jezebel because they wouldn't have named her Jezebel. That would be a curse. I don't know many people named Jezebel. But Jezebel really has a really powerful association or correlation with, I think, Judas. You don't hear many people call Judas. And it was it was a strong thing. It meant that that this person was evil, that they were committing abomination. Who calls herself a prophetess? Jesus said in Matthew 24, 11 that many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And, you know, a lot of the cults, false religions were started by women. Not against women. I'm for maybe getting a woman president someday. But the Bible says that men are, you know, supposed to be the ones. I suffer not a woman to teach over a man or pastor a church. And really, that's because God knows how he created us. And we do things God's ways, not our ways. And so I think there's a sense here that there's he's talking about false teachers and false teachings. Once again, warning about false teachers. I gave her time to repent, but she did not repent. You know, time, the time is now, today is the day of the Lord. And Jesus says in 22 through 25, indeed I'll cast her on her sick bed, and those who commit adultery with her in the Great Tribulation, I will cast her on her sickbed. And I believe this church was a literal historical church, as well as representing the time of the Roman Catholic Church in the medieval times, where there was really a cesspool of false teaching and indoctrination and a mixture of Christianity and paganism. So unless you repent. And then he says in twenty-six to twenty eight, and he whoever comes and keeps my works to the end, to him I will give power over the nations. He shall rule them with a rod of iron, they shall be dashed to pieces, potter's vessels. He whoever comes and keeps my works unto the end. You know, he's talking about the millennial kingdom, how we will reign with Christ. We will share in his kingdom. Psalm chapter 2. I will give him the morning star. Jesus offered a reward greater than the kingdom. You know what he's offering? Jesus is the morning star. Something greater than crowns and riches. I will give you, give him the morning star. And then he ends with, he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Yeah. So what this comes to is, you know, we can see that as Jesus writes, the strengths of these churches, the weaknesses, we apply it to our life, we apply it to our walk, and we try to emulate and learn from what other churches did well and didn't do well. And hopefully to be faithful to the very end so we can uh have the morning star, which is the Lord Jesus Christ. Hope you all enjoyed it. We'll be going into uh hopefully chapter three soon and uh get into the meat of four through the end of the book. Take care. Remember that God can take your mess, turn it to a message for his glory for your good.