Pastor Joey Asher Tan
Big Idea:
Jesus assures that we have a hope that goes beyond all of our present sufferings.
1. Jesus reveals who He is to the persecuted church
it becomes critical to remember why we even endured persecution and suffering in the first place
Jesus has the highest authority on who enters the kingdom. Jesus is victorious not only over death but throughout eternity
2. How Jesus commends and rewards the faithful overcomers
rev 2:2-3
Revelation 2:1-3
“To the angel[a] of the church in Ephesus write:
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Revelation 2:22
So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways.
1. WHAT IS THE BACKGROUND OF THE PERSECUTED CHURCHES IN THE CITIES OF EPHESUS, SMYRNA AND PHILADELPHIA?
Ephesus
- Ephesus, which reached its heyday in the Hellenistic and Roman period, was an important center
for early Christianity and is frequently mentioned in the NT.¹
- Ephesus, which was one of the chief urban centers of Asia Minor. Located along the Aegean coast,
this port city was a major hub for commerce in the Mediterranean region and the center for
Roman administration of the province. Colonnades, marble pavement, and monumental buildings
graced its major streets and public squares, and water was supplied by aqueducts and fountains.
Athletic competitions were held in its stadium and dramas performed in its theater. The massive
temple of the goddess Artemis was one of the wonders of the ancient world. The city also had a
temple to the goddess Roma and the divinized Julius Caesar; and by the end of the first century it
added a temple to the Flavian emperors Vespasian, Titus, and Domitian, and perhaps Domitian’s
wife. There was a Jewish community as well as a group of Christians whose origins extended back
to at least the time of Paul in the mid-first century (Acts 18:24–19:41).²
- By the late second century, it was believed that the apostle John spent his declining years in
Ephesus and survived to the reign of Trajan, a.d. 98–117 (Irenaeus 3.3.4; Eusebius Hist. Eccl. 3.1).
At Ephesus he reportedly wrote the Gospel bearing his name (Eusebius Hist. Eccl. 5.8.4) and was
eventually buried there.³
- Later tradition also placed Mary, the mother of Jesus, in Ephesus, which is the location of the
traditional site of her grave, though the place where she reportedly died is now a sixth- or seventhcentury Byzantine chapel.⁴
rev 2:9
Smyrna
- Smyrna (modern Izmir) was a large port city located forty miles north of Ephesus (320 stadia
according to Strabo 14.1.2; 14.2.29) on the gulf into which the Hermus river flowed, with a
population estimated at 100,000.⁵
- During the Roman period, Smyrna was a center for science and medicine (Strabo 12.8.20) and
renowned for its fine wine, its beautiful buildings, and its wealth (Strabo 14.1.15).⁶
- Late first-century Asia Minor we can speculate about how these Christians were being persecuted.
Until the latter part of the first century Christianity enjoyed a degree of protection under the
umbrella of Judaism, which was tolerated by Rome. The Jews were not forced to worship Caesar as
a god, but allowed to offer sacrifices in honor of emperors as rulers and not as gods.⁷
- Jews would have viewed Christianity as a religion distorting the Jewish Law and offering a
perversely easy way of salvation. They also considered the Christian worship of a crucified criminal
as the divine Messiah a blasphemy.⁸
- The mention of Roman persecution in v 10 directly following that of Jewish slander conforms to
historical reports of Jews allying with and encouraging Romans and Gentiles to oppress
Christians.⁹
- In addition, the history of Smyrna reveals its particular loyalty to Rome, especially that it had built
more than one temple in honor of Roman religion (Tacitus, Annales 4.55–56). Such religious
patriotism meant generally that there would be even less patience with Christians refusing to pay
homage to the deity of the emperor.¹⁰
- For three centuries, Smyrna had been one of the most important cities in this region like
Pergamum, it vied with Ephesus for prominence. There was tension with the local synagogue
establishment that we read about in this passage. Jewish people were exempt from the imperial
cult, but they were probably nervous about being associated with messianic prophetic Jews who
were speaking about the end of the age and speaking about Jesus being the King. So Jewish
believers were expelled from the synagogue.
- Being expelled from the synagogue could remove one’s exemption. Now, not in every place were
people persecuted if they didn’t worship the emperor. In a big city like Ephesus, perhaps nobody
would know if nobody turned you in.¹¹
rev 3:8
Philadelphia
- Philadelphia (modern Alashehir) lies at the eastern end of a broad valley that, passing through
Sardis (some thirty miles west-northwest), leads down to the Aegean Sea near Smyrna. Its location
commanded high ground on the south side of the river Cogamis, a tributary of the Hermus.
- This strategic location at the juncture of trade routes leading to Mysia, Lydia, and Phrygia (the
imperial post route from Rome via Troas passed through Philadelphia and continued eastward to
the high central plateau) had helped it earn the title “gateway to the East” and made it a city of
commercial importance.
- With an economy based on agriculture and industry, Philadelphia enjoyed considerable prosperity.
Its one major drawback was that it was subject to earthquakes.¹²
- Conflict between the followers of Jesus and a local synagogue is also evident in the message to
Philadelphia. As in other places, Jews and Christians at Philadelphia were minority groups in a
predominantly Greco-Roman context. The city was situated in a rich agricultural area known for
wine production. After being devastated by an earthquake in AD 17, it was rebuilt with Roman
assistance, and the city showed its appreciation for the emperor by calling itself “Neocaesarea.”
Later it adopted the family name of the emperor Vespasian (ad 69–79), calling itself “Philadelphia
Flavia.”
- Among the deities worshiped there were Anaitis, a goddess of Persian origin, as well as Dionysus
and the deified emperor Augustus. The congregation had “but little power” (3:8), which suggests
that it was rather small and poor. Yet in the face of social conflict, members of the congregation
maintained their faith. The situation was perhaps not as severe as at Smyrna, however, because
the message does not warn about imminent imprisonment or death.¹
2. IN REVELATION 3:10, WHAT DOES “KEEP FROM” MEAN? DOES IT MEAN “TAKE OUT
OF”? OR DOES IT MEAN “PROTECT FROM WHILE YOU’RE THERE”?
- This verse has been a crux for the modern argument between the Pretribulation and Posttribulation views on when Christ will return (see Gundry, Tribulation, and the responses by
Townsend, BSac 137 [1980] 252–66; Edgar, GTJ 3 [1982] 19–49; and Winfrey, GTJ 3 [1982] 3–18).
Unfortunately, both sides of the debate have ignored the fact that the promise made here pertains
to Philadelphian Christians only and cannot be generalized to include Christians in the other
churches of Asia, much less all Christians in all places and times. Furthermore, to be “preserved
from the hour of tribulation” means not that they will be physically absent but rather that they will
not be touched by that which touches others.¹
- In the context of the whole book of Revelation, in Rev 7:1–8, we read about the righteous who are
being protected through tribulation. When is Jesus’ coming first described in the book of
Revelation? It looks like it’s described in chapter 19. When is the resurrection of the dead first
recounted? Well, that depends on your view of the millennium. On a premillennial view, that would
be in chapter 20, and there that resurrection is called the first resurrection. Are there still God’s
people on earth during the tribulation that’s described? Is there any specific mention of God’s
people being taken out? So, looking at the whole book context may argue against the reading that
this is the church being taken out before tribulation.
- “Keep From” in John’s Gospel -- The words “keep from” appear together—tēreō ek—in only one
other NT passage, which also happens to be Jesus speaking and John recording, if you hold the
view that I do of authorship. Chapter 3:10—“Since you have kept my command, I will … keep you
from [this testing which is coming].” John 17:15, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the
world but that you [keep them from,] that you protect them from the evil one.” So the meaning
there is, you must persevere and He will protect you—apparently protect you not by taking you
out, but protect you while you’re there.
- To overcome, we must persevere. “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one
will take your crown.” Again, the crown is presented as a victor’s wreath; and the failure to
overcome, the failure to persevere—it doesn’t mean we overcome in every detail—but the failure
to persevere, the failure to continue to be Christians, to continue to acknowledge and confess
Christ as our Lord and Savior, that failure leads to exclusion from the kingdom, as in 3:5.¹⁵
- Interpreters who believe in a pretribulation rapture maintain that being kept from “the hour of
trial” (3:10) means that believers will be raptured and taken away from the earth before that time
of testing.¹⁶ It is more persuasive, however, to say that believers are preserved, guarded, and
protected by God amid the testing. First, the message is for all the churches (3:13; cf. 2:7 et al.),
and it seems quite obvious that some Christians will be present on earth when the time of testing
comes. Second, the phrase “keep from” (tēreō ek) does not have the sense of being “removed from
the scene” but of being “preserved in the midst of the situation.” The parallel in John 17:15 makes
this clear: “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil
one.”¹⁷
Israel was not preserved by being removed from the land. Instead, the Lord protected Israel as the
plagues were inflicted upon the Egyptians, even though Israel continued to live in Egypt. Fourth,
we probably have an allusion to Daniel 12:1, where the people who belong to the Lord will escape
the time of tribulation, not by being removed from the world but by persevering in spite of
suffering (Dan. 12:10).¹⁸
3. WHAT DO THE REWARDS GIVEN TO THE FAITHFUL OVERCOMERS OF THE PERSECUTED
CHURCHES SIGNIFY?
The “crown of life” is a metaphor for eternal life.
- The reward for faithfulness is the crown of life, that is, the crown that is life itself. Its value lay
not in itself but in what it symbolized.
- It is not the royal crown (the diadēma) that is promised, but the wreath or garland (the
stephanos) that was awarded to the victor at the games. According to Pausanias, Smyrna was
famous for its games (6.14.3). With others, Bruce thinks that the imagery is suggested by the
circle of colonnaded buildings on the crest of Mt. Pagos called the crown of Smyrna.²⁰
- These uses, together with that in Rev. 2:10, show that the “crown” is a reward given at death.
The “crown” is a reward to be received at Christ’s future coming, 2 Tim. 4:8; 1 Pet. 5:4.²¹
Similarly, the metaphor of the victory wreath is often used as a metaphor for the heavenly
reward awaiting the Christian who suffers and perhaps even dies for his or her faith (Pass.
Mont. 14:5; Mart. Lyons 42).²²
The promise of “the tree of life” is the assurance of being able to commune with God
without fear or shame.
- The paradise of God in Revelation symbolizes the eschatological state in which God and people
are restored to that perfect fellowship which existed before the entrance of sin into the
world.²³
- The “inheritance” there is immediately explained as the enjoyment of God’s covenantal
presence among people (so also 21:3).This is precisely the force of the promise in 2:7. To “eat
of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” is a picture of forgiveness and consequent
experience of God’s intimate presence (22:2–4).²⁴
- The tree of life is not simply a symbol for eternal life alone but also represents the cosmic
center of reality where eternal life is present and available, and where God dwells.²⁵ It goes
back to the tree of life in Genesis, which is evoked later in the book of Revelation—in Rev 22:2
—where it provides healing for the nations and is a source of continuing life.²
To be “a pillar in the temple of God” is to have a new permanent home.
- Pillars were often personified as an image of strength. The emphasis here follows the image of
the victorious Christian as a pillar in the temple of God, i.e., as a permanent part of the temple
of God and hence a continual participant in the divine worship that takes place there.²⁷
- Such a promise of permanently dwelling in God’s temple would have been appreciated by the
Philadelphians, since their city suffered from earthquakes more than any other of the cities
addressed.
- They will have a name there. “Moreover, I will inscribe upon him the name of my God.” This is a
metaphor for both divine ownership and the dedication of the one so inscribed to God. And
pillars often included honorary inscriptions, and we have a new name written on us in this
passage.²⁸
- This is perhaps an allusion to Exod 28:36–38, where instructions are given for writing the
inscription “Holy to the Lord” on a gold plate to be mounted on the front of Aaron’s high
priestly headdress, on his forehead.²⁹
- Conquering Christians will have inscribed on them the names of God, the city of God, and the
new Jerusalem (3:12), varied metaphors indicating eschatological salvation.³
Revelation 2:1-3:22
1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in
his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with
those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found
them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and
you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you
had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you
did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you
repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will
grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died
and came to life.
9 “‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say
that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are
about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be
tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the
crown of life. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one
who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp
two-edged sword.
13 “‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did
not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you,
where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the
teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that
they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have
some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you
soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden
manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one
knows except the one who receives it.’
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has
eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
19 “‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your
latter works exceed the first. 20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman
Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice
sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. 21 I gave her time to repent, but she
refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and
those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of
her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he
who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works. 24 But to
the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast
what you have until I come. 26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end,
to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when
earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28
And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches.’
3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of
God and the seven stars.
“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and
strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the
sight of my God. 3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you
will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against
you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and
they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed
thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his
name before my Father and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the churches.’
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true
one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut.
I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my
name. 9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and
are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will
learn that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will
keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on
the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go
out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the
new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 13 He
who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and
true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16
So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For
you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched,
pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that
you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your
nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those
whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door
and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with
him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as
I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him
hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
rev 3:10
know that your salvation is sealed, guaranteed
rev 2:10-11
those who are born once will die twice and those who are born twice will only die once
rev 3:12
until that day comes to past, we still have to deal with our suffering, will we still remain faithful to God until the very end?
3. Jesus calls the persecuted church the faithfulness
rev 2:10
only the victor can give the victors crown
rev 3:11
smyrna and philadelphia
were the only churches that were suffering and persecuted
church in Ephesus
rev 2:2-3
rev 2:4
rev 2:5
this verse (love) was referring to
Ephesus church that they have become less enthusiastic in the love and grace to others, they were witnessing less to the world, believers and pre believers, not referring to their love for God
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Book of Revelation - Reality check
Pastor Wilson
Reality check
Big idea:
Jesus calls us to repent of all compromise in an idolatrous world
Avoid carrying our modern lenses to understand the content more than 2000 years ago
Rev 2:12-17 (Pergamum)
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
4 components:
1. A description of Christ divinity (rev 2:18)
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
2. A commendation of strength (rev 2:19)
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
3. A rebuke and consequence of disobedience (rev 2:20-23)
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
4. A promise of those who overcomes (rev 2:24-29)
Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’ 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[a]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Rev 2:18-29 (Thyatira)
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’ 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[a]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Rev 2:14-15 (Food sacrifice to idols) (Sexual immorality)
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Rev 2:20 (Food sacrifice to idols) (Sexual immorality)
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
Jezebel (is not OT jezebel but a metaphor) referring to:
Female leader in the church who lead the people away from God
Rev 2:23
I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Numbers 22-24
Balaam:
Taught the king of Moab Balaak to seduce the israelites to sexual orgies and led many to worship the gods of Moab. In ancient pagan practices, sexual orgies were part of the worship ceremony unto their gods which Yahweh did not permit. Balaam advice was very simple: to have Israel compromise their believing loyalty to Yahweh through sexual immorality and from there lead them to worship of other gods.
Entrap is to sin against God, Taught people in Moab
1 kings 16:29-34 (Jezebel)
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him. 34 In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.
Ahab - an evil israel king married Jezebel who is a Phoenician princess. The Phoenicians chief diety was baal. Jezebel killed prophets of Yahweh and led Ahab and Israel to worship Baal and many other deities. Why? Because Jezebel represented the gods of her nation.
Both Baal and Jezebel led Israel to compromise their believing loyalty to Yahweh. The compromise is through worship of other gods and sexual immoral lifestyle.
Why did the believers compromise their relationship with God through these 2 incidents?
While both pergamum and Thyatira were centres for business especially in Thyatira, it was a major tradehub and for merchants to gain connections and credibility to trade with each other, they had to join trade guilds. And every guild had its patron gods link to temples where they have their meetings, their meal fellowship and of course the orgies.
The compromise happened when Believers joined the worship of the pateon gods and the fellowship meals and orgies in the temples. They compromise to gain access, to gain acceptance into the trade guilds where they could make a living with the rest of the merchants.
The world system challenges us to do the very opposite.
Our Lord Jesus is fully aware of what you're going through as much as He was aware of the believers struggles in Pergamum and Thyatira.
Christ gives very strong promises to those who will remain loyal to Him.
Rev 2:17
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
Rev 2:25-29
except to hold on to what you have until I come.’ 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[a]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Morning star means divine status that grant you divine authority that allows you to rule the nations with Christ through eternity
Live with less today without compromise and be assured of your eternity with Him tomorrow.
1 Samuel 15:22 (Nothing must replace the obedience factor between you and God)
But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
Obedience is better than sacrifice We must trust that God will grant us the favour and provide for our needs as we maintain our loyalty to Jesus Christ
Rev 3:1-3 (Sardis)
“To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Church of sardis appeared to be fervent and vibrant but they were walking dead bodies or like zombies. On the outside alive but dead inside. This is a severe rebuke by Christ.
Rev 3:14-19 (Laodicea)
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.
The city of laodicea boosted great resources because it was a Great banking hub city but it has no natural water (sounds like singapore). The city had to pipe in water from a hot spring pf another city, and by the time the hot spring water reach laodicea, it was lukewarm. In ancient times, people like to have hot water or cold drinks. Hot water from hot spring has medicinal benefits and for hot beverages. Cold water brings much relief in a drink from hot weather. Hot or cold water is good but lukewarm water was disgusting because it was not useful at all. God use Lukewarm to describe Laodicea church as disgusting. They had become wealthy and prideful. Believers were self sufficient with much resources but in the eyes of God they were wretch, pitiable, poor, blind and naked.
In Singapore we must be careful not to be self sufficient that we no longer need Christ in our lives.
The issue is never about the material things that we possessed, the issue is whether our hearts are possessed by the material things?
How do we then create a dependency on Christ when surrounded by status, materialism and the pride of self sufficiency?
Rev 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me. (This verse is not a salvation call. It is for Christ giving an invitation to believers to humbly open the door of our hearts and welcome Him, because self sufficiency and pride shuts Cjrist out of our lives. We must keep the door of our hearts open to Christ.)
There's just so much pressure in the market place, demands at home front, and expectation in life to do well. Living in such a performance driven environment can cause us to be distracted by busyness, by climbing the ladder where we slowly remove Christ unintentionally and over time we become like the church in laodicea and sardis, where we slowly compromise our faith and negatively affect our relationship with Christ
How do we prevent this from happening to us, to our family? How do we ensure a constant dependence upon Christ? We must not allow the environment around us to mold and shape us where we compromise our believing loyalty to Jesus Christ.
Reality check
Big idea:
Jesus calls us to repent of all compromise in an idolatrous world
Avoid carrying our modern lenses to understand the content more than 2000 years ago
Rev 2:12-17 (Pergamum)
“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. 13 I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 14 Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. 16 Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
4 components:
1. A description of Christ divinity (rev 2:18)
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
2. A commendation of strength (rev 2:19)
I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.
3. A rebuke and consequence of disobedience (rev 2:20-23)
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
4. A promise of those who overcomes (rev 2:24-29)
Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’ 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[a]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Rev 2:18-29 (Thyatira)
“To the angel of the church in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze. 19 I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. 20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. 24 Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets, ‘I will not impose any other burden on you, 25 except to hold on to what you have until I come.’ 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[a]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Rev 2:14-15 (Food sacrifice to idols) (Sexual immorality)
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality. 15 Likewise, you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.
Rev 2:20 (Food sacrifice to idols) (Sexual immorality)
Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.
Jezebel (is not OT jezebel but a metaphor) referring to:
Female leader in the church who lead the people away from God
Rev 2:23
I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Numbers 22-24
Balaam:
Taught the king of Moab Balaak to seduce the israelites to sexual orgies and led many to worship the gods of Moab. In ancient pagan practices, sexual orgies were part of the worship ceremony unto their gods which Yahweh did not permit. Balaam advice was very simple: to have Israel compromise their believing loyalty to Yahweh through sexual immorality and from there lead them to worship of other gods.
Entrap is to sin against God, Taught people in Moab
1 kings 16:29-34 (Jezebel)
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to arouse the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than did all the kings of Israel before him. 34 In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua son of Nun.
Ahab - an evil israel king married Jezebel who is a Phoenician princess. The Phoenicians chief diety was baal. Jezebel killed prophets of Yahweh and led Ahab and Israel to worship Baal and many other deities. Why? Because Jezebel represented the gods of her nation.
Both Baal and Jezebel led Israel to compromise their believing loyalty to Yahweh. The compromise is through worship of other gods and sexual immoral lifestyle.
Why did the believers compromise their relationship with God through these 2 incidents?
While both pergamum and Thyatira were centres for business especially in Thyatira, it was a major tradehub and for merchants to gain connections and credibility to trade with each other, they had to join trade guilds. And every guild had its patron gods link to temples where they have their meetings, their meal fellowship and of course the orgies.
The compromise happened when Believers joined the worship of the pateon gods and the fellowship meals and orgies in the temples. They compromise to gain access, to gain acceptance into the trade guilds where they could make a living with the rest of the merchants.
The world system challenges us to do the very opposite.
Our Lord Jesus is fully aware of what you're going through as much as He was aware of the believers struggles in Pergamum and Thyatira.
Christ gives very strong promises to those who will remain loyal to Him.
Rev 2:17
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.
Rev 2:25-29
except to hold on to what you have until I come.’ 26 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— 27 that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’[a]—just as I have received authority from my Father. 28 I will also give that one the morning star. 29 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Morning star means divine status that grant you divine authority that allows you to rule the nations with Christ through eternity
Live with less today without compromise and be assured of your eternity with Him tomorrow.
1 Samuel 15:22 (Nothing must replace the obedience factor between you and God)
But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
Obedience is better than sacrifice We must trust that God will grant us the favour and provide for our needs as we maintain our loyalty to Jesus Christ
Rev 3:1-3 (Sardis)
“To the angel[a] of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits[b] of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. 3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
Church of sardis appeared to be fervent and vibrant but they were walking dead bodies or like zombies. On the outside alive but dead inside. This is a severe rebuke by Christ.
Rev 3:14-19 (Laodicea)
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.
The city of laodicea boosted great resources because it was a Great banking hub city but it has no natural water (sounds like singapore). The city had to pipe in water from a hot spring pf another city, and by the time the hot spring water reach laodicea, it was lukewarm. In ancient times, people like to have hot water or cold drinks. Hot water from hot spring has medicinal benefits and for hot beverages. Cold water brings much relief in a drink from hot weather. Hot or cold water is good but lukewarm water was disgusting because it was not useful at all. God use Lukewarm to describe Laodicea church as disgusting. They had become wealthy and prideful. Believers were self sufficient with much resources but in the eyes of God they were wretch, pitiable, poor, blind and naked.
In Singapore we must be careful not to be self sufficient that we no longer need Christ in our lives.
The issue is never about the material things that we possessed, the issue is whether our hearts are possessed by the material things?
How do we then create a dependency on Christ when surrounded by status, materialism and the pride of self sufficiency?
Rev 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with Me. (This verse is not a salvation call. It is for Christ giving an invitation to believers to humbly open the door of our hearts and welcome Him, because self sufficiency and pride shuts Cjrist out of our lives. We must keep the door of our hearts open to Christ.)
There's just so much pressure in the market place, demands at home front, and expectation in life to do well. Living in such a performance driven environment can cause us to be distracted by busyness, by climbing the ladder where we slowly remove Christ unintentionally and over time we become like the church in laodicea and sardis, where we slowly compromise our faith and negatively affect our relationship with Christ
How do we prevent this from happening to us, to our family? How do we ensure a constant dependence upon Christ? We must not allow the environment around us to mold and shape us where we compromise our believing loyalty to Jesus Christ.
Book of Revelation - Are you ready?
Pastor Meng Chiam
Human history from heavens perspective
Big idea:
Jesus reveals himself to his people that they might be witnesses for him
1. Nature of revelation
Rev 1:1-2
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
A. Unveiling of Jesus Christ
Revelation=apocalypse means unveiled or uncovered
B. A human intermediary in this case is John through dreams and revelation
C. A blessing for the faithful
Rev 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
- Hear and keeps God's word in the testimony of Jesus
The purpose of book of revelation was to bring comfort to the afflicted, and to afflict the comfortable
II. The revelation of Jesus Christ is about Jesus Christ
- know who he is
A. In his purpose for us
Rev 1:4-6
John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
His life, death, resurrection and exaltation to restore us in the rightful authority as God's family, inagers
- he loves us presently, continually and eternally and his enduring love for us
B. In his place in the godhead
Rev 1:12-18
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,[a] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
- this is first vision of John seven visions
Rev 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Rev 1:17
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
Christ in all his deity and glory is Yahweh
Have I misrepresented Jesus and have I been faithful?
- He is the undercover boss
iii. The Revelation from Jesus Christ
- be ready for what is to come
Rev 1:1
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
Rev 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Rev 1:19
“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
- modern Western turkeye
- there will be a day of reckoning (for the good, the bad, the ugly)
- be ready, it'll take place soon
Rev 1:9-11
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
Rev 1:12-13
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,[a] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.
Rev 1:20
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[a] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
- though unseen, Jesus is well Aware of those under persecution and those succumbing to persecution
- Jesus can deliver us from our suffering, trials and tribulations. He can also deliver us through our suffering, trials and tribulations
- be ready but be patient
Rev 1:7
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[a] and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”[b] So shall it be! Amen.
- whether one rejoices or wails at his coming is depends on our current relationship with christ
- expect things to get worst before it gets better
Human history from heavens perspective
Big idea:
Jesus reveals himself to his people that they might be witnesses for him
1. Nature of revelation
Rev 1:1-2
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.
A. Unveiling of Jesus Christ
Revelation=apocalypse means unveiled or uncovered
B. A human intermediary in this case is John through dreams and revelation
C. A blessing for the faithful
Rev 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
- Hear and keeps God's word in the testimony of Jesus
The purpose of book of revelation was to bring comfort to the afflicted, and to afflict the comfortable
II. The revelation of Jesus Christ is about Jesus Christ
- know who he is
A. In his purpose for us
Rev 1:4-6
John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits[a] before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
His life, death, resurrection and exaltation to restore us in the rightful authority as God's family, inagers
- he loves us presently, continually and eternally and his enduring love for us
B. In his place in the godhead
Rev 1:12-18
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,[a] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
- this is first vision of John seven visions
Rev 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Rev 1:17
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
Christ in all his deity and glory is Yahweh
Have I misrepresented Jesus and have I been faithful?
- He is the undercover boss
iii. The Revelation from Jesus Christ
- be ready for what is to come
Rev 1:1
The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,
Rev 1:3
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
Rev 1:19
“Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.
- modern Western turkeye
- there will be a day of reckoning (for the good, the bad, the ugly)
- be ready, it'll take place soon
Rev 1:9-11
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, 11 which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”
Rev 1:12-13
I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,[a] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.
Rev 1:20
The mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and of the seven golden lampstands is this: The seven stars are the angels[a] of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
- though unseen, Jesus is well Aware of those under persecution and those succumbing to persecution
- Jesus can deliver us from our suffering, trials and tribulations. He can also deliver us through our suffering, trials and tribulations
- be ready but be patient
Rev 1:7
“Look, he is coming with the clouds,”[a] and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”[b] So shall it be! Amen.
- whether one rejoices or wails at his coming is depends on our current relationship with christ
- expect things to get worst before it gets better
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)