The Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Chapter 2 Series

The Revelation Of Jesus Christ – Chapter 2

We have already talked about:

I. Things Which Thou Hast Seen – Rev 1

II. Things Which Are – The Church Age – Rev 2-3

Last week we talked about:

A. An Introduction To The Letters To The Churches

1. The Church in General

2. The Seven Churches of Revelation – Rev 2-3

3. The similarities and differences in the seven letters to the 7 churches

4. The application of these letters

Today we will look at Revelation chapter 2.

These letters are not written to believers in general but to the angels or messengers of the churches that existed in John’s day. All seven churches were located in a region today we call Turkey.

Why is Christ first dealing with the church? - because judgment begins with the church. In First Peter chapter four verse seventeen we find:

(1 Pet.4:17) “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?”

So Jesus deals with these 7 churches before he deals with the lost world.

B. An Examination Of The Seven Letters To The Seven Churches

1. The Letter To The Church At Ephesus – Rev 2:1-7

a. The Author of the Letter – Jesus Christ – Rev 2:1

Rev 2:1 "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:”

(1) Who commanded John to write – Rev 1:11

(2) Who walks among the 7 golden candle sticks – Rev 1:12-13

b. The Address of the Church – Ephesus – population 225,000

(1) Paul ministered there – Acts 18:19

(2) The idol Diana was worshipped there – Acts 19:35

(3) Timothy ministered there – 2 Tim 1:18

c. The Addressee – The angel of the Church in Ephesus – Rev 2:1

d. The Awareness – Rev 2:2-3

Rev 2:2-3 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary.’

(1) I know your deeds – v. 2

(2) I know your toil – v. 2

(3) I know your perseverance – v. 2

(4) I know you cannot tolerance evil men – v. 2

(5) I know you put those to the test – v. 2 – 1 John 4:1-3

(a) And found of them to be false – v. 2

(6) I know you have perseverance – v. 3

(7) I know you have endured for my name’s sake – v. 3

(8) I know you have not grown weary – v. 3

(9) I know you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitanes – v. 6

(a) Which I also hate – v. 6

Often we act like God does not know what is going on – but in reality “He knows all things – even the little things. He knows our deeds – He knows our works – He knows our struggles – He knows what we like and what we hate – He knows our labor and He knows when we get tired. He knows all things.

e. The Admonishment – Rev 2:4

Rev 2:4 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.’

No amount of separation, sacrifice, or service, can make up for your lack of love toward the Lord.

(1) You have left your first love – v. 4

(a) The Greatest Commandment – Mark 12:28-30

Mark 12:30 “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.'…'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

(b) We are to abide in His love – John 15:9

John 15:9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.”

(c) Our love for God is to motivate us – John 14:15

John 14:15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

(d) Love is the most important thing – 1 Cor 13:1-3

1 Cor 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.