Revelation Lesson #3 Series

Welcome to our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ given unto Apostle John.

I am Phillip Smith, your host and fellow servant of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. DISCLAIMER: I am not a university trained Theologian. I do not believe one must have a college degree to understand the prophecy of Jesus Christ through the Apostle John. Furthermore, I beg you to not take my word as concrete and the perfect absolute truth. Truth comes only from God. [But,] let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (Hebrews 10:24) My duty is to provoke unto love and good works. The comprehension of this book is not accomplished unprovoked.

We have seen Jesus is in the midst of all congregations of the ‘church’; body of Christ. Each congregation and all members of the body are represented by the seven candles on the candlestick.

Now we will see ‘seven churches’--the entire, whole body of Christ represented by one of these ‘churches’ or congregations. Each ‘church’ or congregation is identified by a given name for us to distinguish one personality or attitude from another.

In spiritual terms, we can conclude these different personalities or attitudes make up the whole of man’s personality or attitude within the body of Christ. Some are good; some better than others; some not quite in an acceptable condition and need correction. Therefore, Jesus speaks of these different personalities and what is His desire for each to improve their standing before Him.

Let us begin with the first personality identified at Ephesus.

Rev. 2:1-7. 2 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. 6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Once again we see the one speaking:

he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand,

{He} who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

It identifies Jesus

If Jesus is in the midst of each congregation when they assemble, He knows and learns things about each member of that congregation and each one assembled, whether a part of the body or not.

Jesus praises the good works, the labor, patience and how the righteous dislike evil. He praises them for proving men who are not of the body but perhaps deceivers and troublemakers. (they are not Apostles/Disciples)

But, the group has a fault Jesus needs to address and of which they also need to address to stay among the ‘churches’.

They left their first love–the love of God toward their God and brethren.

Return to do the first works of which they did when first redeemed.

Continue to hate the actions of people such as the Nicolaitains.

Nicolaitanes were believed to be followers of a man identified in Acts as one of the men appointed to a role of Deacon who was converted to Judaism but still held to many Pagan rituals. His name was Nicolas. (Acts 6:5)

They were said to lead lives of unrestrained indulgence.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; Jesus does not want these members to be like those he mentioned in Mt. 13:13-16.. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. Jesus wants us to hear–truly hear and comprehend.