Revelation Study 5. Rev 2:1-17 (Letters to Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamum)

For Thought and Discussion: Consider the repeated refrain that ends (or almost ends) Jesus' word to each church (such as 2:29). Does this suggest that these prophetic words are meant only for the specific church addressed, or for others? Why? Does this refrain prove that the words are not for specific churches? Why or why not?

" He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (2:7,n11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22) suggests that the message to each church forms a part of an overall message to every church, of every age.

1. The rebuke Jesus has for the Ephesian church is "You have forsaken your first love" (2:4). What do you think this means? (Optional: See Jeremiah 2:2, Matthew 22:37-38.)

The first devotion to the Lord. "Abandoned" may speak of a more deliberate step to emphasize certain things instead of others.

 

But isn't this normal? Can we sustain devotion? Shouldn't love grow with greater knowledge of God? We can never love God too much, right? 

The Ephesians had forsaken  warm, personal, God-centered love and enuine affection expressed toward fellow believers.

True love suffers. 

2. Why is this so serious that it merits the threat of removal of the lampstand (2:5)

 God does not like cold orthodoxy.

 

 For Thought and Discussion: 

a. What do you think "I will come to you and remove your lampstand" (2:5) means?

You will lose your ability to witness to me as a local church. Probably not a threat of destruction (cf. Sardis)

b. Here Jesus warns "I will come" not just on some distant date, but soon.
What are the Implications for your life now? 

We live expectantly: faithful, watchful, fruitful

  

3. In the chart on page 44, summarize in your own words the strengths and weaknesses of the Ephesian church.

strengths: hard work, patient endurance, intolerance of heresy, testing false teachers, suffering for Jesus' sake. They hated the Nicolaitans

weaknesses: abandoned first love (of Jesus, of one another) They had stopped doing the works they did at first. 

 

 

For Further study:
a. To learn more about Ephesus, read Acts 18:18-20:38 and Paul's letter to the Ephesians.

Paul had spent 2 years teaching there. He had left TImothy in charge. There had been good teaching in public and private, the power of God manifest and a revival in the city. It was a 

 
b. Compare Paul's words in Acts 20:29-31 (about 57 AD) to Revelation 2:2-3 (about 98 AD). What do you observe?

"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. ²⁹ I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 

 

The church had been faithful with doctrinal purity and guarding against false teaching.

 Paul had praised their love in Eph 1:15 and prayed for them in Eph 3:17-19

"that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

 

For Further Study:

 To understand "the right to eat from the tree of life" (Revelation 2:7), study Genesis 2:8-9,15-17; 3:22-24; and Revelation 22:1-2. What is the tree of life? What Is the paradise of God? 

 It was a tree that, if one ate the fruit of, would grant eternal life.

In Proverbs 3:18 11:30, 13:12, 15:4 human experiences and human actions can also be a life-giving reality 

 

'Paradise' is:

• the place of believers with the Lord after death (Lk 23:43)
• the place where God's presence dwells (2 Cor 12:3) 

 

4. Jesus begins each letter with a title of Himself that is relevant to the theme of the letter. Why might 2:8 have been an especially relevant reminder for the Smyman Christians?

 Jesus says he died and came to life. The Smyrnan church needed encouragement to know that they too, would rise again. 

 

For Thought and Discussion: Jesus talks about life and death over and over to the Smymans. Why do you think He does this? 

They will suffer for a limited period of time, some will need to be faithful to death 

They will not have to fear the second death. 

5. On page 44, summarize the character of the church in Smyrna  

strengths: suffering, poverty, persecution

weaknesses none

  

For Thought and Discus ion: 

Why do you think Jesus emphasizes to Pergamum that He "has the sharp, double-edged sword" (2:12)? Compare 1:16; 2:16; 19:15,21. What Is this sword, and what does Jesus use it for? How is it appropriate for Pergamum?

Pergamum had been faithful in persecution but lax with morality The sword is Jesus' powerful Word, convicting sinners and comforting the saints. 

For Thought and Discussion: What do you think Jesus means by calling Pergamum the place "where Satan has his throne" (2:13)? 

 There were temples to Augustus, Asklepios and Zeus.

 

For Thought and Discussion: What significance might there be that the Lord gives Antipas His own title ("faithful witness"; compare 1:5) in 2:13? 

 Faithful unto death. He had like Jesus made the supreme sacrifice  -he  kept trusting despite suffering and giving up his life.

 

 For Further Study: For more on the hidden manna, see Exodus 16:1-36, Numbers 11:7-9, John 6:48-58. 

Manna was miraculous bread from heaven -  a life-sustaining supply. Not all can see the bread of heaven or perceive the source of life we have.