Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
Here we have 4 letters. I find the letter to Ephesus quite worrying. The complaint is that have lost their first love and need to repent or be removed. Despite being hard working, perservering, not tolering wicked people, enduring hardship and not grown weary. This shows how incredibly important it is that we don’t lose our first love.
Here we have 4 letters. I find the letter to Ephesus quite worrying. The complaint is that have lost their first love and need to repent or be removed. Despite being hard working, perservering, not tolering wicked people, enduring hardship and not grown weary. This shows how incredibly important it is that we don’t lose our first love.
The second letter to Smyrna is an encouragement in the face of persecution. Interesting they are not told to pray that the persecution will stop. Or that the persecution is the result of some sin. But rather that God knows and says, “Do not be afraid.”
The second letter to Smyrna is an encouragement in the face of persecution. Interesting they are not told to pray that the persecution will stop. Or that the persecution is the result of some sin. But rather that God knows and says, “Do not be afraid.”
The third letter is to Pergamum which sounds like it is in quite a demonic environment (v.13).
v.14-15 in the Message reads, “but why do you indulge that Balaam crowd? … and why do put put up with the Nicolatians?” God expected this church to take a stand against these wrong teachings. I wonder if the church today, in some places, is too indulgent in regard to allowing teaching from other religions to come into the church?
The third letter is to Pergamum which sounds like it is in quite a demonic environment (v.13).
v.14-15 in the Message reads, “but why do you indulge that Balaam crowd? … and why do put put up with the Nicolatians?” God expected this church to take a stand against these wrong teachings. I wonder if the church today, in some places, is too indulgent in regard to allowing teaching from other religions to come into the church?
I think I would answer ‘Yes’ to this query, Susan!
I think I would answer ‘Yes’ to this query, Susan!
The fourth letter is to Thyatira and this time instead of group of people leading the church astray, it is one woman, referred to as Jezebel. Interestingly enough the Lord says, “I have given her time to repent”. Even someone as evil as Jezebel is given time to repent. But if she doesn’t repent consequences follow.
I suspect Christians often fall into one of two traps in situation like this. We either give people like “Jezebel” no time to repent or we give them too much time and never call them to account.
When I look at accounts of leaders who have “fallen”, it seems there has been a time when the person could have repented privately before it became public knowledge. This reinforces to me that God does give people time to repent.
The fourth letter is to Thyatira and this time instead of group of people leading the church astray, it is one woman, referred to as Jezebel. Interestingly enough the Lord says, “I have given her time to repent”. Even someone as evil as Jezebel is given time to repent. But if she doesn’t repent consequences follow.
I suspect Christians often fall into one of two traps in situation like this. We either give people like “Jezebel” no time to repent or we give them too much time and never call them to account.
When I look at accounts of leaders who have “fallen”, it seems there has been a time when the person could have repented privately before it became public knowledge. This reinforces to me that God does give people time to repent.
The Church at Ephesus
It amazes me that they endured hardships for His name and were guilty of leaving their first love.
I can’t imagine enduring any hardship for anyone I did not love deeply.
I would walk away and leave whatever needed to be done for others … honestly I would … there’s enough to do for your own family.
But, you know, when an ‘organization’ gets started and the leaders know they are being watched … maybe some pride slips in and they start to look more at the good things they are doing and forget why they are doing them.
???? the praise of men ????
Don’t we all like to be praised and encouraged and don’t we all fall into some sort of self glorying and a living up to the status quo.
He tells them to go back and do the things they used to do when they first started out serving the Lord of Lords.
‘Repent and do the things you did at first.’
Overcoming gives us the right to eat of the tree of life.
Wait!! Wasn’t this what got us into trouble in the first place?
I guess our timing was off… looks like it will be ok to eat now if we return to our first love.
The Church at Ephesus
It amazes me that they endured hardships for His name and were guilty of leaving their first love.
I can’t imagine enduring any hardship for anyone I did not love deeply.
I would walk away and leave whatever needed to be done for others … honestly I would … there’s enough to do for your own family.
But, you know, when an ‘organization’ gets started and the leaders know they are being watched … maybe some pride slips in and they start to look more at the good things they are doing and forget why they are doing them.
???? the praise of men ????
Don’t we all like to be praised and encouraged and don’t we all fall into some sort of self glorying and a living up to the status quo.
He tells them to go back and do the things they used to do when they first started out serving the Lord of Lords.
‘Repent and do the things you did at first.’
Overcoming gives us the right to eat of the tree of life.
Wait!! Wasn’t this what got us into trouble in the first place?
I guess our timing was off… looks like it will be ok to eat now if we return to our first love.
The Lord has nothing against Smyrna … interesting isn’t it that they are afflicted and poor.
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
and they will not be touched by the second death.
There seems to be a responsibility on our part to not forget our first love and be faithful even to death.
A rather elite group.
These days I’m not sure I measure up. I’ve never been good enough at much of anything to be in any elite group of all the peeps in the world.
So far I don’t measure up to Ephesus or Smyrna and yet it seems it is something that is required.
Where is the grace and the acknowledgment by the Lord of how frail we are in these earthen vessels?
The Lord has nothing against Smyrna … interesting isn’t it that they are afflicted and poor.
Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
and they will not be touched by the second death.
There seems to be a responsibility on our part to not forget our first love and be faithful even to death.
A rather elite group.
These days I’m not sure I measure up. I’ve never been good enough at much of anything to be in any elite group of all the peeps in the world.
So far I don’t measure up to Ephesus or Smyrna and yet it seems it is something that is required.
Where is the grace and the acknowledgment by the Lord of how frail we are in these earthen vessels?
In Pergamum it sounds like there is much darkness surrounding them and yet they have remained true but not pure enough.
There are people in their church who hold to teachings that are against our Lord’s teachings.
Some truth mixed with untruth.???
And the Nicolaitans are mentioned again.
I like what 1 Cor 8:1,2,3 says
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
But the man who loves God is known by God.
They are asked to repent and they will get some of the hidden manna!?
A very special snack lol
Wow a white stone with a new name known only to me and the Lord … that’s pretty cool.
In Pergamum it sounds like there is much darkness surrounding them and yet they have remained true but not pure enough.
There are people in their church who hold to teachings that are against our Lord’s teachings.
Some truth mixed with untruth.???
And the Nicolaitans are mentioned again.
I like what 1 Cor 8:1,2,3 says
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
But the man who loves God is known by God.
They are asked to repent and they will get some of the hidden manna!?
A very special snack lol
Wow a white stone with a new name known only to me and the Lord … that’s pretty cool.
In Thyatira Jezebel lives and we thought she had died way back in the OT. Hmmm
‘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.’
Wow Jez’s kids are in trouble.
He doesn’t add any more burden to those who are true to him in the midst of all this.
The prize:
Authority over the nations and the morning star.
Wow I think I need to read that book you were talking about.
Who were the Nicolaitans and what is the significance of the Morning star?
In Thyatira Jezebel lives and we thought she had died way back in the OT. Hmmm
‘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.’
Wow Jez’s kids are in trouble.
He doesn’t add any more burden to those who are true to him in the midst of all this.
The prize:
Authority over the nations and the morning star.
Wow I think I need to read that book you were talking about.
Who were the Nicolaitans and what is the significance of the Morning star?
‘the praise of men’ is an easy trap to fall into.
I think returning to our first love is about returning to our original focus. Initially, when we first understand the gospel, our attention is focussed on what Christ has done for us but it seems after a while we start focussing on what we are doing for Christ.
When we fall in love in the physical world all we think about is the one we are in love with. I think this describes first love.
I think the grace and acknowledgment is there, since God reinforces he knows everything that is going on: v.2; v.9; v.13; v.19.
I don’t think it is about “measuring up” but about trusting and relying on Christ.
I think Jezebel is symbolic rather like John the Baptist was Elijah. Jezebel may have died in the OT but her teaching continues.
A lot of the symbolism is meaningful for the particular church at the time it was written. The morning star is also used as refering to Christ (Rev 22:16) and perhaps is a symbol meaning victory.
The Nicolaitans were like (v.15″likewise”)those who held to the teaching of Balaam. They compromised the gospel, perhaps so they would not be persecuted (v.13).
There is rather a lot in this chapter. Most of the church were experiencing some level of persecution so I think John was encouraging them to hang in and remain true to Christ no matter what.
‘the praise of men’ is an easy trap to fall into.
I think returning to our first love is about returning to our original focus. Initially, when we first understand the gospel, our attention is focussed on what Christ has done for us but it seems after a while we start focussing on what we are doing for Christ.
When we fall in love in the physical world all we think about is the one we are in love with. I think this describes first love.
I think the grace and acknowledgment is there, since God reinforces he knows everything that is going on: v.2; v.9; v.13; v.19.
I don’t think it is about “measuring up” but about trusting and relying on Christ.
I think Jezebel is symbolic rather like John the Baptist was Elijah. Jezebel may have died in the OT but her teaching continues.
A lot of the symbolism is meaningful for the particular church at the time it was written. The morning star is also used as refering to Christ (Rev 22:16) and perhaps is a symbol meaning victory.
The Nicolaitans were like (v.15″likewise”)those who held to the teaching of Balaam. They compromised the gospel, perhaps so they would not be persecuted (v.13).
There is rather a lot in this chapter. Most of the church were experiencing some level of persecution so I think John was encouraging them to hang in and remain true to Christ no matter what.
v.7 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
God will restore everything that was lost and we will again have access to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24)
v.7 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
God will restore everything that was lost and we will again have access to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:22-24)
v.10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Polycarp, who was considered one of the Apostolic Fathers and highly regarded, was martyred at Smyrna somewhere between 155 and 168. He was also a bishop of Smyrna and a disciple of John.
v.10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.
Polycarp, who was considered one of the Apostolic Fathers and highly regarded, was martyred at Smyrna somewhere between 155 and 168. He was also a bishop of Smyrna and a disciple of John.
v.11 The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
The first death was separation of the soul and body, the second death was eternal separation from God. The first death may hurt but believers will not be hurt at all by the second death because they will not experience it.
v.11 The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.
The first death was separation of the soul and body, the second death was eternal separation from God. The first death may hurt but believers will not be hurt at all by the second death because they will not experience it.
v.26-27 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.
If we overcome (are victorious) in this life we are trained in how to exercise authority in the next. Here it is in the context of war which was the context the original readers were familiar with but this may outwork differently in our context.
v.26-27 To the one who is victorious and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations— that one ‘will rule them with an iron scepter and will dash them to pieces like pottery’—just as I have received authority from my Father.
If we overcome (are victorious) in this life we are trained in how to exercise authority in the next. Here it is in the context of war which was the context the original readers were familiar with but this may outwork differently in our context.