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Daily Bible Studies

Chapter: Rev 2

Passage: Rev 2:1-7

A. Find Out:

1. How is Jesus described? v.1

2. What did he know about them? v.2

3. For what did he commend them? v.3,6

4. What did he have against them? v.4

5. What did he instruct them to do? v.5

6. What would the overcomer receive? v.7

B. Think :

1. How would you summarise the good things about this church?

2. What was their major weakness?

3. How is there both warning and encouragement here?

C. Comment :

     Jesus comes to this church as the one who oversees all the churches in Asia Minor . Ephesus may have been the capital but Jesus oversees them all. He is the Lord of all the church. He comes with all-seeing eyes and sees that they are a hard labouring church, that perseveres, is discerning and rejects false teachers and false cults (Nicolaitans were possibly a licentious cult). In all of that they showed good orthodoxy, possibly like many good evangelical churches.

      However they had left, forsaken or walked away from their original spiritual vitality where their love for Jesus had been new, vital, exciting, where they yearned for his presence and were open to his moving all the time. It is easy to leave this and be left with dull orthodoxy, but that is not Jesus' will for his church. Indeed he instructs them to return to that first love and warns them that if they don't, so serious is he about it, that he will remove their church!

     To the person who responds and overcomes, He promises real life, eternal life. Thus by implication, Jesus expects every believer to be an "overcomer" for eternal life is promised to every believer!

D. Application?

1. Orthodoxy or that vital love that we knew at the first? Do we need

     renewing?

2. Nothing is hid from Jesus' eyes! Do we try and hide anything from him?

Chapter: Rev 2

Passage: Rev 2:8-11

A. Find Out:    

1. How is Jesus described? v.8

2. What did he say he knew about them? v.9

3. What did he warn was going to happen? v.10a

4. What did he challenge them to be? v.10b

5. What did he promise for the overcomer? v.10c,11b

B. Think :

1. How does Jesus' description of himself, go with what is happening in

    Smyrna ?

2. How would you summarise what is taking place there?

3. How does an eternal perspective help here?

C. Comment :

      Jesus speaks to this church as the One who has been through death; he has been through suffering, and he has triumphed. He can understand what they are going through because he has been through it himself. In all this he comes as a comforter. This church is revealed as one that feels poor and afflicted, that has been slandered by the so-called Jews (Jews are supposed to be the people of God, but Jesus says that in this city they are in fact people of Satan!). Jesus warns them it is going to get worse and says that some of them will be imprisoned for their faith. But don't worry, he says, there are three things to help you.

     First, he says, I'm allowing this to test your faith. See it as under my watchful care. Second, it will be for limited duration, I have decreed its length. Third, be prepared to go to death if necessary, remembering that those who are faithful have eternity with me. Death may come but they will rule (the crown) in eternal life, they will not face the destruction of judgement, they will live for ever with the one who has overcome death, and lives for ever. Observe in all this Jesus encourages by reminding them of who he is and what he's been through.

D. Application?

1. Jesus has been through the worst that can be on earth and has

     triumphed over it.

2. He is with us in whatever we have to go through.

Chapter: Rev 2

Passage: Rev 2:12-17

A. Find Out:

1. How is Jesus described? v.12

2. What does he reveal about Pergamum ? v.13

3. For what does he commend them? v.13

4. Over what 2 things does he rebuke them? v.14,15

5. What does he warn he will have to do? v.16

6. What did he promise for overcomers? v.17

B. Think :

1. How does the description of Jesus suit the situation here?

2. What was good and bad about this church?

3. What did the blessings for the overcomer indicate in the light of what has

     gone before?

C. Comment :

      Jesus comes as one who speaks the cutting words of truth. He comes to challenge the lies that Satan promotes, to a church who live where Satan is very prominent and exercises power and authority. First Jesus commends them for standing firm in the face of opposition and persecution, even when one was killed for his faith. This was obviously a difficult place to be a Christian and the enemy was clearly strong there.

      Second he challenges them for allowing some of the church to hold wrong doctrines. Baalam was known for compromise, so there were some who sought to compromise with the enemy. The Nicolaitans also had influence here and as we have seen previously their practices and beliefs were hated by the Lord. The overcomer is promised unseen heavenly food for strength, and an identity that is unique and intimate, known only to God and the individual. If they will remain true and pure in the face of the enemy, they will be special, precious to God, holding a relationship of intimacy with Him.

D. Application?

1. Even when the enemy is tough we are to hang on without compromise.

2. The Lord looks for purity and truth and promises a closeness of

     relationship if we will commit our hearts and our lives to that end.

Chapter: Rev 2

Passage: Rev 2:18-29

A. Find Out:

1. How is Jesus described? v.18

2. What did he say he knew about them? v.19

3. What did he have against them? v.20

4. What was he going to do about it? v.21-23

5. What did he say to the rest? v.24,25

6. What did he promise to the overcomer? v.26-28

B. Think :

1. How does the description of Jesus suit what he is doing?

2. What was really wrong here in this church?

3. How does the overcomer's reward match what is happening?

C. Comment :

     With blazing eyes Jesus comes as the one who sees all, who searches hearts and minds (v.23). With feet like burnished bronze he stands strong, steadfast and immovable, a picture of stability and strength, coming to challenge what is false and evil.

     First he commends them for their love, faith, service and perseverance. Oh that we might similarly be commended! But then he, with devastating detail, highlights the sin in their midst: they tolerated a false and deceiving woman (? literally a single person?) who claimed to be a voice from God but who taught evil. She led them into adultery (more likely spiritual adultery) and taught them evil things (deep things of Satan).

     Jesus warns that he will soon be dealing with her and with any who have dealings with her and who refuse to repent. He is going to bring strong and clear judgement. The overcomer will become a ruler and be like the bright light that shines in the darkness at the break of day. Such a one will have learnt to overcome evil in the midst, to shine in the midst of darkness.

D. Application?

1. Do we tolerate voices that permit or even encourage evil thinking and

     practices? Beware!

2. May we shine like lights in the darkness of this world (Matthew 5:16 /

    Hebrews 5:14b)

Chapter: Rev 3

Passage: Rev 3:1-6

A. Find Out:

1. How is Jesus described? v.1a

2. What was his charge against them? v.1b

3. What did he command them to do? v.2,3a

4. What did he warn might happen? v.3b

5. How did he describe some there? v.4

6. What does he promise overcomers? v.5

B. Think :

1. How would you describe this church?

2. How does Jesus show that the responsibility for it is theirs?

3. What was deceptively dangerous about this church?

C. Comment :

      Observe first, Jesus appears as the one who holds the Holy Spirit and the leadership of the church in his hands. The implication is that the church desperately needs the power of the Spirit, and so he comes as the life bringing Lord of the church.

     Next observe there is virtually no commendation. A few in the church have not become spiritually unclean, that is the best that can be said for them.

      Third, note the strong charges against them: they APPEAR alive, i.e. they give a good outward appearance but inwardly they are dead, lifeless and whatever they do is half-hearted and only part of what God wants them to be doing.

     Fourth, note that Jesus places the responsibility for change on them, they cannot plead "We can come alive if God sends His Spirit". No, Jesus says, Wake up! Strengthen! Remember! Obey! Repent!

      Although it doesn't actually say it, the implication is that if they don't do this He will come and remove the church. The few who are clean and overcome, who do respond, are promised communion with Christ, recognition as saints and eternal life.

D. Application?

1. Beware appearing alive outwardly but actually being dead inside!

2. The responsibility for being "alive" is ours.

3. Jesus looks for whole-heartedness and will not put up with half-

     heartedness.

Chapter: Rev 3

Passage: Rev 3:7-13

A. Find Out:

1. How is Jesus described? v.7

2. What had he done for them? 8a,10a

3. For what did she commend them? v.8b

4. Who was he going to deal with? v.9

5. What was going to happen? v.10b.11a

6. What was the overcomer promised? v.12

B. Think :

1. What good things were going to happen to this church?

2. What bad things were going to happen?

3. How would you summarise the blessings of the overcomer?

C. Comment :

      Jesus appears to this church as the Son of God with authority. He does that because he says he places before them a door of opportunity that no one else will be able to shut. Because they are somewhat weak, even though they have been true to the Gospel, they need the particular encouragement of the Lord who controls and who has authority to ensure it happens. Whether the door of opportunity is linked with the unbelieving Jews is not certain, but Jesus says he will deal with them and allow the Christians to triumph over the activities of the enemy.

     Not only that Jesus, the one in authority, promises protection for the church in the face of the difficulties that are coming. Because they have honoured him, he will honour them. He himself will one day return so he encourages them to hold firm, and retain their position of ruling. The overcomer will be honoured (pillar = sign of honour) and they will be ensured a place in the residence of God for ever, where they may receive all the blessings that God has planned for His people.

D. Application?

1. As we seek to honour the Lord he will honour us and provide all that we

     need to face the trials and difficulties of the world in which we live.

2. Our position is one of ruling with Jesus (see Ephesians 2:6). May we hold

     firm to it.

Chapter: Rev 3

Passage: Rev 3:14-22

A. Find Out:

1. How is Jesus described? v.14

2. What does he say is their state? v.15-17

3. What 3 things does he say they should get from him? v.18

4. What did he instruct them to do? v.19

5. How did he say he was coming to them? v.20

6. What is the overcomer promised? v.21

B. Think :

1. What do the descriptions of Jesus at the beginning of this passage indicate about the way he comes to this church?

2. How would you summarise the state of this church?

3. How is his love for this church indicated?

C. Comment :

      Jesus comes to this church as the one who has the final say over all things, the one who came as his Father's representative and remained true to his task, and therefore as the one to whom all things have been entrusted, the Lord of creation. He describes this church as lukewarm, wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, naked, a church that thought it had everything but in reality had virtually nothing. It was therefore, a self-deceived church that lacked the power of God, the grace of God and the goodness of God, a church in great need, a nominally Christian church.

      With this damning critique, he warns them he is about to reject them unless they repent quickly. They need to lay down their lives to buy the riches of heaven, the robes of true righteousness and the Holy Spirit to buy true revelation. Jesus comes to this church telling them of his love for them and says he wants to come in. Whoever receives him and his present word is promised communion with Christ and the right to rule with Christ

D. Application?

1. We need to realistically face our state: are we luke-warm? Do we have

     the power of God? Are we self deceived? Are we nominal Christians?

2. Whenever God comes with convicting power He comes to restore us to

     Himself, to know His love.

OVERVIEW of the Letters to the Seven Churches

SMYRNA and PHILADELPHIA simply have opposition

EPHESUS , SARDIS & LAODICEA have lost love and life

PERGAMUM & THYATIRA permit false teaching

RECAP No.2  "Letters to the 7 churches"  Revelation 2 & 3

SUMMARY :   In these 7 studies we have seen:

  - Jesus with his different roles and characteristics

  - the failings of some of the churches

  - Jesus as Lord of the church addressing those failures

  - Jesus bringing encouragement

  - Jesus promising blessing for overcomers

COMMENT :

      These seven churches, to whom Jesus instructed John to write were either under pressure from the enemy or they had given way to the enemy's deception and were either asleep, dead or tolerating the enemy in their midst.

      They should challenge us to examine the state of the church today in the light of the things Jesus points out here. As we consider each church they perhaps will show up a failing in our own circumstances, where we need to take action before the Lord of the Church comes to take it himself!

LESSONS :

1. Jesus will NOT tolerate loss of love, false teaching, evil, spiritual death or

     lukewarmness in HIS church!

2. His call where any of these things exist, is always to repent.

3. Where there is repentance, then there is promise of blessing.

4. Persecution is part of church life.

PRAY :

     Ask the Lord to shine the light of His word into your church situation, and then pray for wisdom to know what to do about it, if it doesn't match up to Jesus' standards.

PART 3 :  "A Glimpse into Heaven"

      In the next four studies we get a unique view into heaven. It is therefore an excellent opportunity to see what we can learn about God, Jesus and the other occupants of heaven. Watch out for them. These are some of the most amazing verses in the Bible!