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January 30, 2008 |
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Revelation 1:17-20 &
2:1-7 1:17 - do not be afraid - do not be
tormented; fearful; to be scared -He is always with us 1:18 - behold - means to grab
someone's attention -Jesus is alive -Jesus has the keys of death and
hell - He used His authority over the enemy 1:19 - The Outline of the Book of
Revelation Chapter 1 - past Chapters 2-3 - Present Chapters 4-22 - Future 1:20 - angel - means messenger churches - means a called out group
of people *worldwide *a local body or chuch Chapter Two The 7 Churches: ***There are 4 ways to interpret
these 4 churches: 1. they were actual churches - 50
miles apart in Modern day Turkey -the events mentioned were happening
in these 7 churches at the time of John 2. there are principles from each
chuch that each believer can learn from 3. the messages speak to the
corporate body of Christ 4. the 7 churches represent the
entire history of the church Ephesus - the Apostolic Age - 30-100
AD - Rev 2:1-7 Smyrna - the Persecuted church -
100-313AD - Rev 2:8-11 Pergamos - Imperial church age -
313-600AD - Rev 2:12-17 Thyatira - Drak or Middle Ages -
600-1500 AD - Rev 2:18-29 Sardis - The Reformation -
1500-1750AD - Rev 3:1-6 Philadelphia - Modern Church age -
1750-1900AD - Rev 3:7-13 Laodicea - Present church age - 1900
to the present time Rev 2:1-7 - The Church at Ephesus ***it represents the Apostolic Age
from 30-100AD ***this is the early church in the
book of Acts v1 - Ephesus - means casual;to
relax; laid back -the church became relaxed angel - ministering spirits to
Christians a description of Jesus Christ 1. He holds leaders in His right
hand -handle all leaders when they are
wrong -protect all leaders from wrong 2. He is in the midst of the church
- walks - means to walk around Rev 2:2-3 - COMMENDATION -there were a ton of good things in
the church at Ephesus 1. they were a serving church - -He knows all things about us in
serving - the good and the bad -labor - means to work to the point
of exhaustion over an extended period of time 2. They were a steadfast church - v2 patience - means to keep going; to
push through your pain to reach a goal; to remain and endure under pressure 3. They were a separated church -
vs2,6 a.) they did not tolerate evil - we
know what evil is from the word of God -they did not call evil good - they separated sin from
sinner b.) they tested the spirits - 1 John
4:1-3 tested - means a careful examination
and investigation v6 - means to conquer the people;
victory over the laity -they were above the people -they worshipped false idols -they were gnostics 4. This was a strong church - v3 -it speaks of not fainting v4 - COMPLAINT -they left their first love - they
cooled off 1st love - this is a passionate,
excited, uninhibited love for Jesus v5 - CORRECTION - 1st love can be
restored 1. remember - what you have lost and
know you can get it back 2. repent - re means to return
pent - means to the highest position 3. repeat - basic training remove the lampstand - you will
cease to be an effective church v7 - overcomes - means to get saved a.) this gives you everlasting life b.) paradise is heaven
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