Revlation 2 Part 2 (2:1-11): Ephesus, Smyrna
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Ephesus
| Revelation 2:1-7 | References |
|---|---|
| (1) “To the angel of the (ecclesia) Messianic Community in Ephesus, write: ‘Here is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven gold menorahs | Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
| (2) “I know what you have been doing, how hard you have worked (or “I know your works and your labor”), how you have persevered, and how you can’t stand wicked people; so you tested those who call themselves emissaries but aren’t—and you found them to be liars. (3) You are persevering, and you have suffered for my sake without growing weary. | Eph 4:14 We will then no longer be infants tossed about by the waves and blown along by every wind of teaching, at the mercy of people clever in devising ways to deceive. Mat 7:23 Then I will tell them to their faces, ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’ 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 Cor 11:13-15 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. |
| (4) But I have this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. (5) Therefore, remember where you were before you fell, turn from this sin, and do what you used to do before. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your menorah from its place—if you don’t turn from your sin! | Jer 2:2 “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. |
| (6) But you have this in your favor: you hate what the Nicolaitans do—I hate it too. | Psa 26:5 I hate the assembly of evildoers, and I will not sit with the wicked |
| (7) Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. To him winning the victory (or “him who overcomes”), I will give the right to eat from the Tree of Life which is in God’s Gan-`Eden.” | Gen 3:22-24 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever—” 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. Is 51:3 For the LORD comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. |
Smyrna
| Revelation 2:8-11 | References |
|---|---|
| (8) “And to the angel of the (ecclesia) Messianic Community in Smyrna, write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. | Isa 41:4 Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he Isa 44:6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god Isa 48:12 “Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called! I am he; I am the first, and I am the last. Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Mat 2:11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Mar 15:23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. Joh 19:39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. Isa 60:6 A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD. (note: no Myrrh) |
| (9) “‘ I know how you are suffering and how poor you are (though in fact you are rich!) | Jas 1:2-3 Regard it all as joy, my brothers, when you face various kinds of temptations; (3) for you know that the testing of your trust produces perseverance. |
| (10) Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Adversary is going to have some of you thrown in prison, in order to put you to the test; and you will face an ordeal for ten days. Remain faithful, even to the point of death; and I will give you life as your crown. | “Fear not” ~150x 2Ti 3:12 And indeed, all who want to live a godly life united with the Messiah Yeshua will be persecuted, Jas 1:2-3 Regard it all as joy, my brothers, when you face various kinds of temptations; (3) for you know that the testing of your trust produces perseverance. |
| (11) Those who have ears, let them hear what the Spirit is saying to the Messianic communities. He who wins the victory will not be hurt at all by the second death.” ' | Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Rev 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. |
Seven Letters Outline
| Ephesus | Smyrna | Pergamum | Thyatira | Sardis | Philadelphia | Laodicea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To | Darling; desired | Myrrh;death | |||||
| From | Holds 7 stars/ walks among lampstands | First/last dead/alive | |||||
| + | Don’t tolerate evil; Persevered; Acts 17:11 | Suffering (pressing, tribulation) and insults | |||||
| - | Lost love they had at first | N/A | |||||
| + | Hates deeds of people who do things their own way instead of God’s | Do not fear suffering; remain faithful | |||||
| Ear | Before promise | Before | |||||
| Promise | Eat from Tree/Life | Not taste 2nd death | |||||
| Age | Apostolic (70-170) | Persecuted (170-312) | |||||
| Parable | Four Soils | Wheat/tares | |||||
| Paul | Ephesians | Philippians |
Watch the videos
Ephesus
Who were the Nicolaitans?
Smyrna
Study the context
Chris Flanagan
Bible teacher and growing disciple of ישוע/Jesus
Former healthcare compliance auditing professional with a passion for understanding the biblical texts in their original context and applying these lessons to 21st century life.