Revelation Chapter 2
Part 1 Church 1.Test Your Church
At the end of chapter we saw how God translates this for us the 7 stars are the angles of the 7 churches and the the 7 candlesticks are the 7 churches. Theses 7 churches represent the type of churches we have today around the world. Each church does not represent a church age; Again all 7 types of these churches are here today. Only 2 churches out of the 7 did God find no fault with. This is why I say test your church. Are you in a church that teaches what God would be pleased with? Lets find out.
Chapter 2 Verse 1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Who is He that holds the seven stars (angles)? That is Jesus. He is right there with us; As He walks in the midst of the seven golden sticks (the churches).
Verse 2. I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
I know thy works, thy patience, and you can't bear them which are evil: You have tested those that say they are apostles, pastors, teachers, ect and are not and have been found to be liars.
Verse 3. And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
They are holding up ok so far, sounds like a good place to be.
Verse 4. Nevertheless I have some what against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Nevertheless: Listen up here because this is where you can go wrong He is not happy with this church. They have somehow lost there first love for Christ. A lot of what is said in the next 2 chapters refers to 2nd Corinthians 11:12-15 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. That is what has happened to this first church. They look good on the surface but when you dig they are following church doctrine, traditions, ect rather than the word of God; and end up following the Antichrist in stead of Jesus. Maybe not everyone but most, Jesus never paints with that broad a brush. He looks at our hearts. Thank of it as going cross country and your trip planer is off 3 or 4 % You are going to miss the mark by a lot when you finely get cross country. You may end up in San Dago Ca. Rather than the Bay area.
Verse 5. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
That is a serous thing and a place you don't want to find yourself in(I know He had to take a jackhammer to me) you don't want to be left hang out there with the wrong person.
Verse 6.But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
That is idol worship at least you are not as far out there as the Nicolaitans. The problem is you have gone far enough to lose your first love. You have made a wrong turn your GPS is off you thank Jesus is coming before Satan, or some other false doctrine; like the people that pick up rattle snacks and dance with them; You don't tempt God.
Verse 7. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
That tree of life of course is Jesus Christ. If you do what God instructs you to do He will allow that Holy Spirit to dwell with you. That does not mean that it will be a bed of roses all the time but He will make sure you get through it and that is the important thing. You need to see just how important this is to our Father for He is a jealous God. Not a church you really want to be in unless God has put you there for a reason to help someone, maybe many.
