CHAPTER 2:1-6 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,

CHAPTER 2:1-6 

“To the angel of the church of

Ephesus write,‘These things says He who holds the

seven stars inSunday University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:1-6 

His right hand, who walks in the

midst of the seven golden

lampstands: 2 “I know your works,

your labor,Sunday

University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:1-6 

your patience, and that you cannot bear those who

are evil. And you have tested those who say they areSunday

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THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:1-6 

apostles and are not, and have found them

liars; 3 and you have persevered

and have patience,

Sunday University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:1-6 

and have labored for My name’s

sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I

have this againstSunday University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:1-6 

you, that you have left your first

love.5 Remember therefore from

where you have fallen; repentSunday

University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:1-6 

and do the first works, or else I

will come to you quickly and remove your

lampstand from itsSunday University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:1-6 

place—unless you repent. 6 But this

you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans,

which I also hate.Sunday University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What is happening?Jesus Christ is

addressing his church directly.

The church is being disciplined and encouraged.

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What is happening?Jesus Christ is

calling out specific violations of his commands.

The church is challenged to repent.

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What is happening?We learn what Jesus

Christ HATES.We learn what Jesus

Christ loves.We learn Jesus

Christ is in our midst.

CHAPTER 2:1 “To the angel

(messenger to the pastor) of the church of Ephesus

(ef-es-ee-nos – natives of the culture) write, ‘These

things says He who holdsSunday

University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:1 the seven stars in

His right hand, who walks in the

midst of the seven golden

lampstands:Sunday

University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What we learn:Jesus Christ is the exclusive authority of the Church!

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

EPHESUSHOME TO ONE OF THE 7TH

WONDERS OF THE WORLD - TEMPLE OF ARTEMIS.

CULT OF ARTEMIS, GODDESS OF HUNT AND FERTILITY – PROSPERITY AND MONEY.

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

EPHESUSCULT OF ARTEMIS –

worshiped at the temple of artemis offering to the “TREES” of artemis for prosperity and success in business.

CHAPTER 2:2-3 

2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and

that you cannot bear those who

are evil. Sunday University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:2-3 

And you have tested those who

say they are apostles and are

not, and have found them liars; Sunday

University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:2-3 

3 and you have persevered and have patience,

and have labored for My name’s

sake and have not become weary.”

Sunday University

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REVELATION

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What we learn:Confronting things that are

evil is good.Confronting bad leadership

carefully in Christ is good. Working hard for the gospel

and Jesus Christ is good!

CHAPTER 2:4-6 

“Nevertheless I have this against

you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember

therefore fromSunday

University

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:4-6 

where you have fallen; repent

and do the first works,

Sunday University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:4-6 

or else I will come to you quickly and

remove yourlampstand from its place—unless you

repent.” Sunday University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

the wordsLeft your first “love”“agape” – brotherly love,

affection and good will toward others. Benevolence, generosity in fellowship.

A lost love for the gospel!

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What Jesus saidJesus Christ

disciplines the CHURCH for becoming more of a BUSINESS institution than a family – REPENT!!!

CHAPTER 2:4-6 

6 “But this you have, that you

hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans,

which I also hate.Sunday

University

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REVELATION

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

the words“NICOLAITANS” -means

“the destruction of people”. A GROUP that praised

and demanded their so called…

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

the wordsChristian liberties. Eating things sacrificed to idols (a pagan ritual they relished in) and willfully embracing sexual idolatry. They held to the error of balaam, prostituting themselves.

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What Jesus saidJesus Christ HATES

the flaunting of Christian liberties for the sake of personal pleasure, often offending the weaker.

CHAPTER 2:7  “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit

says to the churches. To him who overcomes

Sunday University

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:7 I will give to eat from the tree of life (xylon or deadwood, cross), which is in the midst of the

Paradise of God.”’Sunday

University

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REVELATION

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What Jesus saidJesus Christ promises

the TREE OF LIFE = the cross!

The cross brings us into FAVOR with God.

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

SMYRNALARGE PORT CITY – KNOWN

FOR ITS ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND BEAUTY.

COINS from Smyrna read “Smyrna, 1st in asia … for its beauty and splendor”.

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

SMYRNAWhen viewed from a distance

writers of antiquity tell us that it looked like “A CROWN SITTING ON THE SUMMIT OF A HILL” (Aelius Aristides, writings of Orations)

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

SMYRNAHISTORY reports that there

was a great and grievous slaughter of Christians here when the local jewish elite convinced the city officials to kill them.

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

SMYRNAHISTORY also reports that the

early church father Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna (AD 69-156) was killed here for faith in jesus, by fire and sword.

(Martyrdom of Polycarp 3:1-3)

CHAPTER 2:8-11 

“And to the angel of the church in

Smyrna (Smyrnoen – belonging

to the culture of Smyrna) write,‘These things says the First and the Last, who was

Sunday University

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:8-11 

dead, and came to life: 9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but

you are rich); Sunday

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:8-11 

and I know the blasphemy (slander, speech

of injury to another’s good name) of those who say

they are Jews and are not, but are aSunday

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:8-11 

synagogue of Satan. 10 Do not

fear any of those things which you

are about to suffer. Indeed, the

devilSunday

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:8-11 

is about to throw some of you

into prison, that you may be

tested, and you will have

tribulation ten days (perfectly set time) .

Sunday University

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CHAPTER 2:8-11 

Be faithful until death, and I will

give you the crown of life (seph-an-os -

symbol of endurance and honor). 11 He who has an

ear, let himSunday

University

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:8-11 

hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall

not be hurt by the second death.”Sunday

University

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REVELATION

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What Jesus saidTRIBULATION,

POVERTY, AND PERSONAL SLANDER OF CHARACTER WILL HAPPEN TO A PORTION OF THE CHURCH.

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What Jesus saidFOR THE PERSECUTED

CHURCH - IN TRIALS THERE WILL BE PEACE AND COMFORT; IN POVERTY THERE WILL BE RICHES; SLANDER WILL YIELD HONOUR.

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What Jesus saidTHE PERSECUTED

CHURCH – IS A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF TRUTH IN THE MIDST OF NORTH AMERICAN FALSE DOCTRINE.

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PERGAMUM1000 FT above the Caicus

River valley.Known for its libraries and

love of knowledge.Many shrines to Zeus,

Athena, Asclepius, Hygeia and Apollo.

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BIBLE discovery seminary & college

PERGAMUMThe first imperial temple in

asia minor designed to worship a man (Caesar Augustus) as a god.

The imperial cult was the strongest in Pergamum.

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PERGAMUMEvery 5 years the Pergamene

games were held in worship of the imperial family.

One of the few cities in the empire to receive the “RIGHT OF THE SWORD”.

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BIBLE discovery seminary & college

PERGAMUMHorrible oppression and

economic punishment would come if a citizen did not participate in worshiping the imperial family.

CHAPTER 2:12-13 

“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos (place of

fortification) write,‘These things says

He who has theSunday University

THE BOOK OF

REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:12-13 

sharp two-edged sword: 13 “I know your works, and where you dwell,

where Satan’s throne is. Sunday

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:12-13 

And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the

days in which Antipas

(Like a father)

Sunday University

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CHAPTER 2:12-13 

 was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you,

where Satan dwells.”

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BIBLE discovery seminary & college

the words“MARTYR” – Greek =

“mar-toos” – a witness, legal witness for the record. One who has proved the strength of the genuineness of his faith by giving his life.

CHAPTER 2:14 

 14 “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those

who hold the doctrine of Balaam,

Sunday University

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:14 

who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel,

to eat things sacrificed to idols, Sunday

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:14 

and to commit sexual

immorality.” 

Sunday University

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REVELATION

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What Acts 15 saysDo not eat food offered

to idols.Do not eat food that has

been strangled.Flee sexual immorality.

CHAPTER 2:15 

 15 “Thus you also have those who

hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans,

which thing I hate.”Sunday

University

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

the words“Nicolaitans” – A sect

who upheld their Christian liberty to the point of allowing the practice of idolatry and sexual immorality in the Church.

CHAPTER 2:15 

“Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will

fight against them with the sword of

My mouth.”Sunday University

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:15 

17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit

says to the churches. To him who overcomesSunday

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:15 

I will give some of the hidden manna to eat (miraculous provision of

food and supply). And I will give him a white stone, and on theSunday

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REVELATION

CHAPTER 2:15 

stone a new name written which no

one knows except him who

receives it.”’Sunday

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BIBLE discovery seminary & college

the words“white stone”? Greek = Psay-

fos – smooth pebble, worn by handling.

In ancient courts these “psay-fos”, were used to vote guilt upon the tried. Black guilty, white not-guilty.

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BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What Jesus saysYour steadfast

conviction in the presence of satan’s power and rebellion pleases me.

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What Jesus saysYour idolatry offends

me!Your loose morals offend

me!Repent and be acquitted

of your guilt.

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BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What does it mean?Do we see any of these

characteristics in our churches today?

Do we see any of these in our personal lives today?

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What does it mean?Are we paying attention

to the commands of Christ and examining our lifestyles daily?

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REVELATION

BIBLE discovery seminary & college

What does it mean?It’s time to

take JESUS CHRIST SERIOUSLY!

Tonight at 6:00 pmWORLDWIDE 

PRAYER SHIELD CONTINUES 

WHAT WE SHOULD SHOW THE REST OF THE

WORLD ABOUT WHO GOD IS AND

WHAT HE IS LIKE.