Zoom Bible Study
Classes – 8 May at 07:00 PM EST
Meeting ID:
848-9423-0612
Pass Code: 669872
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84894230612?pwd=Zk1ESitzbGZwTlJyV21UZXY5aTVPZz09
Bible Study with Rev Charles Franklin instructing
A STUDY OF THE BOOK
OF REVELATION
WEDNESDAY BIBLE
STUDY AT 7:00 P.M.
A STUDY OF THE
BIBLE
(Rev Charles
Franklin Facilitating)
Revelation Chapter
2 notes
Jesus Speaks to The
Church at Ephesus
Chapter 2
begins a series of brief messages to seven churches that existed during the
Apostle John’s time in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). Ephesus was a city on the western coast of
Asia Minor, near the mouth of the Cayster River south of today’s city of Izmir
Turkeye. The city was famous for its temple of Diana (or Artemis, Acts 19:27),
and pilgrims came to Ephesus from all over the Mediterranean world to worship
the goddess. Please note the lifestyles of the communities around the church,
affects the people in the church.
Verse 1; To
you Ehpesus, from the one that holds both you and your Pastor in His
Hands. We know this is Jesus, not John.
Verse 2 –
3; (Good)
“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.
I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested
those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.
You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have
not grown weary.” They were a
hard-working group of believers full of fortitude. Also to their credit, they were gate-keepers
of the truth and did not compromise with evildoers, and they showed patient
endurance in bearing up under hardship.
Verse
4; (Bad) “Yet I hold this
against you: You have forsaken your first love.” They were hard-working, but they no longer
had the same passion for Christ as when they first believed. Their work was no
longer motivated by love.
Verse
5; (Turn, Make Correction)“Remember
the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the
things you did at first.” Impending
judgment if they did not repent: “I will come to you and remove your lampstand
from its place” (Revelation 2:5b). In other words, their punishment would be
the disbanding or destruction of the Ephesian church spiritually for sure
(physically possible). Either way, the
light in Ephesus would go out.
Verse 6; (Encouragement)“But
you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans,
which I also hate” We don’t know much
about the Nicolaitans and their doctrine, except that it was heretical.
Irenaeus, an early church father in Lyons (modern-day France), wrote that the
Nicolaitans promoted fornication and a compromising position on eating food
sacrificed to idols, leading many into an unrestrained, carnal lifestyle.
Verse 7; (Blessing
for Obedience) Jesus promises a blessing to those who heed the word: “He
who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him
who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,
which is in the paradise of God” The
“tree of life” and the “paradise of God” refer to the new heavens and new
earth, discussed in Revelation 21–22. Those who conquer, or the “overcomers,”
are simply those that face their human failings and turn from it to God. Believers can look forward to the future
glory of eternity with the Lord. We are
Like the Ephesian church individually and can be part of a church that is the
same.