Revelation 2
Church of Ephesusverses 1-7
To the angel of the church of Ephesus
write
These things says HE that holds the seven stars in HIS right hand
WHO walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks
I know your works – labor – patience
and how you cannot bear them which are evil
and you have tried them which say they are apostles
and are not – and have found them liars
and have born – and have patience
and for MY name’s sake have labored
and have not fainted
Nevertheless I have somewhat against you
BECAUSE you have left your first love
REMEMBER therefore from whence you are fallen
and repent – and do the first works
OR ELSE I will come to you quickly
and will remove your candlestick out of his place
EXCEPT you repent
BUT this you have – that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans
which I also hate
He that have an ear
let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches
To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life
which is in the midst of the paradise of God
Church of Smyrnaverses 8-11
And to the angel of the church in Smyrna
write
These things says the first and the last
which was dead – and is alive
I know your works – tribulations – poverty (but you are rich)
and I know the blasphemy of them which say
they are Jews – and are not
BUT are the synagogue of Satan
Fear none of those things which you shall suffer
BEHOLD – the devil shall cast some of you into prison
that you may be tried
And you shall have tribulation ten days be you faithful to death
and I will give you a crown of life
He that has an ear
let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches
He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death
Church of Pergamosverses 12-17
And to the angel of the church in Pergamos
write
These things says HE which has the sharp sword with two edges
I know your works – and where you dwell
even where Satan’s seat is
And you hold fast MY name
and have not denied MY faith
Even in those days wherein Antipas was
MY faithful martyr – who was slain
among you where Satan dwells
BUT I have a few things against you
BECAUSE you have there them that hold the
doctrine of Balaam – who taught Balak to cast
a stumbling block before the
children of Israel
to eat things sacrificed to idols
to commit fornication
So have you also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans
which I hate
REPENT – or else I will come to you quickly
and I will fight against them with the sword of MY mouth
He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit
says to the churches
To him that overcomes I will give to eat the hidden manna
and will give him a white stone
and in the stone a new name written
which no man knows saving
he that receives it
Church of Thyatiraverses 18-29
And to the angel of the church in Thyatira
write
These things says the Son of God
WHO has HIS eyes like to a flame of fire
and HIS feet are like fine brass
I know your works – charity – service – faith – patience – works
and the last to be more than the first
NOTWITHSTANDING I have a few things against you
BECAUSE you suffer that woman Jezebel
which calls herself a prophetess
to teach and to seduce MY servants
to commit fornication – and to eat
things sacrificed unto idols
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication
and she repented NOT
BEHOLD – I will cast her into a bed
and them that commit adultery with her
into great tribulation
EXCEPT they repent of their deeds
And I will kill her children with death
and all the churches shall know that I am HE which
searches the reins and hearts
And I will give to every one of you according to your works
BUT to you I say – and to the rest in Thyatira
as many as have NOT know the depths of Satan
as they speak
I will put on you NONE other burden
BUT that which you have already hold fast till I come
AND he that overcomes – and keeps MY works to the end
to him will I give power over the nations
and he shall rule them with a rod of iron
as the vessels of a potter shall they
be broken to shivers
even as I received of MY Father
AND I will give him the morning star
He that has an ear let him hear what the Spirit
say to the churches
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars. (5571 “liars” [pseudes] means false, deceitful, deliberately deceptive, untrue, ungodly, or to speak with two tongues)
DEVOTION: This is the first church of seven. In each church there is a description of what Christ sees happening in the church. Secondly, HE mentions their good works if they have any. Thirdly, HE mentions where they are failing in their service to HIM. Fourth, HE gives a warning of judgment if they don’t change. Finally, HE states a reward for those who listen to the warning.
Here we find that this church was a hard working church for the glory of God. They didn’t like to have people sinning in their midst. They questioned those who came into their church regarding their claims to be people of authority like an apostle. They even discovered that some were liars.
The statement regarding what had happened in the church that was bad was that they had lost their “first love.” They had settled on their lees and were just sitting in their houses praising the LORD and not reaching out to other people with the Good News of the message of Christ. They did not love one another as they should. They were forgetting the excitement of their conversion.
Christ wanted them and us to remember the excitement of when we first came to know HIM and wanted to share it with everyone. HE wanted that to happen again.
CHALLENGE: Have we lost our first love too?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 10 Fear none of those things which you shall suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried; and you shall have tribulation ten days: be you faithful to death, and I will give you a crown of life. (3985 “tried” [peirazo] means to be put to the test in order to ascertain the nature of someone, including imperfections, faults, or other qualities, to trap, to lead into temptation, examine, or make proof)
DEVOTION: The second church was going through much tribulation. There were those in the church who were from the synagogue of Satan. There was going to be real hard times for those who were involved in this church.
Some of them were going to be cast into prison for witnessing for the LORD. This is happening in many countries around the world today. People are beaten to make them convert to another religion. If they don’t listen they could be starved to death. They have their bones broken. Their families are threatened.
Christians are prime subjects for losing their lives and possessions in many countries that will not tolerate people belonging to another religion. There is no religious tolerance.
America used to be concerned with these kinds of problems and defended those who were persecuted for their belief in Christ. This is changing fast. In fact, there are many in this country that is not tolerant with Christians who hold to Biblical teachings regarding marriage and abortion. They say that Christians are not tolerant but it is a one way street for them.
It is sad to say that many Christians are dying around the world for their faith. Here we have a promise of a crown of life given to those who die for their faith in Jesus Christ.
There is a time of reward coming for all believers at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Only believers will be there and they will receive their crowns and rewards. If this happens in this country many will receive these crowns.
We need to be willing to die for our faith in Jesus Christ.
CHALLENGE: God is allowing Christians to be tested even today. We sing the song “Stand up, stand up for Jesus ye soldiers of the cross.”
: 16 Repent; or else I will come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. (3340 “Repent” [metanoeo] means to change one’s mind, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one’s past sins, based on a complete change of attitude and thought concerning sin and righteousness, feel remorse, reconsider, or to perceive afterwards.)
DEVOTION: This third church has the same formula as the other churches. John receives a vision of Jesus Christ and HIS relationship with the church.
This church has to consider their present sins and turn from them before the LORD can bless them. They are told to turn in a different direction quickly. If they fail to turn from their present sins HE will come and fight against them with the two edged sword in HIS mouth.
What were their sins? They were following the sin of Balaam who caused the children of Israel to stubble into the sin of sacrificing to idols and committing fornication with women who were not of the tribes of Israel. So the leadership in the church or someone of importance was causing the church body to turn toward sin instead of away from sin.
The second sin seems to be that of the doctrine or the teaching of the Nicolaitanes. This is thought to be a teaching that replaced liberty in Christ with license to sin without consequences.
There is liberty in Christ that is not to be taken that we can do whatever we want and God is going to let us continue without correction. This is not true. If leaders teach that it is OK with God once you are saved to practice sin they are lying to you and causing you to turn away from the LORD. Genuine believers will be corrected which Jesus tells them HE will do soon if they don’t change.
Watch out for individuals or groups that say it is OK to practice sins that the Bible states are wrong. Many individuals have been lead astray by a leader they trusted.
CHALLENGE: Check out the teachings of the one you are following with the Word of God and individuals who you know are Biblical correct.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searches the reins and hearts: and I will give to every one of you according to your works.(3510 “reins” [nephros] means a kidney, the inmost mind, desires, thoughts, purposes or used metaphorically of the will and the affections)
DEVOTION: This vision given to John regarding the future of believers starts with the local body of believers in Asia Minor. Each church has a vision of Christ. Each church has compliments given them. One church in this group doesn’t have any condemnation regarding their actions. Each church has a promise given to those who overcome. Finally, the LORD asks them to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say to them.
This verse deals with those in the church in the city of THYATRIA. HE is condemning their actions regarding the false prophetess named Jezebel in their church. She is teaching them that it OK with God if they want to commit fornication and eat things sacrificed to idols. The church in Jerusalem had sent Paul to inform them that, there were only some restriction on their actions and these two were included in the restrictions. Christ says that HE has given her time to repent but she has chosen not to repent.
Now HE has to deal with those who followed her advice concerning these sins. HE tells them HE searches the innermost mind of HIS followers. HE knows what they are thinking. HE knows their desires. HE knows their motives.
Man is made up of a body, soul and spirit. The LORD looks on the inside of a man. Men look on the outside. We are very good at putting on fronts in front of people. We can’t put on a front with God. We can be hypocrites in front of people but not in front of God. God always looks at our motives. God tests each action we perform.
The churches had members. Our actions as members of a local body of believers are our responsibility. However, God looks at the church as a unit. The testimony of a church is gathered from the testimony of her members. God looks at the testimony of a church. HE bases HIS judgment on the whole testimony of the church.
There seems to be a faithful few in the churches. We need to be concerned with the public testimony of the local church that we attend. God is looking into the motives of the people in our church. Do people know that we are faithful to the LORD and faithful to each other? What do they hear at the local restaurant or beauty parlor?
CHALLENGE: Remember that God knows our motives. HE is looking inside us. Be genuine!!!
: 25 But that which you have already hold fast till I come. (2902 “hold fast” [krateo] means 1 to have power, be powerful. 1a to be chief, be master of, to rule. 2 to get possession of. 2a to become master of, to obtain. 2b to take hold of. 2c to take hold of, take, seize. 2c1 to lay hands on one in order to get him into one’s power. 3 to hold. 3a to hold in the hand. 3b to hold fast, i.e. not discard or let go. 3b1 to keep carefully and faithfully. 3c to continue to hold, to retain. 3c1 of death continuing to hold one. 3c2 to hold in check, restrain. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Many of us are excited during this season by our favorite football team. Who hasn’t been frustrated by the player(s) who have failed to hold onto a long pass for a reception or fumbled the ball right after they had a chance for a big play? Just today I witnessed a defensive player try to catch a fumbled football rather than simply fall on it, with the result that a member of the offensive team whose member fumbled in the first place was able to bat the football out of the hands of the defensive player before it could be called a recovered fumble. Such are the consequences of not holding the ball fast (or tightly).
In this chapter, we have the start of God’s evaluations and admonitions to the seven churches in Asia, and these words were spoken to the church at Thyatira. He critiques them for the false teaching which has been brought into their church which was syncretism with idol worship and sexual immorality. He warns them to repent of these and to throw the false teacher out of their church.
What is significant about God’s admonitions to this early church is that they had abandoned some of the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith. Apparently, it was easy for many in that church to syncretize their belief in Christ with their previous religious beliefs. It was as if there was a fumble in the making! God is warning them to stop doing this and to hold fast to the original teachings that they had received. There is no indication that these believers were going to lose their salvation; rather, they were at risk for losing their reward before God at the judgment.
God did not want these believers to presume that the future did not matter. He promises them that He will in fact return, and that they should be ready for that day. Two thousand years have passed since that time, but believers have continued to act in light of the soon return of Jesus Christ. God wants to find His people holding fast to their original faith.
CHALLENGE: God will return when we least think that He will, and He will decide if we have held fast to the things that we ought. Make it your goal to finish well and to be steadfast in the faith at whatever point you see God! (MW)
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Writeverses 8, 12, 18
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 7, 18
Paradise of Godverse 7
Fatherverse 27
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Holds the seven starsverse 1
Walks in the midst of seven golden candlesticksverse 1
Knows works of churchesverses 2, 9, 13, 19
MY name’s sakeverse 3
Can come quicklyverses 5, 16
Can remove candlestick verse 5
First and the lastverse 8
Which was dead and is aliveverse 8
Two-edged swordverses 12, 16
Hate doctrine of Nicolaitanesverse 15
Sword of MY mouthverse 16
Son of Godverse 18
Eyes like a flame of fireverse 18
Feet like fine brassverse 18
Searches heart and reinsverse 23
Gives everyone according to worksverse 23
Received of MY Fatherverse 27
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Spiritverses 7, 11, 17, 29
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Angelverses 1, 8, 12, 18
Satanverses 9, 13, 24
Synagogue of Satanverse 9
Devilverse 10
Satan’s seatverse 13
Satan dwellsverse 13
Depths of Satanverse 24
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Nationsverse 26
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Evilverse 2
Liarsverse 2
Left first loveverse 4
Fallenverse 5
Deeds of the Nicolaitanesverse 6
Blasphemyverse 9
Doctrine of Balaamverse 14
Stumblingblockverse 14
Eat things sacrificed to idolsverses 14, 20
Fornicationverses 14, 20, 21
Doctrine of the Nicolaitansverse 15
Jezebel to teach and seduceverse 20
Jezebel didn’t repentverse 21
Adulteryverse 22
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Worksverses 2, 9, 13, 19, 23, 26
Laborverses 2, 3
Patienceverses 2, 3, 19
Laboredverse 3
Not faintedverse 3
Repentverses 5, 16, 21, 22
Do first worksverse 5
Hearverses 7, 11, 17, 29
Overcomeverses 7, 11, 17, 26
Tribulationverses 9, 10
Povertyverse 9
Sufferverse 10
Faithfulverses 10, 13
Crown of lifeverse 10
Hold fast Christ’s nameverses 13, 25
Faithverses 13, 19
Charityverse 19
Serviceverse 19
Servantsverse 20
Searches reins and heartsverse 23
Power of the nationsverse 26
Ruleverse 27
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Doctrine of Balaamverse 14
Stumblingblock verse 14
Children of Israelverse 14
Jezebelverse 20
Church (New Testament people of God)
Church of Ephesusverse 1-7
Eat of the tree of life
Apostlesverse 2
Tried those who say they are apostlesverse 2
Churchesverses 7, 11, 17, 23, 29
Church in Smyrnaverses 8-11
Works
Tribulation
Poverty
Cast some into prison
Tribulation ten days
Faithful to death
Church in Pergamosverses 12-17
Not denied faith
Antipas = faithful martyr
Repent
Eat hidden manna
White stone
New name written
Church in Thyatiraverses 18-29
Suffered woman Jezebel
False prophetess
Teach and seduce God’s servants
No repentance
Commit fornication
Eat things sacrificed to idols
Commit adultery
Repent of deeds
Have not false doctrine
Keep Christ’s works to end
Power of nations
Rule with rod of iron
Give morning star
Hear
Last Things (Future Events)
Overcomeverses 7, 11, 17, 26
Eat of the tree of lifeverse 7
Paradise of Godverse 7
Crown of lifeverse 10
Second deathverse 11
Eat hidden mannaverse 17
White stoneverse 17
New name writtenverse 17
Great Tribulationverse 22
Hold fast till Christ comesverse 25
Power over the nationsverse 26
Rule with a rod of ironverse 27
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QUOTES regarding passage
7 On the general exhortation and the meaning of “overcomes,” see the introduction to this section (2:1). The overcomer is promised access to the “tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” The “tree of life” is first mentioned in Genesis 2:9 as one of the many trees given to Adam and Eve for food and was off bounds after their fall into sin (Gen 3:22, 24). It is last mentioned in Revelation 22:19.
Rabbinic and Jewish apocalyptic works mention that the glorious age of the Messiah would be a restoration to Edenic conditions before the Fall (see also Isa 51:3; Ezek 36:35; cf. Ezek 28:13; 31:8–9). Jewish thought joined the concepts of the renewed city of God, the tree of life, and the paradise of God. In the apocalyptic book the Testament of Levi it is promised that God (or Messiah) “shall open the gates of Paradise, and shall remove the threatening sword against Adam, and he shall give the saints to eat from the tree of life, and the spirit of holiness shall be on them” (18:10–11).
“Paradise” (paradeisos) is a Persian loan word meaning “a park” or “a garden.” The LXX uses it to translate the Hebrew expression the “garden” of Eden (Gen 2:8–10). John seems to reinterpret the Jewish idea of Paradise. First, Jesus Christ is the restorer of the lost Paradise (22:1–4, 14). He gives access to the tree of life. Paradise means to be with him in fellowship rather than the idea of a hidden paradise with its fantastic sensual delights (TDNT, 6:772). The tree of life conveys symbolically the truth of eternal life or the banishment of death and suffering (22:2). Those at Ephesus who truly follow Christ in deep devotion and thus experience the real victory of Christ will share the gift of eternal life that he alone gives. (Johnson, A. F. (1981). Revelation. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Hebrews through Revelation (Vol. 12, pp. 435–436). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
He that hath an ear (ὁ ἐχων οὐς [ho echōn ous]). An individualizing note calling on each of the hearers (1:3) to listen (2:7, 11, 17, 28; 3:3, 6, 13, 22) and a reminiscence of the words of Jesus in the Synoptics (Matt. 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mark 4:9, 23; Luke 8:8; 14:35), but not in John’s Gospel. The spirit (το πνευμα [to pneuma]). The Holy Spirit as in 14:13; 22:17. Both Christ and the Holy Spirit deliver this message. “The Spirit of Christ in the prophet is the interpreter of Christ’s voice” (Swete). To him that overcometh (τῳ νικωντι [tōi nikōnti]). Dative of the present (continuous victory) active articular participle of νικαω [nikaō], a common Johannine verb (John 16:33; 1 John 2:13f.; 4:4; 5:4f.; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; Rev. 5:5; 12:11; 15:2; 17:14; 21:7). Faith is dominant in Paul, victory in John, faith is victory (1 John 5:4). So in each promise to these churches. I will give (δωσω [dōsō]). Future active of διδωμι [didōmi] as in 2:10, 17, 23, 26, 28; 3:8, 21; 6:4; 11:3; 21:6. To eat (φαγειν [phagein]). Second aorist active infinitive of ἐσθιω [esthiō]. Of the tree of life (ἐκ του ξυλου της ζωης [ek tou xulou tēs zōēs]). Note ἐκ [ek] with the ablative with φαγειν [phagein], like our “eat of” (from or part of). From Gen. 2:9; 3:22. Again in Rev. 22:2, 14 as here for immortality. This tree is now in the Garden of God. For the water of life see 21:6; 22:17 (Cf. John 4:10, 13). Which (ὁ [ho]). The ξυλον [xulon] (tree). In the Paradise of God (ἐν τῳ παραδεισῳ του θεου [en tōi paradeisōi tou theou]). Persian word, for which see Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4. The abode of God and the home of the redeemed with Christ, not a mere intermediate state. It was originally a garden of delight and finally heaven itself (Trench), as here. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 2:7). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
2:7. As in the other letters, Christ gave the Ephesian church a promise addressed to individuals who will hear. He stated, 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, first mentioned in Genesis 3:22, was in the Garden of Eden. Later it reappears in the New Jerusalem where it bears abundant fruit (Rev. 22:2). Those who eat of it will never die (Gen. 3:22). This promise should not be construed as reward for only a special group of Christians but a normal expectation for all Christians. “The paradise of God” is probably a name for heaven (cf. Luke 23:43; 2 Cor. 12:4—the only other NT references to paradise). Apparently it will be identified with the New Jerusalem in the eternal state.
This encouragement to true love reminded them again of God’s gracious provision for salvation in time and eternity. Love for God is not wrought by legalistically observing commands, but by responding to one’s knowledge and appreciation of God’s love. (Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 934). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Admonition (vv. 5–7). “First love” can be restored if we follow the three instructions Christ gave. First, we must remember (literally “keep on remembering”) what we have lost and cultivate a desire to regain that close communion once again. Then we must repent—change our minds—and confess our sins to the Lord (1 John 1:9). Third, we must repeat the firstworks, which suggests restoring the original fellowship that was broken by our sin and neglect. For the believer, this means prayer, Bible reading and meditation, obedient service, and worship.
In spite of the privileges it had enjoyed, the church of Ephesus was in danger of losing its light! The church that loses its love will soon lose its light, no matter how doctrinally sound it may be. “I will come” (Rev. 2:5) is not referring to the Lord’s return, but to His coming judgment then and there. The glorious city of Ephesus is today but a heap of stones and no light is shining there.
Revelation 2:7 makes it clear that individual believers within the church may be true to the Lord, no matter what others may do. In these seven messages, the “overcomers” are not a “spiritual elite,” but rather the true believers whose faith has given them victory (1 John 5:4–5). Sinful man was banned from the tree of life (Gen. 3:22–24), but in Christ we have eternal abundant life (John 3:16; 10:10). We enjoy this blessing now, and we shall enjoy it in greater measure in eternity (Rev. 22:1–5).
The church of Ephesus was the “careless church,” made up of careless believers who neglected their love for Christ. Are we guilty of the same neglect? (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 572). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 7. He that hath an ear, &c.] Such who have new ears given them, as all have who are made new creatures; such who have their ears circumcised, and opened by the spirit of God; who hear with understanding, affection, and faith; who try what they hear, and approve, embrace, and retain that which is good. Let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches; let such hearken, and listen with attention to what is said by the spirit, in what goes before, and follows after, in this epistle, designed for the use of all the churches; from whence it appears, that this epistle was endited by the spirit of God, and is of divine inspiration; that it was not intended for the single use of the church at Ephesus, but of all the churches; and not of the seven churches only, though the Alexandrian copy reads, to the seven churches; but of all the churches in that period of time, which the Ephesine church represents; and which may also be useful to the churches of Christ in all other ages and periods of time. And moreover, it may be concluded from hence, that there are in this epistle, and so in all the rest, for the same words are subjoined to them all, some things which are parabolical and prophetical, and not obvious to every one’s understanding and view; for a like expression is used by our Lord, when he had delivered any thing in a parabolical way, or was obscure; see Matt. 11:15 and 13:9. To him that overcometh; the false apostles, false teachers, and their doctrines; coldness, lukewarmness, and remissness in love; the impure tenets and practices of the Nicolaitans: will I give to eat of the tree of life; by which is meant Jesus Christ himself, in allusion to the tree of life in the garden of Eden; and is so called, because he is the author of life, natural, spiritual, and eternal; and because of his fruit, the blessings of life and grace, that are in him, of which believers may eat by faith, and which they find to be soul-quickening, comforting, strengthening, and satisfying; and which are Christ’s gift to them, even both the food they eat, and the faith by which they eat, are his gifts. So Christ, under the name of Wisdom, is called the Tree of life, in Prov. 3:18 and this is a name which is sometimes given by the Jews to the Messiah: which is in the midst of the paradise of God; as the tree of life was in the garden of Eden, Gen. 2:9. The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions read, the paradise of my God; the God of Christ, as well as of his people; and by which may be meant, either the church on earth, which is as a paradise, Cant. 4:12 in the midst of which Christ is, affording his gracious presence, and reaching forth his grace, and the benefits of it, to his people; or heaven, see the note on 2 Cor. 12:4. said to be of God, because it is of his preparing, and where he dwells, and in the midst of which Christ, the Tree of life, is; and this shews, that he is to be come at by faith, and his fruit to be eaten, and lived upon; and he is to be beheld and enjoyed by all his saints, as he is now, and will be more perfectly hereafter. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 696–697). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
The Lord saw the corporate Ephesian church in a fallen condition. He appeals to the individual, 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. Love is a personal matter. We are saved one by one; we must be restored one by one. No hint is given that the entire Ephesian church would respond to this letter, but the hope is that individuals would. When Adam fell, he lost Paradise, and he lost access to the tree of life. Here is a fallen church. It too has lost the paradise of bliss that comes from walking with God. The Lord’s call here is a call to individual believers to get back to the daily quiet time with Himself. There is no other way to restore a lost love and a lost life. It is tragically possible to have a saved soul and a lost life. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring Revelation: An Expository Commentary (Re 2:7). Kregel; WORDsearch Corp.)
A wonderful future in heaven, the Paradise of God (v. 7), awaited those who would overcome temptation to leave the faith. (p. 2004,
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
JUST DO SOMETHING by Kevin DeYoung (Moody Press)
I realize that I am not dealing with the massive question of how God can decree all that comes to pass while also holding us responsible for our actions. (p. 21)
What I am saying is that we should stop thinking of God’s will like a corn maze, or a tightrope, or a bull’s-eye, or a choose-your-own-adventure novel. (p. 25)
Waiting for God’s will of direction is a mess. It is bad for your life, harmful to your sanctification, and allows too many Christians to be passive tinkerers who strangely feel more spiritual the less they actually do.
God is not a Magic 8-Ball we shake up and peer into whenever we have a decision to make. He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him. (p. 26)
A Jewess, Naomi, and her two daughters-in-law lose their husbands.
INSIGHT
In Ruth, we see one of the most stirring examples of loyalty in the Bible. In spite of Naomi’s urgings to the contrary, Ruth stays with her, looking not for personal fulfillment or material comfort but longing merely to maintain the relationship with one whom she loves. This loyalty comes from a pure heart, and it is not surprising that it extends not just to Naomi but also to the Lord.
In stark contrast to Samson, Ruth’s selflessness leads to beauty, fulfillment, and seeking the good of others. We should take instruction for our own lives and live as Ruth, not as Samson. (Quiet Walk)
WHY JESUS CAME
He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.
John 14:9
Christ came into this world in order that we might know God as our Father. So how does He reveal the Father to us? Well, I am just asking a question that introduces us to the four Gospels. Go back again to the New Testament, and quietly and simply read them with the idea in your mind that we are supposed to know God as Father.
Ask yourself, do I know Him like that; have I ever known Him as Father? There in the Gospels you will find that Christ revealed Him in His own life by living a spotless, sinless life. At the end He turned to His accusers and said, “Can anybody point a finger at Me? Can you convict Me of any failure with regard to God or the law?” His life was unique; it was perfect. He revealed God by being what He was.
Then He revealed God in His actions, His miracles—raising people from the dead, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind. Take these things out of the New Testament and what is left? It is an essential part; it is God in the flesh. It is not difficult to expect miracles if God incarnate is here, and that is what He claims to be. Look at Him in the things He does.
Similarly, He reveals the Father in His teaching. He put it like this: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” Just before the end, Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us” (John 14:8). In essence, “You say You are going to leave us. Please don’t until You have revealed the Father to us. That is the one thing we want to know. We have had a vague belief in God, but we want to know Him as Father.” In essence, our Lord answered, “Look at Me, Philip—look at My life and My actions. Look at Me, and if you do so and see Me truly, you have seen the Father.”
A Thought to Ponder: It is not difficult to expect miracles if God incarnate is here.
(From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 127-128, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Tongue of the Learned
“The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” (Isaiah 50:4)
The prophetic words of our text were spoken by the Lord Jesus in the context of His suffering: “I gave my back to the smiters…I hid not my face from shame and spitting” (v. 6)—and His attentiveness to the will of His Father despite the suffering —“The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back” (v. 5). The amazing love of Christ is seen in the fact that, in the midst of His intense personal pain, He could still continue, even on the cross, “to speak a word in season to him that is weary,” as He comforted His mother, spoke salvation to the dying thief, and even sought forgiveness for His executioners.
In all this, He was “leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). How easy and natural it is to complain and rebel when we are suffering. We seek comfort and counsel from others, when we (like our Exemplar) should be comforting others with “the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:4).
Though we cannot comprehend it fully, we must simply believe the mystery of the incarnation. God became man in Jesus Christ, and the omnipotent One “learned…obedience” (Hebrews 5:8). He was omniscient, yet somehow He “increased in wisdom” (Luke 2:52), as well as stature, and as He studied God’s Word, wakening “morning by morning,” He learned to hear the voice of the Father, thus receiving “the tongue of the learned,” that “gracious words” might proceed out of His mouth (Luke 4:22).
May the Lord grant each of His younger sons and daughters this gracious “tongue of the learned,” as we, like His Firstborn, awaken each morning to hear His voice.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
The weak and sick to which he refers are not those physically sick or weak, but those who have become spiritually weak. (p. 118)
In this book the author suggested five questions we need to ask in order to make spiritual decisions.” Dave wrote the five questions on the napkin:
1. Have we prayed about it?
2. What does Scripture teach us about the issue?
3. How does this relate to the character of God?
4. What counsel can others give”
5. How will this affect our mission of transforming people?
(p. 120, Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
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