Revelation 1:3, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”
In Revelation, John writes of:
1. Vision of the majestic court in Heaven - where Jesus is described as the LAMB of God who is worthy to receive blessing & honor & glory & power forever & ever.
2. Vision of the judgments that are yet to be unleashed on the Earth - that will the final 7 years of Earth as we know it. We call it the Tribulation - but coinciding w/ all the judgment, many ppl will acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord - so it’s really a revival as well, but likely at the cost of their own lives, so it won’t feel like the revivals that we pray for..
3. Vision of the final conflict (Armageddon) and the aftermath
4. Vision of the New Heaven & the New Earth - where we will be forever w/ Jesus (never to know pain, sickness, sorrow, mourning, or evil ever again) Perfect peace IN a perfect place.
7 Letters to 7 Churches: most of them have 3 parts. commendation, correction, counsel.
7 Stars = 7 messengers (or probably leaders, or pastors of the churches)
7 Lampstands = 7 churches
Revelation 1:20, “As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.”
Revelation 2:1-7
They were enduring, that was good. The church of Ephesus was enduring lots of spiritual darkness in their city…sorcery, witchcraft, demonic things being practiced, as well as a large temple of Artemis and prostitution-worship. The church was able to keep the evil out! Jesus says, good job.
Jesus is aware of our labor, and our hard work! He notices. He sees us.
But! His complaint was that they lacked the love they had at first.
They’re dogmatic about their doctrine but stagnant in their devotion.
The Ephesian church ABANDONED their love. They didn’t LOSE it, they LEFT it. They were the FORGETFUL Church. The drifting church.
As a church attender, you can move into the danger of zone of serving and being a PART, but not being pastored. There is an essential element here of Jesus PASTORING, shepherding His Church. A shepherd can see if one of their sheep is going off on a slightly wrong path, and corrects them…guides them back into it.
First step: Look, how far you’ve fallen.
Second step: Repent, and get back on track.
Third step: Hate, what is evil.