Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Revelation chapter 2: Seven Churches - Ephesus

I. Ephesus – Background - Major commercial, cultural, and religious center. Important seaport on the Aegean Sea. Extremely wealthy city. It had a theater that could 25,000 people, sports arenas, library, etc. Comparable to New York City. Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, located in Ephesus. Source of great pride among the Ephesians. People from all over the Roman Empire came to worship Artemis. Also the center of Christianity in Asia Minor. Church in Ephesus founded by Paul. Christianity grew rapidly among the populace. At the time Revelation was written, Ephesus probably held an influential position over the other churches in Asia Minor. May explain why of the seven churches Jesus addressed the Ephesian church first.

1. How does Jesus introduce Himself? The one who holds the seven stars (pastors) in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lamp stands (I’ve walked in the churches)

2. Words of praise - I know your works (good deeds, ex. hungry, widows, orphans, sick, imprisoned, etc.), toil , perseverance (hard work, perseverance – roll up sleeves and get the job done no matter how long it takes), don’t tolerate false teaching – put men who claimed to be apostles to the test. How? Compare what they teach to Scripture/Paul’s teachings. Ex. Nicolaitans – name means “conquer laity.” Nothing much really known about them. Believed their teachings were a mixture of Christianity and pagan religions (idolatry and immorality.) It was like a weed growing in the flower bed of Christianity. Jesus despised the Nicolaitans and so did Ephesian church. Perseverance in the face of persecution.

3. Words of criticism - Abandoned the love you had in the beginning when you were established and nurtured by Paul. The love that motivated you in the beginning to do good works, to serve others, to do the hard work of ministry. If love was not motivating the church to do the previous, what was? Why are they doing these things? Tradition, routine. Ephesian church now about 50 years old. Tradition beginning to set in. Do good works because that is what a church is suppose to do. Motivated out of tradition/routine not because of a love for God and fellow man. Attend church not because of a love for God but because they were born into it. Their hearts are not involved in what they are doing. Everything a Christian/church does from attending church on Sunday to ministry to acts of service has to originate in a love for God. Not from tradition, sense of guilt, or pride. Jesus pleaded with Ephesus to remember from where you have fallen and repent – remember what you were like years ago under Paul when your love for me motivated you to worship Me, to learn about Me, to minister to others. Turn away from tradition and routine and recapture that love for Me. Another example – marriage. Beginning full of love and passion. Year 5– where’s the passion/love?

4. If they don’t repent… - I will remove my Light from your presence. I will no longer be in your midst. You will be swallowed by the Darkness of this world. Right now, Jesus is in the Ephesian church. He sees all that they are doing. Commends them for it. But. He also walking in their midst asking the members “do you love (agapao) me? Do you want to know me … share your heart with me? This relationship as it stands now is not working for me.”

5. Promise if they overcome - Eternal life

Revelation chapter 1

Read Revelation 1:1-8

1. Define revelation – Greek word is Apokalupsis from which we get the word Apocalypse. Definition - the act of revealing or unveiling.

2. Who has a revelation? Jesus Christ.

3. Who gave him the revelation? God

4. What is this letter unveiling and to whom is it being unveiled to? A) Things that must soon take place. Key words are “must” – it hast to happen, and “soon” – near future. B) To his servants – Christians.

5. To whom did the answer to question 2 pass the revelation on to? John through an angel. Angels were God’s messengers. The word “angel” in Greek means messenger.

6. A person who reads, hears, and obeys the words in this letter is what and why? vs. 3. Blessed or happy. Does the Book of Revelation make people feel happy? Why? The time is near for Jesus’ return.

7. To whom did John address his letter? The seven churches of Asia listed in verse 11. Ephesus, Thyatira, Smyrna, Pergamum, Laodecia, Philadelphia, and Sardis. Show map. The cities were about 50 miles apart from each other. Almost a circular pattern. We will learn more about these cities/churches in the coming weeks.

8. How does God refer to Himself in verse 8 and what is He saying about Himself by doing so? A) Alpha and Omega – the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. I am the Beginning of all things and the End of all things. B) Who was, is, and is to come – I am eternal. C) Almighty – I am the ruler of all things. Roman emperor may think he is almighty, but in truth I am his ruler.

Read Revelation 1:9-20

9. John writes that on the Lord's Day he was "in the Spirit". What do you think that means? The Holy Spirit/Spirit of God came upon John in a mighty way. Similarities with Old Testament prophet Ezekiel – Ezekiel chapters 2 and 3. He did so in order for John to see spiritual things. What John was about to witness his physical senses would not be able to perceive/understand. Things that flesh and blood were not meant to witness and could not withstand. Example – AC adapter and digital camera.

10. vs. 10. John hears a voice behind him. Who is it speaking to John? Jesus.

11. How does John describe the person speaking to him? John using words and descriptions he was familiar with to describe what he was seeing.

Standing in the midst of seven golden lamp stands – represent the seven churches

Someone who looked like a son of man – looked human, Jesus regularly referred to Himself as “Son of man.”

Dressed in a robe that went down to his feet and wore a golden sash around his chest – garments of a priest (see Exodus chapter 28)

Hair was purest white – symbol of purity and wisdom; See also Daniel 7:9 – description of Ancient of days

Eyes like blazing fire – great anger, stern

Feet like glowing bronze – Symbol of strength. Bronze used to create weapons, tools, armor, etc. Symbol of purity – Bronze resists corrosion better than other metals such as steel.

Voice like rushing waters – Loud, thunderous for everyone to hear; See also Ezekiel 43:2

Right hand held seven stars – Right hand was symbol of authority; seven stars represented the seven angels/messengers/pastors who oversaw the seven churches. They were all under the authority of Jesus.

From his mouth came a double-edged sword – The words Jesus spoke would be sharp. He would speak words of judgment. See Hebrews 4:12

Face shined like the sun – Glory streamed from his countenance 12. vs.17-18. How did Jesus refer to Himself?

I am the First and Last – I was there at the beginning and I will be there at the end.

Living one; I was dead but now I am alive forever; I have the keys to death and the grave – I died but now I am alive to never die again. I have authority over death.

13. What does Jesus tell John to do? Write everything you see. Things that are taking place now (Revelation chapters 2 and 3 – the seven churches) and will take place in the future (chapters 4-22.)

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Background on Book of Revelation

Written in ca. 95 AD by Apostle John

A. Church undergoing a time of transition

1. No authority figure to guide the Church. 12 of 13 apostles (including Paul) are
gone. John, in his 80’s or 90’s, living in exile on isle of Patmos – a rocky island off the coast of Asia Minor (present day Turkey.) Church tradition teaches that the Romans attempted to execute John by boiling him in oil. John wasn’t harmed so the Romans imprisoned him on Patmos.

2. Most eyewitnesses of Christ … his teachings and miracles … are gone.

3. Emergence of a third generation of Christians who never heard or saw Jesus. They are 60 years removed from Christ. 30 years removed from Paul and Peter.

B. Church experiencing persecution.

1. Roman emperor Domitian - Made himself protector of traditional Roman religion. He revived the imperial cult – worship of dead Roman emperors. He deified (made gods) dead members of his family (brother, son, and niece.) Other religions were tolerated as long they did not interfere with public order or could be assimilated with the traditional Roman religion. Christians refused to participate in Roman religious activities and as a consequence were persecuted. First empire wide persecution of Christians.

C. Sixty years since Christ ascended into heaven. He promised to return. Christians expected Him to return within their lifetime. Sixty years passed and He had not returned. Many Christians found that to be puzzling.

THE ABOVE CREATED FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITHIN THE CHURCH

A. People who claimed to be Christians abandoned the faith to avoid persecution.

B. Compromise – People who claimed to be Christians continued to meet as a body BUT during the week they would bow down before the emperor’s image.

C. False teachings (Nicolaitans, mystery cults claiming secret knowledge, pagan rituals) infiltrated the Church corrupting the true gospel. Some Christians turned a blind eye.

D. Enthusiasm and fervor for Christ in areas of ministry and service beginning to fade. Replaced by disillusionment, routine, contentment, or laziness.

E. Christians experiencing persecution asking themselves “Does God see what is happening to us? Does He care? Is He going to do something about it?”

Thursday, August 12, 2010

I John - Jude

XXIII. I John

Author – Apostle John one of the original 12 disciples
When – 85 A.D. perhaps from Ephesus
To Whom – unknown.
Purpose – To teach Christians the importance of being separate from this sinful world. John makes a clear delineation … line in the sand between the followers of Jesus and the followers of sin. A Christian looks like this and a sinner looks like this. He offers illustrations such as walking in the light versus walking in darkness, and the children of God versus children of the devil. John repeatedly uses the pronoun “this” in his letter: “By this you know …” “In this ...” “This is …,” for the purpose of getting the readers attention to a specific point. John did not want there to be any confusion about what it meant to be a follower of God, what love is, who the Holy Spirit is, etc. The key command in I John is to love. Christians are to follow Jesus’ example by loving one another and this love comes from God.
Key Verses – I John 1:5-10

XXIV. II John

Author – Apostle John one of the original 12 disciples
When – 85 A.D.
To Whom – to a local church that met in a person’s home. “Chosen lady and her children” were probably metaphors for a local church and its members. Place unknown.
Purpose – A) Emphasize Christ’s command for his followers to love one another. See also John 13:34-35. Why was it necessary for Jesus to give a commandment specifically to believers to love one another? What impression would it give to unbelievers if believers are unable to love one another? B) Warning against false teachings. Specifically, the teaching that Jesus did not come into the flesh. Read verse 7. What did John call someone who spread such a false teaching? Deceiver and antichrist. What did John tell the church to do if someone came to them with such a teaching? Read verse 10. If anyone accepts such a person, what will they be guilty of? Read verse 11. It was customary for churches show hospitality to/to take in missionaries and teachers and house and feed them. John said to show no such hospitality to false teachers.
Key Verses – II John verses 5-6

XXV. III John

Author – Apostle John one of the original 12 disciples
When – 85-90 A.D.
To Whom – A Christian named Gaius. Place unknown.
Purpose – A personal letter to Gaius who probably became a Christian through John’s ministry. Two themes are found in this letter: truth and hospitality. John commended Gaius for showing hospitality to a group of believers sent by John despite the efforts of one church member named Diotrephenes who denied hospitality to the men. Moreover, he prevented others in the church from doing so. If anyone did, Diotrephenes forced them out of the church. Diotrophenes rejected John’s authority over the church and went so far as to speak evil in the church about the apostle. Why was he doing this? Read verse 9. Diotrephenes evidently held a position of influence/authority within the church. His church … not John’s or anyone else’s. Diotrephenes did not respect/acknowledge John’s authority as apostle … as someone who spoke God’s truth. He worked to undermine John’s authority. What was more important to Diotrephenes: truth or himself? As Christians, we are not to undermine or be an obstacle to those in spiritual authority over us (pastor) who live and speak the truth. Example – Demetrius in verses 11-12. Sent by John to speak truth to the local church.
Key Verse – III John verse 11

XXVI. Jude

Author – Jude, half-brother of Jesus and brother of James, the author of the epistle James.
When – 70 A.D.
To Whom – Given the many Old Testament references in his letter, it was probably written to Jewish Christians. Place unknown.
Purpose – Warning against false believers who had infiltrated the local church. They were regular churchgoers. They held a perverted teaching that God’s grace gave one the license to sin. The more one sins, the more grace from God to forgive such sin, the more glory God receives. These false believers also denied the authority of Jesus Christ. They did not regard Him as their Lord. Jude proceeded to list off numerous Old Testament examples of what happened to those who held similar false beliefs. Jude also listed in verse 16 the characteristics of false believers – grumblers/complainers, faultfinders, followed evil desires, boasters of themselves, flatter others for their own advantage.
Key Verse – Jude verse 3

Is the greatest threat to a church from within or without? Explain.

What do you believe is the number one reason why nonbelievers refuse to become Christians? Hypocrisy of churchgoers.