Revelation 2:1-11

Wednesday July 27th 2017

key verse: 10c

BE FAITHFUL TO DEATH

Jesus makes John write to the churches. Today let's study the letters written for the churches in Ephesus and Smyrna. 

1. You have forsaken the first love (1-5)

Jesus who holds the seven stars in his hand says that he knows the works of the Ephesians. They are strong in revealing the falsity of the false teachers. They are courageous in countering the evil. But they have a point to reproach and a point to appreciate. Incrementally that they fight the ennemy, gradually their heart seems to cool down. Jesus says that they have forsaken the first love. They have forsaken the feeling of the first time when they have encountered Jesus who had spread out his blood to purify all their sins. How is lost love to be restored ? There are not 36 solutions. Jesus says: repent, knowing from whence you are fallen lest the gold lampstand be taken. A positive point is repeated: they were hard warriors against the falsity of the doctrine of the loosening of the morals. 

2. Be faithful to death (6-11)

Jesus, the alpha and the omega, the redeemer and vanquisher of death, says to John to write to the church of Smyrna. The church of Smyrna is a chuch of tribulations. They are seemingly rich but they are poor in spirit. God blesses their humble heart. There are false believers who say that they are Jews but who aren't, they are a synagogue. We must be careful about the false believers who brandish God's word but their god is their stomach. They always attack the people who want to live in obedience to God's word. But Jesus says that he will triumph if they persevere in the tribulations. Jesus says "be faithful to death, and I will gave you the crown of life". It's an unchangeable promise for the believers. They will not be hurt by the second death (11).

Prayer: Lord, help me to remember and come back to your first love. Help me to be faithful to death. Make me repent from my sin everyday and diligently work for you.

Bottom line: be faithful to death