# 31 2021 Dev. Revelation 2:1. These are the Words! Read all of Chapter 2:1-11 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Revelations 2:1“These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.”
Introduction: This book is perhaps the most misunderstood and the most misinterpreted book of Scripture. But it does not have to be: Scripture must interpret the Scriptures of which this book is a primary example.
Chapter 2 begins with Jesus’ exhortation to the seven churches. Again, seven is a complete number that means that each type of church is addressed through out all of history. Jesus is addressing us today as well.
Vs.1-7 to the church in Ephesus: “I know your deeds, hard work and perseverance.” You proved those who are false, you do not tolerate the wicked. “You have endured hardship for my name, and have not grown weary,”
“Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken the love you had at first.”
The church had done everything right, rejected false teachings, suffered for name of Jesus and rejected the Nicolaitans; those who have one foot in Christianity and the other foot in the occult. In their struggle to remain true to the teachings of the Apostles they lost the love for others and the love for each other along the way and had turned into a cold hard condemning orthodoxy. As Paul writes in I Cor.13 whatever is done without love is useless. To love and not condemn one needs to walks along side the offender, becoming a friend, not condoning or participating but praying and by the power of the Holy Spirit you both grow and change. That is the hope, but if the person does not change, you keep loving and praying. Sometimes churches and church people do not see the difference between love as Christ loved us and condemnation. God holds us accountable, are we listening?
Vs.8-11 to the church in Smyrne: a church being persecuted and in poverty, “yet you are rich”, Jesus says, and I know what you are going through. Persevere, there will be suffering, “be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” Jesus is speaking to hundreds, if not thousands of small, and some large churches all over this world. Two million followers of Jesus are under persecution currently and it is increasing. We see the signs in our own country, with the outcry to change the courts to reflect the will of a godless society. As Jesus tells us there will be suffering for those who are the true followers of Jesus; it is already happening, rumors of restricting jobs if one doesn’t toe the line of woke culture, you are canceled, we are seeing it now. But God is in control: v11 “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death.” Judgment is coming, praise be to God!
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