Rev 1:9-20
9 I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet 11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 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.
John sees an image that is producing the voice. (Vs. 13-16)
- Hairs of head were white like wool
- Eyes like a flame of fire
- Feet were like a burnished bronze refined in a furnace
- Voice like the roar of many waters
- In His right hand he held seven stars
- From his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword
- His face was like the sun shining in full strength
The Book Of Revelation is History and Prophecy. (Vs. 19)
Jesus describes the visions
1. The seven stars are the seven angels of the seven churches
2. The seven lamp stands are the seven churches
Who are the seven stars or angels?
Rev 2:1-6
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.
2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
2:1 “Who walks among the seven golden lamp stands”
Three great roads converged on Ephesus.
a. Euphrates
b. Galatia
c. South
Trading Significance
Political Power
Freedom
Entertainment
Religion
Forgiven of Crimes.
The Sale Of Ephesian Letters
Ephesus was a wicked city.
Heraclitus - “the darkness of the approach to the altar of the temple was the darkness of vileness; that the morals of the temple were worse than the morals of the beasts, for even promiscuous dogs do not mutilate each other.”
Christ Walks Among His Church
Christ Knows
1. Works
2. Toil
3. Patient Endurance
4. Intolerance Of Evil
5. Vetting Of False Leaders
But Christ Knows
You have abandoned the love you had at first.
Remember the place you fell.
- Repent
- Redo
“If the Church loses her love, she will lose her light.” - Pastor Brandon
Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
2 Tim 3:1-5
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
