The Spirit has something to say, and it's worth your time to listen.
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Previous DIG DEEPER posts on Revelation
Revelation 2 Summary
These seven letters to the churches that are in chapter 2 and 3 set the pattern for the rest of the Apocalypse (Revelation) in a couple of ways.
First of all, it shows that the Church is Christ's highest priority on earth and that He will preserve it through whatever lies ahead. Second, each of these seven short epistles promises a prize for those who overcome the world (v7, 11, 17, 26-28).
Knowing that Christ holds the Church in such high regard, and that it's only through the Church that you can overcome and claim the promised victory should cause you to hold the Church in the highest regard in your life as well.
Although each of these epistles are addressed to a particular regional church, these messages have application for you as well. Each letter also includes the phrase whoever has ears, let them hear (v7, 11, 17, 29). All of the commendations given can apply to you as well, as do the warnings.
Dig Deeper
We don't have the time to go through all of the sins Jesus convicts these churches of, but we'll spend a short moment His warning to the Ephesians, where He tells them that they have forsaken their first love (v4). By the time John receives the Apocalypse, the Ephesian church is almost 40 years old, so it's well into its second generation.
As is so often the case, the second (and following) generation(s) do not have the same zeal for serving the Lord. Jesus doesn't promise swift and sudden punishment will fall upon churches in this condition, rather, He tells them that He will just unceremoniously remove their lamp since it's no longer emitting light.
Jesus has promised that the gates of hell will not overcome His Church (Matt. 16:18), but He doesn't extend that promise to every particular congregation. The best way you can keep your own congregation's lamp burning brightly is by keeping your love and zeal for Christ strong in your own life.
AAA Prayer :
ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father God, who's Spirit calls out and blesses His Church;
ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches (v11, 17, 29)
ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:
