As we get started on our study of the book of Revelation, I’d like to take just a moment to review why we study prophecy.

(1 Thessalonians 5:20 NKJV) "Do not despise prophecies.

(2 Pet 1:19-21 NKJV)  And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; {20} knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, {21} for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

(2 Pet 1:20 NASB)  . . . no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation,

 (2 Peter 1:20 NIV) . . . no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation."

Other Scriptures Showing the Value of Prophecy

(Amos 3:7 NKJV)  Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

Understand that God is timeless.

Prophecy may apply directly to the ones to whom it is spoken, or its fulfillment may be hundreds or thousands of years later.

(1 Pet 1:9-12 NKJV)  receiving the end of your faith; the salvation of your souls. (10) Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, (11) searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

(1 Pet 1:12) To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; things which angels desire to look into.

not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things  This is a very important concept!  Many have the mistaken idea that everything that was written by the prophets was written for the people of their day “themselves,”  but this verse makes it clear that that was not the case.  Peter says, but to us they were ministering the things People who lived hundreds of years later that the prophets to whom Peter referred.

1 Peter 1:9 receiving the end¹ of your faith the salvation of your souls.

¹τέλος  telos  Thayer Definition: 1) end  1d) the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose A Related Word tello (to set out for a definite point or goal)

(Isa 46:9-10 NKJV)  Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, {10} Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel [purpose or plan] shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure [or purpose],'

Remember:  God will see that His purpose or plan is completed.  That doesn’t mean that everything that happens on earth is the will of God.  He allows things to happen because of man’s free will, but His designs and plans will be carried out.

(Rev 1:19 NKJV)  "Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.

As we begin chapter 2, we are looking at “the things which are”  That is, they were in existence at the time John was writing.

Revelation 2:1 "To the angel of the church of

Ephesus write, `These things says He who holds

the seven stars (the seven "angels" or messengers)

in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the

seven golden lampstands (the seven churches):

(Rev 1:20)  . . .The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

(Rev 2:2 NKJV)  "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

Rev. 2:2 "I know your works (accomplishments),

your labor (your efforts), your patience (your perserverence), and that you cannot bear those who are evil.  (they are not compromising with evil, or accepting of evil) And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; (they have checked them out)

We really have to know the scriptures to know

what is true and what is false.  The Berean spirit.

(Acts 17:10-11 NKJV)  Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. {11} These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

(Rev 2:3 NKJV)  "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary.

Gal 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing

good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not

lose heart.

Rev 2:4 "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

·     Excitment

·    Enthusiasm

·    Joy

·     The opposite -- "old married folks."

(Rev 2:5 NKJV)  "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent. (6)  "But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

“These were, as is commonly supposed, a sect of the Gnostics, [part of the teaching of the Gnostics was that what one did with his body was unrelated to his spiritual life.  As a result,] (they) taught the most impure doctrines, and followed the most impure practices. They are also supposed to have derived their origin from Nicolas, one of the seven deacons mentioned Act_6:5. The Nicolaitanes taught the community of wives, that adultery and fornication were things indifferent, that eating meats offered to idols was quite lawful; and mixed several pagan rites with the Christian ceremonies.”  -- Adam Clarke

As you can clearly see, these were not minor differences from what Christ taught.

(Rev 2:7 NKJV)  "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."'

"He who has an ear. . .” – And God has graciously given most of us two.  Some of us may be losing our hearing, but that’s not the hearing being referred to here.  This really means be a disciple:  be a learner!

To him who overcomes – That’s what it’s all about! 

I will give to eat from the tree of life,

(John 10:10 NKJV)  "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

 which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.—Paradise restored!

(Rev 2:8-11 NKJV)  "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, 'These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: {9} "I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

{10} "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. {11} "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death."'

(2 Tim 3:12 NKJV)  Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

“you will have tribulation ten days.” – A short period of time.  If we use the day = year idea, He would be saying 10 years.  Where does the day/year idea come from?

(Num 14:34 NKJV)  'According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, for each day you shall bear your guilt one year, namely forty years, and you shall know My rejection.

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

For next lesson  Revelation 2 -- The church at Pergamos & Thyatira

To return to home page Welcome to my Web site