Bible Thought - Keep Loving - Revelation 1 & 2

Has your love gone cold? Revelation 1:12-16 - I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. That figure is the risen and ascended Jesus Christ! The one we Christians down through history have proclaimed as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! He was the greatest gift of all, freely given, in order to save the world! Salvation, as a gift of grace, imparted to all those who would accept Jesus Christ as saviour! And one group of people had taken Him up on that offer, a church we read about in Revelation 2:1-7 Revelation 2v1-7 - "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favour: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. ----more---- Lets have a brief overview of some details! The speaker: As I have already said, these passages speak of Jesus in the fullness of His post-resurrected glory, although these mere words cannot do ultimate justice to Him. He is our speaker here, commanding John to write. Jesus is not aloof, impersonal and distant. He knows intimately about His church and His people. Nothing is secret to Him! Note v1 where Jesus walks around surveying the people who claim to follow and worship Him alone! WOW! The angel: The angel mentioned in vi could also mean messenger or it could mean a guardian angel or a saint. As with much of Revelation and the largely figurative language, there is no certainty as to what is meant. The author: There is much debate as to the author of the Book of Revelation. Most attribute it to the Apostle John, and that is who I believe it to be. Ephesus : Ephesus was located on the coast, and was a transportation hub and an administrative and commercial centre. It was home to the temple of Diana, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and as such was a centre of mystical cult worship. There were also 6 temples set up for worship of Roman emperors such was its importance. We know a lot about the church of Ephesus from the New Testament. It was established by Paul on his third missionary journey, and it was from this church that Paul called the elders of Ephesus to meet him at Miletus when he was on his way to Jerusalem (Acts 20:16). Tradition tells us, that Ephesus became the residence of the Apostle John, both before and after his exile, and that he was their bishop.So if tradition is right on this aspect, then can you imagine the sense of excitement built up in the Ephesian congregation? "WOW! John has sent us a letter. Our John!! What does it say? Quick. Hurry up and read it. " Boy, were they in for a shock! 1. Commendations The Lord Jesus is always gracious and here he commends the church. He sees the work being done by the church in Ephesus. They work hard (v2).They tirelessly persevere through hardships (v3).Their doctrine, teaching and belief system is orthodox and correct.They tolerated neither evil or people who perpetrate evil (v2, 6).They use discernment when required (v2). The Ephesian church had refused to allow apostasy and immorality to go on in the church. They exercised church discipline when men refused to respond to God's Word. Does that sound like any church you know or attend? Most of the apostle John's sermons were based on 0ne thing - "love". Love Christ and love one another. Indeed, John is known as the Apostle of Love. 2. Forsaken & forgotten The church in Ephesus was orthodox in theology, practice, and service, yet something was missing which, if not corrected, would ruin their light-bearing capacity. They no longer have their "first love" (v.7), it has been left behind. Again, many people have a theory about what this love is. Is it their ...