The Big Reveal #5: Love. Don't Leave
Revelation 2:1-7
Pastor Adam Parmenter

Guidepost #1: The intent is to reveal (apocalypse) not conceal
Guidepost #2: For God’s glory or our benefit, God restricts some information.
Guidepost #3: The book of Revelation is a prophecy from the Triune God to Us.
Guidepost #4: The prophecy of the revelation of Jesus Christ is real and true.

An Angel?
• Each letter is addressed to an "angel": an individual who represents one of the local churches and is responsible for its condition.
• "Guardian Angels" are hinted at for individual people, but not mentioned as responsible for the condition of a local church.
• Matthew 18:10: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven."
• Hebrews 1:14: "Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?"
• Word translated "angel" is the same word used for angelic beings.
• Ἄγγελος (angelos) - noun. a messenger
• Root word: ἄγω (ago) - verb. to bring tidings
• Example - Gabriel: Luke 1:26 "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth"
• Example – John the Baptizer: Luke 7:27 "This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you'."
• The messenger of each church is either a representative that was tasked with taking the scroll of Revelation back to the individual church or the lead elder/pastor of the individual church. A pastor/elder is a messenger of God's Word, the Bible.

Seven Churches?
Who are these letters for? Who are they from?

• Seven literal churches.
• These churches are an ancient "postal route".
• During this time and culture, it was expected that letters addressed to one specific church would be copied and shared with other churches.
• Colossians 4:16 "And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea."
• The message is addressed to one specific church, but it is for all believers to hear and consider.
• At the end of each letter is the statement "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
• Revelation 2:7, 2:11, 2:29, 3:6, 3:13, 3:22
• The words of Jesus spoken by the Spirit
• "...let him hear what the Spirit says..." Jesus is dictating the letters, which John records word-for-word. Jesus states the Holy Spirit is speaking.
• I Corinthians 2:14 "The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned."
• John 16:13&14 "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you."

The letters
• Foundational
• Book of Revelation is sequential.
• Chapter 1 creates a foundation for the letters in chapters 2 & 3.
• We must assume that chapters 1 through 3 are foundational to the remaining text in Revelation.
• The first three chapters of Revelation are largely focused on Christ speaking to His church during all times and circumstances.
• Each letter follows a similar outline
• Christ reveals His role. (Like an email each begins with a To and From)
• Christ knows His people.
• Christ encourages His people.

Letter to the Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7)
Adam's Title: Love. Don't Leave

• Jesus Reveals His Role
• Jesus holds (Greek word: hold fast) the leadership (stars/ angelos-messengers) of the churches in His right hand.
• Jesus moves amongst the seven lampstands
• Walks among symbolizes He is active (walk) and present (amonth)
• Seven represents fullness or completeness.
• Jesus knows every church in all times and places, is active among them and has His hand on the leadership. They all belong to Him and He is in control.
• Jesus knows you, First Baptist Church in South Haven, MI. He is active among your people and has His hand on the pastors and elder ministry team.
• You belong to Him and He is in control. Right hand shows both strength and control.
• Jesus specifically declares this to the church in Ephesus.

Christ Knows His People
(Revelation 2:1-4)

Timeline
• Church in Ephesus founded around the year 52
• Second Missionary Journey: Paul made an initial brief visit ( Acts 18:19-21)
• Third Missionary Journey: Paul returned to Ephesus and stayed for three years.

Ephesus
• An important center for magic and also the cult of Artemus and cult of Emperor worship
• Practitioners of magic: Wealth and power (control)
• Temple of Artemus: A haven for crime and immorality. A corrupting influence and most important source of revenue and pride.
• What is normal for them? Magic, Artemus & emperor worship.

The Believers
• Magic practitioners burned all of their books. Total worth: Over $5,000,000 of today's American dollars.
• Stopped worshipping Artemus. Caused economic slump from decreased sales of related merchandise.
• Refused to worship the emperor. Could not enter the market place to buy or sell.
• They moved toward Christ. Joy and Grief together. Moved by the Spirit.

Sometime around the year 95.
• Believers worked hard (to the point of exhaustion), resist evil. They reject false teachers and false teachings.
• Bear up under difficult times

Christ encourages His people.

The criticism:
• They left their first love. (Revelation 2:4)

The encouragement: Return to your first love. (Revelation 2:5)
• Remember
• Repent (turn back towards)
• Return to the first works

The warning: If not, lampstand removed.
• Not a loss of salvation
• Loss of representation (Lose the privilege to represent Christ)

Question: Why is the hardest working church in Asia Minor being told to get back to work?
• Psalm 51: For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
• Our heart condition is crucial (Mark 12:30 "...love the Lord your God with all your heart...")
• Humble contrition before God and a actions motivated by love.
• Where they in danger of straying from the truth? Matthew 15:8&9 <<Jesus scolding the Pharisee>>"This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commands of men." (Quoting Isaiah 29:13)

God provides a way back

• A life motivated by a thriving love for God is more important than doing the right stuff out of self.

God warns us and provides a way back:
• Remember
• Repent (turn back towards)
• Return to the first works

• But can I do this? I'm not sure what I need to do or how to do it.

Revelation 2:1
• God is at work in His church and He knows His people.
• It's His church. His work. He has the mighty power of His right hand.
• God knows. God understand. His Spirit will guide you as an individual and us as a church.
• We must pray, and seek God like our life depends on it, because it does.

· Abby Hendrix is recovering from surgery.
· Matt Jenks (Don & Deb Jenks’ son) is at home recovering following a medical issue and brief hospitalization. He will follow up with his primary care doctor.
· Darren & Cindy Bailey and their family (friends of Mike & Amy Neikirk) lost their son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren in a helicopter crash on 10/22. A 10 year-old son survives and was not on the flight.
· Judy Niekirk (Mike's mom) is recovering from surgery for renal cell carcinoma. She is recovering well, but the cancer has spread. She is waiting for an oncology appointment to be scheduled .
· Marialice Quinn (former member of FBC) is continuing treatment for cancer and continued prayers during this time are greatly appreciated
• Penny Cornet (Rocky Starland's Aunt in Cypress, CA) at a rehab facility for therapy to regain strength.
• Vasha Ferguson is recovering from hand surgery for carpal tunnel.
• Vince Bryant (Miriam Bryant’s son) is recovering from foot surgery.
• Beth Bocock continues to recover from ulcerative colitis.
• Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.

First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com