REVELATION CHAPTERS 2-3

REVELATION CHAPTERS 2-3

THE LORD

7 Descriptions of Jesus

THE CHURCH

Ephesus

Smyrna

Pergamum

Thyatira

Sardis

Philadelphia

Laodicea

THE OVERCOMER

Blessings for the Overcomer

Questions

THE LORD

In chapters 2-3, we see Jesus described each time he makes a declaration to each of the seven churches. Each of these statements point to different aspects of Him and His ministry. We see Him as follows:

"Him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands"
- The Commander

"Him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again"
- The Creator and Saviour

"Him who has the sharp, double-edged sword"
- The Word

"The Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze"
- The Glory

"Him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars"
- The Anointer

"Him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open"
- The Gateway c.f. Jn 10:8 - "I am the Door"

"The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation"
- The Fulfilment

THE FEASTS

His Grace

On Midwives (1:20-21)

We see God's grace when He took care of the midwives who honoured and feared Him. He enabled them to carry on with their work of saving the Hebrew babies without harm, and He blessed them with families of their own.

On Moses (2:1-10)

As we mentioned, it was God's grace that Moses was saved, at a time when all male Hebrew babies were to be killed on sight. And not only that, for him to be brought up under his own mother's care, and then royal care.

On Israelites (3:7-9)

And finally, on the Israelites, for He remembered His covenant with Abraham, and He was concerned about their suffering. God heard the cry of the Israelites and "responded"

His Holiness

Separation of Worship (3:5,18)

The worship of God must be separated from all others. Moses was told to remove his sandals. The Israelites were told to leave Egypt to worship Him. In all these, the element of separation is there. What is "dirty" and "unclean" must be removed from the presence of God. (Psa 15,24 "those that are pure in heart will see God").

Separation of Moses (2:11-3:4)

As we have noted, Moses had to flee Egypt. God had to get Moses out of Egypt physically, and Moses had to spend the next 40 yrs to get Egypt out of him. Note that because he had spent so long away, the lure of Egypt did not affect him when the Israelites were wandering in the desert as contrasted to the Israelites themselves who grumbled and longed to go back. When we commit to serve God, we have to separate the values of the world out from us. We are in the world, but not of the world.

Separation of Israelites (8:22-23)

Because God chose Israel to be His possession, He made a distinction between them and the Egyptians. The Church is called out of the world to serve Him. God has made us distinct from the world. There will be a separation of the sheep from the goats, the wheat from the tares (cf. Rev 9:4)

His Authority

Over the Natural (7-14)

The authority and power of God over the natural and physical is evident in the plagues wrought against Egypt in ch. 7-14. He had control over the very objects and creatures which the Egyptians worshiped as gods. God has authority over the body.

Over the Emotional (3:21, 9:12)

God was able to make the Egyptians favourably disposed to give precious articles to the Israelites. He could also harden Pharaoh's heart. God has authority over the soul.

Over the Spiritual (7-14)

Again, in the plagues on Egypt, and in the duel between Moses and the court magicians, we see spiritual manifestations of power, but one in which God's representative triumphed everytime. God has authority over the spirit.

THE INTRODUCTION

Ingratitude

Of the Egyptians (1:8-14)

The Egyptians remembered not what blessings the Israelites had brought to Egypt. The entire nation could have been wiped out if Joseph had not been there to predict and manage the famine.

Of the Israelites (2:14)

Neither did the Hebrews, who did not appreciate Moses' concern for them, and instead turned it against him and threatened him. And as we will see later, they also were ungrateful to him (and to God) for taking them out of the bondage of Egypt.

Of Pharaoh (7-14)

Throughout the plagues, Pharaoh was consistently ungrateful to Moses for interceeding and praying for the removal of the afflictions. When he finally released the Israelites, it was not out of gratitude but fear and surrender.

Insecurity

Of the Egyptians (1:9-10)

The Egyptians were fearful and insecure about the presence of aliens in their midst. They feared the loss of power and authority. How often do we fear that in our jobs, etc?

Of the Israelites (5:9)

The Israelites, even after seeing the miracles Moses performed before them, still were insecure about God's promise and were easily disheartened and discouraged the moment persecution was stepped up. This is because they only knew about God, and not God personally. And even then, when they had encountered God Himself, they were still insecure (Numbers), because they did not have a living and active relationship and faith in God. We can only be secure in God when we know Him better, when we know His character, His will (when things go wrong), etc.

Of Pharaoh (7-14)
Pharaoh demonstrated his insecurity by not allowing the Israelites to leave Egypt with all their possessions. He wanted them to leave behind their families, livestock, etc. as some sort of security to ensure that they would return. He could not trust men. If we cannot trust each other (or God for that matter), we would always be insecure.

Insolence

Of the Egyptians (8:18-19; 9:21)

In the first instance the magicians dared challenge God, even though they acknowledged that it was God's work. In the second, the Egyptians blatantly ignored the word of God even though some of their compatriots had taken heed of the warning of the plague through Moses. Barefaced denial in the presence of overwhelming evidence is an effront to God (Rom 1:18-32).

Of the Israelites (5:21)

The Israelites, when pressed by the Egyptians, had the gall of invoking God's name against Moses, God's messenger. Oftentimes we misuse God's name, and justify a lot of wrongdoing in His name. We even threaten pastors and church leaders in God's name when things are not going our way.

Of Pharaoh (5:2)

Pharaoh had the ultimate denial of God when he refused to acknowledge God or to obey Him. This is the sin which cannot be forgiven men (Matt 12:31), blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which is the sin against the testimony of the Holy Spirit that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour. Refusal to believe the Holy Spirit about Jesus is insolence, and ultimately we condemn ourselves because God cannot forgive us without Christ.

Questions:

1) Identify situations today which warranted Jesus warning the Church. What can we do to rectify them?

2) Why did Jesus ask us to be Overcomers? How can you be an overcomer, and how can you teach or encourage another to be one? (Give practical suggestions)

3) Summarise what you understand of what the Church is supposed to be or do from chapters 2 and 3