Posts
I have repented. I have changed my mind. I no longer want to skim over the messages to the seven assemblies to get to the exciting things later. I don't want to waste the wonderful resources we have of collective perspective that we can bring to unpacking new and exciting insights still buried in these two chapters. I want to allow all of you to help me sift through these chapters and make new discoveries together, not just share things with you secondhand.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet saying, "What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."
Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will happen hereafter; the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven assemblies. The seven lampstands are seven assemblies. (Revelation 1:10-11, 19-20)
As we take a look at each message, let's keep this context in mind, the context of the meaning of the stars/angels, the lampstands and the reason and source for each message.
Let's use the following questions to animate the messages to the seven assemblies.
Note the repeated pattern of each message and why it might be significant. What might it be telling us?
Note the differences within the pattern and why. How is each one personalized for each assembly?
Each message relates something about Jesus from chapter one to each church. Review the description and context of those things for greater clarity.
Discuss the unique attributes or geography or culture of each place that contributes to understanding why Jesus chose the metaphors that He did.
Where is each place geographically? What stories do we know about what happened there?
If a letter was written to them, what is the flavor it might have to enhance our understanding about them?
Ephesus
To the angel of the assembly in Ephesus write: "He who holds the seven stars in his right hand, he who walks among the seven golden lampstands says these things: (Revelation 2:1)
Where is Ephesus? What stories happened there? What is the flavor of Paul's letter to them?
Why does Jesus mention the seven stars and that they are in His right hand?
Why does He choose to mention that He is the one who walks among all the menorahs?
I know your works, and your toil and perseverance, and that you can't tolerate evil men, and have tested those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and found them false. You have perseverance and have endured for my name's sake, and have not grown weary. (Revelation 2:2-3)
Where does this fit into the repeating pattern? Jesus tries to mention positive things first before addressing complications or faults. But even positive things can sometimes be part of complicating issues that are part of problems. Yet Jesus looks for the good even when we might be abusing our gifts.
But I have this against you, that you left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent. (Revelation 2:4-5)
What does Jesus mean when He says He has something against someone? Has He taken offense?
Is this a threat? If so then God is operating according to the mindset of commerce, reward and punishment. But God's ways are not like our ways, so can we view this through a more advanced lens?
We can read this in the reward or punishment mentality, or we can look at it through the lens of cause and effect principles that govern all of God's creation. How can that paradigm shift alter what we find?
This can mean several things: the first one we loved, the first passion of love or the first one to love us.
The first part talks about zealous defense of beliefs, doctrines, purity of message and even who is allowed to be part of the assembly.
The second part indicates that all of this zeal is motivated by something different than the first passion of aroused love that initiated their participation in the assembly. Why is this a big problem?
If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?' Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.' (Matthew 7:21-23)
Were the Ephesians doing all their zealous activity in the name of Jesus but without love?
How much are we tempted to do similar things while failing to remain closely connected with love?
Does this mean the things listed at the beginning can be ignored because they became a problem?
How can love affect doing the right things in ways that causes them to be debilitating?
Persevering work, keen discernment and rejection of false teachers, unflagging endurance and allegiance to God cannot replace love. Without receiving and reflecting love we are not connected with God's heart.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works
Might this remember have something to do with the Sabbath commandment beginning with remember?
How can we remember something we never experienced? Many of us grew up in religion but never experienced a deep, passionate love experience with God. How can such people remember then?
What does it mean to repent?
Repent means a radical change/shift in the way we think and perceive, a complete paradigm shift about reality and especially about God.
Why does Jesus talk about doing the first works if works is the problem He is addressing?
What is the difference between the first works and the current works just listed at the beginning?
What is the difference between deeds or actions of one who is in love compared to one attempting to earn the affections or acceptance of another?
There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. (Hebrews 4:9-10)
This is a rest from trying to remain in control, being defensive or attempting to earn favor. Rest from trying to produce evidence to gain God's favor. When our works have anything to do with trying to alter God's thinking about us, we are attempting to produce evidence of our own goodness rather than believing in the evidence of His works designed to convince us of His goodness (Romans 2:4) so we will rest in His unconditional love and acceptance of us. Jesus demonstrated accurately how to always rest in God's care, provision, protection, favor and will. To live in this rest is the will of God that Jesus came to model for us to emulate (1Peter 2:21-24).
Keeping Sabbath for any reason other than love elicits this same warning of danger.
I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent.
Is this warning by Jesus intended to induce fear? Can that become a problem if love is what is needed to cast out fear?
References to the Second Coming are often connected with similar urgent terms. Why?
What does it mean to have a lampstand moved out of place?
If we refuse to allow the passion of the love of Jesus reignite our heart to produce fruit in good works, our heart becomes hardened and God is forced to accept our tacit decision to divorce Him. A lampstand that fails to burn is a useless decoration giving false testimony. A Christian devoid of the passion of God's love misrepresents the truth about God's heart.
But this you have, that you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (Revelation 2:6)
Note that God hates their deeds, not the people themselves. Yet hating the same thing God hates is not enough to be pleasing to Him. Trying to be 'right' about who are God's enemies without reflecting the passion of His love for them can make right doctrine or good behavior empty and misleading.
Several of the fathers state that they were a sect of Gnostics, who taught that Christians were not under the obligations of morality—the ‘Antinomians’ of the early Church. Nicolas, or Nicolaus, their alleged founder, is sometimes, but doubtfully, identified with the one of ‘the Seven’ who bore that name Ac 6:5. Nicolaus means (in Greek), ‘Vanquisher of the people,’ and Balsam (in Hebrew), ‘Devourer of the people.’ - [Annotated commentary].
Could this also reference the modern obsession with St. Nicholaus who is a counterfeit of Jesus?
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. To him who overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God. (Revelation 2:7)
To give audience, listen, give attention, understand.
The operative word here is let. Truly hearing requires more than just having an ear.
Overcomer in Hebrew = Israel. This is tied directly back to the story of Jacob and the intense struggle he had to pass through when he received his new name.
Overcoming is a major theme in Revelation. But it is also a major stumbling block for many who don't understand God's message, methods and motive. It is a central tenant of those who subscribe to the popular LGT movement today which is recycled perfectionism of the past. The focus is on getting sin out of our life before God runs out of patience. Yet the underlying problem with this mixture of light and darkness is that it is primarily motivated through intentional fear messages designed to scare people into being good. This is not what Jesus is talking about here is it?
What can we learn from Revelation about the true method and motives for overcoming?
They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life, even to death. (Revelation 12:11)
I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (Revelation 15:2)
These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings. They also will overcome who are with him, called and chosen and faithful. (Revelation 17:14)
To overcome relates to our false sense of identity. We need to embrace our true identity as defined by Christ that has been given to every person as a template around which to grow character. We overcome any reliance on false sources of identity or value, renounce every lie about ourselves and about God so we may reflect only His image as we become transformed into His likeness.
But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)
I will give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of my God.
The Tree of Life represents the power connection point through which alone we may receive life. Jesus is the entry point to the only Source of energy and life, which is why He warned that we can only come to God through Him. Once we have been fully restored into harmony with God by Jesus, only then will it will be safe to touch the super-charger directly.
