Bible Study Notes for Lord’s Day,
November 8, 2009
Revelation 2-3
Hear What the Spirit Says to the Church
Introduction The apocalypse, the sudden unveiling of Jesus in His
full glory, as the rightful Heir and King of the Universe. But we
live in the mean time. We are trying to advance the Kingdom of God
on Earth, to prepare the way of the Lord, in our churches, with
limited success.
7 different types of churches, or 7 periods of church history. A
mixture of commendation and correction. No matter the condition
of the church, they are all still His churches. What would Jesus
say to our church today?
1. Ephesus
Revelation 2
1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
‘These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right
hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: 2 “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; 3 and you have
persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s
sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against
you, that you have left your first love. 5 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.
7 “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.”’
2. Smyrna
Revelation 2
8 “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.”’
3. Pergamos
Revelation 2
12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: 13
“I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s
throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith
even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was
killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things
against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine
of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the
children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit
sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine
of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will
come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of
My mouth.
17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden
manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone
a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.”’
4. Thyatira
Revelation 2
18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,
‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame
of fire, and His feet like fine brass: 19 “I know your works,
love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works,
the last are more than the first. 20 Nevertheless I have a few things
against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself
a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality
and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21 And I gave her time to repent
of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22 Indeed I will
cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her
into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. 23 I
will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know
that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give
to each one of you according to your works.
24 “Now to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many
as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the depths of Satan,
as they say, I will put on you no other burden. 25 But hold fast
what you have till I come. 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My
works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
27 ‘ He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’—
as I also have received from My Father; 28 and I will give him
the morning star.
29 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches.”’
5. Sardis
Revelation 3
1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and
the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that
you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the
things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found
your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have
received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will
not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know
what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis
who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me
in white, for they are worthy. 5 He who overcomes shall be clothed
in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book
of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before
His angels.
6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches.”’
6. Philadelphia
Revelation 3
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He
who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts
and no one opens”: 8 “I know your works. See, I have set
before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a
little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they
are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come
and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep
you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world,
to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly!
Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He
who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God,
and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My
God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which
comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My
new name.
13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches.”’
7. Laodicea
Revelation 3
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness,
the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works,
that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or
hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor
hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I
am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and
do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you
may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the
shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes
with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke
and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand
at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door,
I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him
who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also
overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to
the churches.”’”
Conclusions
Pastor Steve Boggan
Living Waters Christian Fellowship
Heritage Ranch by Lake Nacimiento, CA
Website - livingwaters.cc
