OTY: The Revelation 2a –
Prophecy Update
Revelation Chapter 2
Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
Background on the church of Ephesus: Historians record that the city was founded in 1400 B.C., identified early on with the temple of the Mother Goddess, Diana. Ionian colonist from Athens settled there about 1000 B.C. The Lydians captured the city in the middle of the 6th century B.C. In 541 B.C., the city fell to the Persians and in 334 B.C., it fell to the Macedonians under Alexander. Ephesus eventually became the Roman capital of the province of Asia.
Geographically, Ephesus was called the "Queen of Asia". It was a extremely wealthy and beautiful city, located near the mouth of the river Cayster (now Lower Meander). It was the main line of communication between Rome and it's eastern provinces. One major road ran eastward through Sardis and then to Galatia and beyond. Trade with Greece and Italy ran through it's port regularly.
Ephesus, was also famous for several great structures, the most famous was the temple of Diana, one of the "seven wonders" of the ancient world. The temple was four times larger than the Parthenon at Athens. It stood on a platform 425 feet by 225 feet. The building itself was 340 by 165 feet, had 120 Ionic columns, each 60 feet high. Ephesus, also known for it's great theater that held 25,000 people and it's statue line Marble Way.
In the new testament period, Ephesus was the largest city of its day. Ephesus was the center for the study of arts and magic; renowned over the world for talismans, incantations, charms, spell books, etc.
Rev 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Rev 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
First, the church is given a seven part commendation, it was commended for its: 1) Works, 2) Labor, 3) Patience, 4) Stand against evil, 5) Stand against false Apostles, 6) Long suffering, 7) Endurance. The Lord says all these things are great and I commend you , but...
Rev 2:4 Nevertheless I have [somewhat] against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
You have left your first love. Remember when we first met, how much you loved me and longed to be with me. Now I hardly ever hear from you except when your in trouble. I so long to be the first in your life again. I will never leave you nor forsake you, please come back to me, I miss our long talks and intimate fellowship. I want to bless you, I want the best for, you are the apple of my eye. If you do not seek me, if you do not ask me for guidance, how can I work through you? The name Ephesus, means 'maiden of choice; darling'.
Rev 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Last, comes the exhortation, they are exhorted for their hate of the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which he, the Lord also hates. Note, it's the deeds that are hated, not the Nicolaitans themselves. The Nicolaitans, was a Gnostic sect founded by Nicolas of Antioch, known for their unbridled and excessive lusts.
Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Final note, where is Ephesus today? Where's their lampstand today? Ephesus is over six miles from the sea, what was once one of the greatest seaports in the ancient world, is now unapproachable by sea. What once was the key city in Asia is now in desolation.
Rev 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
Today Smyrna is called Izmir, and it's the third largest city on Turkey. Smyrna has an excellent harbor and exports tobacco, grapes, figs, cotton, olives and olive oil. Smyrna was inhabited by the Asiatic Leleges until about 3,000 B.C., after that according to Herodotus, the area fell into the hands of the Ionians from Colophon. Thus, beginning the Smyrna's most glorious phase in history. During this period the poet Homer was born, lived and died in Smyrna. Three centuries of greatness ended with the attack of the Lydians.
In the 4th century, on orders from Alexander the Great, Smyrna was built into a strong, well planned city, the most beautiful in Ionia. It became known as "The Flower of Ionia", and prospered into one of the greatest cities of that time. Smyrna came under the control of the Romans in 27 B.C., and it became known as the most beautiful city in the world. Over the years Smyrna was demolished by several earthquakes and rebuilt, but never attained it's former glory.
Ancient Smyrna was known for its many temples and splendid buildings. It became the center of pagan worship, with the temples of Zeus, Apollo, Aphrodite, Aesculapius, Cybele, Poseidon and Demeter. The name "Smyrna" comes from the Greek word "Smurna" from Hebrew root that is translated "myrrh".
Myrrh is a bitter gum and costly perfume which exudes from a certain tree or shrub in Arabia and Ethiopia, or is obtained by incisions made in the bark: as an antiseptic it was used for embalming. It was also an ingredient in perfume (Ps 45:8), prominent in Song of Solomon, etc. It was also an ingredient in holy anointing oil for priests (Ex 30:23) and the purification of women (Esther 2:12). It was used in embalm-ing (Jn 19:39) and was a gift of the Magi at Christ?s birth (Mt 2:11): Gold = royalty, Frankincense = deity, priesthood, Myrrh = suffering, death. In Jesus? Second Coming gold and frankincense are offered, but NO myrrh (Isa 60:6) since his death is now behind him?but it was offered to Christ at cross (Mk 15:23). The body of Jesus was embalmed by Joseph & Nicodemus (Jn 19:39-40). Myrrh yields fragrance by being crushed. Note the "death" theme throughout this letter.
Rev 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and [I know] the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but [are] the synagogue of Satan.
Commendation: I know your works, and tribulation. This period for the church was a time of oppression, affliction and distress. I know your works, nothing is hidden from me, I know your poverty, how you were persecuted through confiscation. I know your persecution by those 'religious men', men that claimed to be Jews, but were not. In the midst of much affliction is easy to think that God has forgotten all about you, but I know, I've been there, done that, says Jesus.
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
"Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer": Diseases brought back from the Parthian wars devastated much of Rome; inundation from the Tiber put much of the grain storehouses under water; famine and pestilence followed. The Christians were a convenient scape-goat and Christianity became a crime...
"10 days":
Nero (54-68): Paul beheaded; Peter crucified upside down.
Domitian (95-96): John exiled.
Trajan (104-117): Ignatius burned at the stake.
Marcus Aurelius (161-180): Polycarp martyred.
Septimus Severus (200-211): He killed Irenaeus.
Maximinus (235-237): He killed Ursula and Hippolytus.
Decius (249-251); Valerian (257-260); Aurelian, (270-275);
Diocletian (303-313); The Worst of all!
Ten total: 250 years!
In Fox?s Book of Martyrs: Five million believers died for Christ during this period.
Rev 2:11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Note: there is no criticism this is a promise for overcomers; in the context, for those who will over come the threat and fact of violence from Satan; they shall never be hurt by the second death - which is hell, the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14; 21:8); death is conquered for these overcomers
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