SEVEN CHURCHES (Revelation 2-3) Asia Minor (present day Turkey) on circular trade route

• Church in EPHESUS – (eh-fuh-suhs) Loveless Church

Prominent cultural and commercial center of Asia, 60 years after Christ’s resurrection- Big church, founder Paul- work Paul began on this occasion was carried forward by Apollos and Aquila and Priscilla. Timothy was the pastor. Jesus said to repent and return to your first Love.

Lesson- Truth and love must go hand-in-hand. Must uphold the doctrinal purity, but not at the expense of brotherly love.

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

• Church in SMYRNA- smer-nuh) The Suffering Church

Large community of Jews hostile to Christians. The church remained faithful through persecution. Christ warns of impending imprisonment even to death. Jesus says “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.” Refined by fire through tribulations. This little church in the town of myrrh was being crushed because of her love for Christ.

Lesson- no admonishment – Be faithful even to the point of death and He will give you the crown of life. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by second death.

• Church of Pergamum- (per-ga-mum) The Compromising Church

Pergamum had a unique status, because it was the political center where rulings affected all of Asia Minor. Pergamum was also a well-known center for the arts. The people of Pergamum worshipped a myriad of Greek and Roman gods, but when Christianity arrived with the belief in just one god, the city’s pagan priests went on the attack and their most famous victim was a man named Antipas.

City of pagan practices called Satan’s throne. The church was compromising its beliefs. Church conforming to the world and allowing people in the church to practice Balaam false teachings and sexual immorality. Jesus says that they had allowed themselves to be influenced by paganism, idolatry, and false teachings. Jesus said REPENT therefore!

Lesson-Repent or risk judgement. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.

• Church of Thyatira –(thai-uh-tai-ruh) The Adulterous Church

Thyatira was a prosperous trading town that was an important location on the Roman road from Pergamos to Laodicea. The city hosted a major cult of the pagan god Apollo (son of Zeus). The city was known for its dyeing and indigo trade.

The church was engaging in sexual immorality and dabbling in idolatry (tolerating the woman of Jezebel). Jesus says He has given her time to repent, but unwilling. So there will be consequences of bed of suffering and strike her children. Severe punishment to the false prophets and following of false prophets.

Lesson- Part of church was holding to the truth, other part was being misled to Jezebel false teachings. To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations. I will also give him the morning star.

• Church of Sardis- (sar-dis)- The dead church

Prosperous river city with gold. Sardis was the first in its area to be converted by the preaching of the apostle John. Church spiritually dead, outward alive inward dead. Many began to claim that they were Christians and followers of God, yet according to their works, they denied God. Jesus said “wake up! Remember what you have received and heard: obey it and Repent! “Strengthen what remains before you die.

Lesson- Repent, but to the ones who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.

• Church of Philadelphia- The faithful Church

Wealthy trade city- Philadelphia was home to a synagogue community hostile to Christians. Philadelphia was founded later than many of the other cities of Asia Minor. Philadelphia means brotherly love. The church had little strength, but was doing well in their deeds, kept HIS word, and had not denied Jesus. The church of Philadelphia was weak in some respects, yet they had remained faithful in the face of trial. Because of this, the Lord promises them an “open door” of blessing.

Lesson- No admonishment – continue faith through tribulations.

“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 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.

• Church in Laodicea –lay-o-dih-see-uh- The Lukewarm Church

The city was a prosperous commercial and industrial center- Economic prosperity caused spiritual bankruptcy. The church was complacent in their faith in time of abundance.

Jesus says “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”

Lesson- Repent!

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Sited works:

Bible

https://www.biblestudy.org/biblepic/churches-of-revelation-ephesus.html

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/ephesus

https://davidjeremiah.blog/seven-churches-of-revelation-bible-study/

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/end-times/what-do-the-7-churches-in-revelation-represent-summaries-and-explanations.html

Acts 2 – Winds of major change

There were about 120 believers constantly in prayer in the upstairs.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Those present for Pentecost included people from a wide variety of places and ethnic backgrounds.

Crowds emerged and were amazed, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. They heard them declaring the wonders of God in their own tongue!  Others mocked them and said, they had too much wine.

Supernatural events galore:

• Violent wind coming from heaven
• Tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on them
• Holy Spirit given and spoke in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them

Peter addressed the crowd in defense and explains. Peter quotes the prophet Joel:

“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved. Joel 2:28-32

Peter specifically addressed the men of Israel saying Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited to many miracles, wonders, and signs. Peter said, “This man was handed over to you for God’s plan and set purpose and foreknowledge, with the help of wicked men, put to death on the cross. But God raised him from the death. Christ wasn’t abandoned to the grave and his body would not see decay.”

HE IS ALIVE!!

Peter and the upper room attendees are all witnesses to this fact. Jesus rose from the dead and He is alive! Christ is exalted to the right hand of God. Peter recounts the prophetic words from David about Jesus. David died and was buried and he didn’t ascend to heaven. Psalm 16: 8-11 was talking about Jesus, not David.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
 You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

After Peter’s declarations, the people were cut to the heart. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Yea!! 3000 people believed and were baptized, and added to their number that day.

Acts 2: 42-47

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.  All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.  Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

ACTS

The New Covenant proclaimed and activated in full force on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came in His fullness and the church began.

Author of Acts is Luke. Luke writes about the birth of the church and the early days.

• Purpose of Acts– To give an accurate and orderly account of the development of Christianity and to give a written defense of Christianity and more….
• Theme is the Great Commission given to Christians. Christians are to be witnesses for Jesus Christ, spreading the good news that He died and rose again in order to redeem mankind.

Act 1 (Curtain is rising!! On the edge of my seat)!

Acts 1 starts with brief overview of Jesus appearing after His resurrection over a period of 40 days (teaching and instructing them to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem). Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.”

Awesome! Wait for it….the gift is coming to an upper room near you! Bam, Jesus is taken up to heaven and Jesus will return the same way in the near-far-any minute future!

Okay, scene is set.

The 11 apostles and others are in the upper room with the women. I’ll call the women “The Faithful Club”-they followed Jesus and cared for Him all the way to the cross and stayed near the cross at Jesus’s death. The Faithful Club was Mary- mother of Jesus aka (wife of Clopas and mother to James and Joses), Mary Magdalene, Salome- (the mother of Zebedee’s son -James and John (the apostles) and more daughters of Jerusalem.

There were about 120 believers constantly in prayer in the upstairs. Peter stands up and takes the floor. He tells of the fulfillment of the scripture regarding the death of Judas and his place of death called Akeldama or Field of Blood.  Peter reads Psalms 69:25- May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it, and Psalms 109:8 – May another take his place of leadership.

The time had come to choose one of the men who was with them from the beginning of John’s baptism until Jesus was taken to heaven. Who will it be? They prayed and cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added and now there were 12 again. Who are they, you ask..?    Peter aka Simon and Cephas, and his brother Andrew; John and his brother James aka sons of Zebedee (Boanerges, Sons of Thunder); Philip, Thomas aka Didymus, Bartholomew aka may be Nathanael; Matthew the tax collector aka Levi and son of Alphaeus and James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Thaddaeus aka Judas son of James, and lastly Matthias.

There are so many other aka’s….