Thus, the first section of revelation is the first chapter. Richard bauckham in his superb the theology of the book of revelation points out that the role of christ in prophesying to the churches is essential to our prophesying to the world. It made me start thinking again when i first learnt that this first love is not our love for him but jesuss love for us. Loss of first love sermon by ed wood, revelation 2. Ephesus had some unique challenges for a christfollower in that it was home to the emperors cult and the worship of the greek goddess artemis acts 19. So, the divine author of revelation is jesus christ and the human author is the apostle john.
In chapter 1 the entire book of revelation is introduced as the. From start to finish, it tells the story of the war in the heavenlies for the love of the bride of christ. Pastor chuck smith teaches us a bible study on first love, revelation 2. This is not johns message to the ephesian believers. Second, love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. The first church preached, be on the alert, for you do not know which day your lord is coming matthew 24.
Of course, i overbook my schedule to hide my negligence. If we are to correctly interpret and apply the message contained in this passage we must first pause to look at the first three chapters as a whole. Sermon the book of revelation is a fascinating book. Then i literally fell in love with the book and began to teach it all over the world. You hate the works of the nicolaitans, which i also hate. The ephesian church is also commended for its perseverance and endurance.
It appears again in the book of revelation, in the 22nd chapter. Dec 05, 2001 yet christ tells us to repent regret our recent actions and change and do the first works revelation 2. Jan 02, 2020 the first thing to note in this letter to the ephesian church is that the message is from the lord jesus christ. The author names himself as john, but modern scholars consider it unlikely that the author of revelation also wrote the gospel of john.
Jan 31, 2001 it is being totally head over heels in love. Without a revelation of gods unconditional love you can do good works, but they are not necessarily christs works. Christian devotional on remembering our first love,womens. Theres an old saying which says, the good is ever the enemy of the best. There we see the new heaven and the new earth, and the tree of life is in the midst of the city. The lord also rebuked the ephesian church for losing its first love see revelation 2. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope.
Home content index books of the bible revelation left your first love. King james bible nevertheless i have somewhat against thee. These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. Mar 19, 2019 the book of revelation starts with this is a revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. Nancy explores christs letter to the ephesian church in the book of revelation and points out.
This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation. John is told to write down everything god shows him, and boy is god going to show him some strange things. Nevertheless i have this against you, that you have left your first love. Losing your first love contributed by melvin newland on jan 31, 2001 message. Jesus letter to the angel possibly the pastor of the church in ephesus in revelation 2 gives us a big clue as to how this works. In this interview, thomas schreiner discusses the book of revelation. Oct 04, 2016 then i literally fell in love with the book and began to teach it all over the world. Silouan the athonite 18661938 and founder of the patriarchal and stavropegic monastery of st.
Apr 14, 2020 the book of revelation is a book of romance. If you have left your first love, you must turn and head back toward the lord jesus. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. Hes just a mildmannered christian guy living in exile whenpow. They equate their calling to this way of life as their pearl of great price matthew. Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent. The interesting thing to me is that it is this invisible war which we are studying in the book of revelation. Jesus christ praised the church in ephesus for their works, labor, patience and perseverance revelation 2. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a.
He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant john. God hits him with a doozy of a revelation hey, thats not a bad idea for a title. And here, at the very beginning of this book, the church is in the forefront in the frontline trenches. Remember thy first love is a graphic description of the three stages in the christian life according to elder sophrony of essex 18961993, disciple of st. Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks in the midst of the seven golden menorot. There are all sorts of wild and weird images of beasts, dragons, angels and plagues. The first thing to note in this letter to the ephesian church is that the message is from the lord jesus christ.
Part 1 letters to the seven churches part 2a the first scroll. He reflects on the best way to approach the book when studying it for the first time, explains what the mark of the beast is really all about, and offers words of counsel and encouragement for pastors hesitant to preach through revelation in their churches. I understand the greek can be translated both ways. To the angel or messenger of the church in ephesus. Order of end time events 46 part 2b the first scroll. What they needed to do is what they did at first which is to trust in the love of god for them not in their love for him.
What was jesus message to the church in ephesus in revelation. Losing your first love sermon by melvin newland, revelation 2. Its twelve fruits, one for each month, is the food of the people of the city. But i have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Why the book of revelation is really a romance story. Now, repentance means changing your mind and turning to go in the opposite direction. Sometimes called the apocalypse which is a transliteration of the greek word for revelation. The church has lost hat first love that caused a cry to erupt in them, even so lord jesus, come quickly revelation 22. Since the whole book is divided into three sections, and since the first section is in chapter one and the third section is from chapter four to the end, the second section must consist of chapters two and. Its meaning is positive, not fearful or terrifying to those who serve god. Travelers going to and from rome to the east would go through ephesus.
The book of revelation the only new testament prophetical book is the revealing of the complete identity of jesus christ. We now hear the message, the lord has delayed his coming. Hi mr ellis, it is such a blessed revelation reading your understanding on the first love in rev2. It is the love that you experienced when you saw the cross as it really was. Apr 05, 2010 hi mr ellis, it is such a blessed revelation reading your understanding on the first love in rev2. What does it mean to have left your first love revelation. God defines love as the first and second greatest commandments. As a result we have a political earthquake which is shaking europe to its foundations. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ.
Today it is just about my favorite book in the bible with mark, john, and ephesians, and when i started a commentary series on the new testament, that was the first book i did. The name revelation comes from the first word of the book in koine greek. The book of revelation starts with this is a revelation from jesus christ, which god gave him to show his servants the events that must soon take place. While many associate the word apocalypse with great disaster, the book of revelation begins and ends by saying that those who read, understand, and apply its message would be happy for doing so. After the first century, apostles were not recognized by the church, so this would not have applied after this period. Nevertheless i have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love. If you have ever doubted christs love for you, open up revelation 1. Every christian should be aware of the danger of leaving his first love for the. These things said he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the middle of the seven golden candlesticks. Someone has taught that this first love is love feasts, which are our communion services.
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