Bible Study: Assurance Through Jesus 12.23.10

King James Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Assurance Through Jesus
For: Thursday December 23, 2010
Chapters: Revelation 1-2
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-december-23

Details of Today's Chapters: John greets the seven churches, he sees a vision of Jesus, Jesus has a message for the seven churches, seven golden candlesticks, seven stars, Nicolaitanes, and Jezebel.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
The word revelation means the act of revealing or disclosing, disclosure, the Book of Revelation is God's disclosure of His own nature and His purpose for all mankind. The Book of Revelation is the twenty-seventh and final book of the New Testament, the sixty-sixth and final book of the Bible and contains twenty-two chapters. The author of the book is the Apostle John and it was written to seven churches in Asia and to all believers in general. The purpose of the book was to give encouragement and assurance to persecuted and troubled Christians. It is also a clear warning to unbelievers of the coming judgment of God on sin and unbelief. What we are to learn from the book is that God always does what He promises and has a great promise for all, who have received His Son. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” - Revelation 21:4.

One Sunday morning as John was praying and Jesus showed up, literally, in a vision as clear as the day, Jesus asks him to write letters to seven churches in Asia. “I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea...The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.”- Revelation 1:10-12, 20. The number seven is used to represent completion, “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” - Genesis 2:2. Therefore, Christ uses seven churches to represent God's completion of His purpose for all mankind.

Thirty years earlier these churches were vibrant healthy churches that had received letters from Peter and Paul. There were other Churches too, but Jesus addresses these seven because they were the churches the apostles traveled to and visited when they were in those areas. He first starts with the church of Ephesus, “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; 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: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 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.” - Revelation 2:1-5.

Ephesus was the influential capital city of Asia Minor (now Turkey) on the Aegean Sea, the Apostle Paul spent a lot of time there, as well as Peter and Timothy, the Ephesians were doing well at serving God, they studied the Bible and taught the right doctrine so well that they could call out a false prophet, but somehow The Church lost the zeal they had for Jesus, thus having left its first love. We can as Christians get so busy doing the work of the Lord that we too lose the zeal for Jesus, the enthusiasm, liveliness, and desire to serve Him. When we get to that point we need to take a step back, remind ourselves that we are serving a great and living God, and He is the one we serve. “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” - Psalm 100:1-3.


Now, Jesus addressed the church of Smyrna, “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; 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. 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.” - Revelation 2:8-10. Smyrna was located north of Ephesus in a powerful trading position on the Aegean Sea known for its harbors, commerce, and marketplaces. They were known as the persecuted church that suffered poverty and martyrdom. Jesus comforts them and assures them that they will be blessed and rewarded for their faithfulness. Jesus has the same message for every Christian who sticks it out and stand by Him through their tribulation. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” - James 1:12.

Now, Jesus addresses the church in Pergamos, “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;..But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication...Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” - Revelation 2:12,14, 16. Pergamos is located on the plains and foothills along the Caicus River in Western Turkey. It was considered a major city in Asia Minor since the 3rd century BC, and became a Greek and Roman hub for temple worship. They were known as the worldly church that mixed doctrines of Christ and Balaam (Numbers 22), now Jesus is warning them to repent before it is too late. This is a warning to all churches who worship idols, such as the virgin Mary, and allow immorality within the Church. There is nothing more powerful than the Word of God, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12.

Now, Jesus addresses the church of Thyatira, “And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not...And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. ”-Revelation 2:18-21,23. Thyatira is located in western Asia Minor about 42 miles inland from the Aegean Sea. The ancient city was known for its textiles and dyeing trade, and is now known as the Turkish city of Akhisar. They were known as the false church who allowed a seductive prophetess to come in bring idol worship and immorality into the Church. There are several churches that have been started by women, all of these churches face the same death. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” - Revelation 20:10.

Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” - John 5:24. While we as Christians can not be certain which trials are before us, one thing we can be certain of is that we will not face the lake of fire, but bypass it all the way up to heaven. Praise God!

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
Merry Christmas, Praise God, Jesus is the reason for the season.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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