Really Love Is Important (Revelation 2:1-7)
Gary McManus, 05/07/2023Part of the Words that Divide, Words that Unite series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
May 7, 2023 Revelation 2:1-7
Today: victory, defeat, and Jesus.
Always be cautious when reading the book of Revelation. Let’s state the obvious: for us, the book is written. For John, revelation was a vision. (Revelation 1:2) None of John’s churches had a Bible. None of them would have had a complete New Testament.
There is a problem in trying to establish any ORDER
of things that are seen. But writing a vision down
requires order: beginning, middle, ending.
If this has happened in your dreams, you know
the problem. Time is confused in dreams and
visions. And in some cases time frames were
of no interest to the Bible writers or readers.
Examples: Revelation 2:5: Jesus will come in
judgment AND at the end of all things.
In Revelation 7:9-12, the saints have come
through the Great Tribulation but it had not
yet happened. Understand the problem?
Notice what the church(es) in Ephesus had done well:
hard work, perseverance, intolerance of wicked people, endured hardships, and have not grown weary.
“tribulation” = press (grapes) / squeezed, stomped
That is what the churches are going through.
The virtues MOST praised in the book of Revelation are those listed above. Love is mentioned only twice (and both in chapter 2).
Thyatira is loving (Revelation 2:19). Ephesus has forgotten how to love.
The Ephesian intolerance for evil has turned into suspicion toward ALL others. It is hard to love if we are suspicious. Jesus cautioned wisdom AND innocence. (Matthew 10:16)
But notice the importance of being loving (Revelation 2:5).
So, how does a believer fail to follow Jesus?
Fail to love. ( John 13:34, John 15:12, John 15:17,
1 John 2:3, 1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:21, 2 John 1:6)
Walk in love= follow Jesus = “follow me”
The failure of the rich man to follow Jesus (Luke 18:22). Peter is astonished that Jesus isn’t a fisherman. (Luke 5:8)
So, how can one fail to be a Jesus follower? Wrong teaching? False teachers? Well, those ARE dangerous.
But how do you quit following Jesus?
If you give up loving others.
Example: Thyatira: (Revelation 2:18-20)
“Jezebel’s” teaching misleads the faithful into sexual immorality Sexual immorality— is NOT loving. There will be judgment (Revelation 2:23) See also 1 Corinthians 6:18, Galatians 5:19, Ephesians 5:3.
The real problem is not Jezebel, it is the TEACHING of Jezebel (Revelation 2:20) which leads to sexual immorality. The Apostle Paul confirmed the CENTRALITY of love, 1 Corinthians 13:2.
Remember Revelation, chapter 1
Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it. . . Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the (seven) churches.(Revelation 1:3, 1:11) Amen.
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