 Okay, good morning everybody. Welcome to BC 308 our course on revelation and Daniel Thank you for connecting to the class. We are journeying through revelation Reading scripture portion by portion and Looking at what we could draw from the scriptures Let's take a moment to pray, please and we will get started We may request somebody in the class to pray with all of us. Let's pray Go ahead everyone else or Grace is heavenly father. We thank you for this beautiful day Beautiful morning Lord It's time for the God we come to your Lord Jesus and as we Go through the book of revelation for the God we ask you that more of your revelation and understanding for God To help us to understand for the God Inside Lord Jesus and as we're here for the good we submit pastor asks his Lord Be with him Lord Jesus for the good at his as he is teaching for the good Give him a new revolutions for the God and We submit all of the students to your mighty hand in Jesus name. We pray Amen Hey, man Thank you All right, so We were in revelation chapter 2 and We had actually read the first seven verses the church in Ephesians and We were in the end of that looking at verses six and seven when we Kind of farm in a little hurried way closed our last lecture So let us quickly review a few things about the church in Ephesians and then Bring that to a close. Just look at verses six and seven and then we will move forward so We said as the Lord was Giving his message to the church in Ephesians He had a lot of good things to say about them The Lord is moving among the candlesticks. He's moving among the churches and He is looking at what's happening in every local church and every local community and to The church in Ephesians is he he commenced them said of good things. I know your works They were very diligent people. They've Enduring through hardship They were people who are very discerning They were testing out the false prophets and they were even You know, they were discerning this particular group called the Nicolletians And and they were rejecting them. It's okay, you know, we cannot associate with them So they're very spiritually discerning. They were also very determined they You know, they had persevered and so on but but in the process of all of that Something happened with the only the which the Lord could see and the Lord pointed out he said you have left your first love So it's not that they didn't have their first love. That means, you know They love the Lord but they had left their place of Doing the first works of focusing on Jesus. So that's why the Lord says I need you to repent and I need you to do the first works so there is repentance That is accompanied by works. That means our actions are demonstrating our Change of heart and mind our repentance. So first works are important Doing the first things that are most important. So when we said first love, we said, you know, priority first in time first in devotion are first in In in giving the Lord What he is to you and worship and Seeking him. So he says do the first works And then of course he didn't tell them not to do the things they were doing all of those things are good So this was a very strong message. They because it comes with a very strong warning. He says If you don't do that, I Will remove your candlestick from its place and that's very serious When a candlestick basically saying as a local church because the candlestick represents the local church as a local church You will not have a place in my presence. That is very serious right, so We were you know discussing a little bit last week on how As a community we need to maintain that that As a community, of course, we are going to be engaged in ministry We're going to be engaged in you know doing the things God's called us to do But while we're doing that, we must not miss out We must not leave our first love and we must not stop doing the first works. That's important so the last Point that we were dealing with was was six was a six and seven where he says You know that this church they had the church in Ephesians that I recognized the this group called the Nicolletians So this was a particular Group or you could call it a sect of people It's not much is known about them other than what we can infer We can infer just from the name Nicolletians That this was a just for meaning of the name that this was a group of people where the lady was suppressed the lady was put down and And so that's one of the things and then we also see later on that they were engaged in Immorality idolatry and things like that. So this particular set They were not you know, so the church in Ephesians were very very discerning They didn't let these people infiltrate into the church and so the Lord commenced them for that as well And then he promises them were seven that for overcoming They're going to eat from the tree of life Which is in the midst of the paradise of God. So this is again a very interesting verse because we see the tree of life which we read about or we read about in The Garden of Eden and we again read about in Revelation 22 the tree of life, which is for the Healing or the longevity of the nations doesn't mean, you know The tree is is it's its source but God is the source of health and healing and longevity but he gives the an expression to it through a natural means the tree of life and That is in the midst of the paradise of God. So paradise is in heaven now as Before in contrast to paradise Before the cross before the cross Paradise was in the lower parts of the earth also known as Abraham's bosom. It was a compartment of of The lower part of the earth hell So one side was paradise or Abraham's bosom where the saints were the saints the Old Testament saints were temporarily held And then the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven. He took them into heaven So paradise was transferred into heaven. And so in the New Testament, I mean off the cross in the New Testament Whenever this paradise referenced it is always in heaven. And here's one example in the midst of the paradise of God Okay, any questions about the church in a features before we move forward? Okay, so let's read verses eight through eleven. Please somebody could read it revelation to eight through eleven Please Chapter two was eight through eleven, please And To the angel of the church in the senior year right the words of the first and last we died came to life I know your tribulation and your party, but you are rich and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and not but our Son and God could save them to not fear what you're about to suffer before the devil is about to throw some Some of you Thank you so To the church in Smirna the Lord Recognizes some things he knows that They are in a place where They are being heavily persecuted and in spite of the persecution they are continuing To serve the Lord so he says Verse nine, I know your works But then look at it there is tribulation There is poverty and They are being blasphemed so there is a synagogue of there are there's a group of Jewish people who The Lord calls them as the synagogue of Satan a synagogue simply means an assembly a group gathering of people So these people They are Claiming to be Jews, but the Lord does says no no they are actually a group of people or Empowered by Satan and These that group is blaspheming against or speaking against the church there So the church in Smirna was you know what we would call a persecuted church they were Intribulation they are facing blasphemy and they were also you know, they were not very well-to-do. It's just the Poverty meaning they didn't have too much materially, but he says spiritually or rich spiritually you have it have a lot and in spite of that They were a church who were serving so this is one of the two churches one of so basically Two of the church two of the seven churches. He doesn't call to repent the church in Smirna and the church in Philadelphia so To the church in Smirna he says Don't be afraid of what these people are going to do to you So there's this group whom the Lord calls an assembly of Satan. This is all group is empowered by the devil and They're blaspheming and he says look he's telling them They're going to come and put some of you into prison and For ten days you will be you will have to relation ten days So this could be literally literal ten days or could be just a reference to a short period of time We don't know for sure But he says just be faithful till death and I will give you the crown of life and Notice how he begins in verse eight. He says I'm the one Who was dead and came to life? And then he's calling them to be faithful to death and I will give you the crown of life You see the connection between who he declares himself to be and Reward of the promise that he makes to the church. I Conquer death. I will give you a crown of life. You be faithful unto death. So that's very important for us, right then be when we Want to have conviction About something They need to look to the Lord himself. Who is that? That he is the one who conquered death Who's alive and therefore we have the conviction the assurance of the crown of life So we just have to be faithful to Jesus even unto death Knowing we will receive a crown of life because the one whom we are faithful to He is the one who has conquered death and he has come he came back to life So the church in Smyrna. There's a very short passage about it. I think that the good things for us to take away which is That in spite of the persecution they were working they were serving they were walking and living for Jesus now What is interesting which we will notice When compared in contrast to the church in Philadelphia is And I just want you to think about this In Revelation 3 in 9 chapter 3 verse 9 And the Lord is speaking to the church in Philadelphia. He says to them You also have you're also facing a Synagogue of Satan meaning an assembly of people who are attacking them So there also he mentions synagogue of Satan assembly of people empowered by the devil. They are attacking that you know They're coming against the church But very interesting To the church in Philadelphia. He says I Will make them come and bow at your feet Revelation chapter 3 Verse 9 He says I'll make those with a synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and nor and are not but lie Indeed, I will make them come and worship before your feet and to know that I have loved you So I want us to think about this There are two churches Smyrna church in Philadelphia They are both facing opposition from this group of People who are attacking them and the Lord calls them both. He calls them the assembly of Satan or assembly of the devil They're both attacking But in the case of Smyrna This synagogue of Satan Is doing harm That is in Revelation 2 verse 10 He says some of you will be put into prison and you're going to suffer and you just have to be faithful unto death To the church in Philadelphia. He says I'm gonna make them come and Worship at your feet and Make them acknowledge that I have loved you at Revelation 3 and verse 9 now. This is kind of perplexing said Lord Two churches They are people one is in Smyrna once in Philadelphia. They are facing this same kind of opposition But why is it that one church suffers and another church seems to be in Dominion one church these people are coming and attacking and putting them into prison and Maybe some of them are killed and here's another church and Those people are coming and bobbing at their feet Why is that this difference? Any thoughts? You understood the question Yes, go ahead. It's a very good observation Just came to my attention now even to have read this before But the only thing that could caught my mind is me because the churches are in different regions so what What the church is minus facing is peculiar to the region they find himself and That of Philadelphia is different that that's only thing I could come to my mind Good anyone else go ahead, please When you are sharing about it the only thing that comes to mind mind is Because it's the sovereignty of God. It's different in different places. I don't and I cannot kill Not able to come to a reason why it's like that Okay anyone else, thank you, you know Kennedy has put in the chat lack of faith Anything else why is it different, you know two churches the Lord Jesus loves both Why could there be this So there's the question was We're comparing Smirna the church in Smirna with the church in Philadelphia Both of them this is comparing revelation to verse 10 and revelation 3 verse 9 both of them are facing opposition by a Similar kind of community called. I mean these are people are claiming to be Jews, but the Lord Jesus is just Calls both of these groups as groups of Satan So both these churches both these local churches are facing opposition But what we are saying what we are seeing is One church is suffering the church in Smirna I believe a revolution to 10 this group comes and put some of them in prison. Maybe even up to death Listen the church in Philadelphia Revelation 3 9 the Lord is saying I will make to come and bow at your feet So that they will know I have loved you So we are trying to understand, you know, why is why would there be this difference of different people are sharing their thoughts? Please go ahead and say Another thing that I would tie to what sister Rupa mentioned was She said the sovereign will could also be the purpose of the church I know it's something difficult for us to or even myself saying it It's difficult to say that a church was raised for the purpose to show how to stand Trials even on to death Could it be that the church? Was raised for that purpose and God wants to do something through that church to show them What it means to stand on to that and then for the church in Philadelphia God wants to show his power over Satan and all those who Devising ways to bring down the church and going against them So it could just be the purpose of God for this church is and we Were simply out in scripture here That's another angle I could come from Okay, good. Thank you Avani As I'm reading the passage pastor I found this verse 10 for the Church of Smyr night says That you are about to suffer, but you may be tested so they are Have to go through their test to prove their obedience and their love for law but on the other side For Philadelphia. He says you have kept my word. I've not denied my name So I think they've already been through the test and they have come out Victorious overcomers and then also he says in verse 10 because you have kept my command to persevere I will keep you from the hour of trial So there is a time of testing which they have already been through they've tested and they have Overcome and for them it is yet to be done. That's my observation from the Very good. Good observation. Good Christopher Provoker He is possible The church of Smirna was the second church and it was Heavy heavy persecuted during the time And both the churches were in There was a lot of time difference between these churches establishments out there So The Smirna church was the second church after the Ephesus or the apostolic church. So people were so much into the So much into the godliness that time but due to the spread of Christianity that time Romans were used to pursue the people of Smirna the Church of Smirna a lot and they stood Through the persecution and some of them had given their lives as it as the matter you know And then the church of Philadelphia is almost coming to the sixth church There are almost people had come through many trials and temptations this stood by and in other ways like the church of Philadelphia is called the judgment our church where people have to be strict to their Their roots and God said that I will open a door which no one will close So they might be the opportunity that most of the Christians during that time in the Philadelphia one where Learn a lot from their previous churches and and I guess their strength come from their their ancestors and also They they were more spiritually mature and saw all the things As compared to the people of Smirna so I think comparison between the second church and the sixth church was was Just because of the time zones they were into and the kind of the kind of environmental Issues are political issues or are the government changes and many things They went through so That is one of the main cultural or historical differences between the Smirna and fill it with the egg is passed. Thank you So how much time difference was there between Smirna and Philadelphia Smirna was like established Hundred eighty to three thirteen eighty hundred eighty to three thirteen eighty and When was John living John was exactly a pastor John So when was the book of Revelation written 8090? approximately So, how could you say Smirna was three thirteen eighty? Faster it was like I went into researches and all that so yeah, so that research is wrong Okay, okay remember in chapter one when we began this whole study Yes, we said we should not do exactly what you're saying We said that when we began Revelation, you know based on Revelation 119 The Lord Jesus told John write the things which are so these seven churches were existing in John's time and I did mention that you will find a lot of writings where people have taken the seven churches and Extrapolated them to refer to seven time periods, which is wrong Okay, pastor. Thank you. The seven churches were there during John's time. That means they were all there at the same time During 8090 so John is speaking to them. The Lord is speaking to them through John They were existing right there at the same time, right? So We shouldn't I mean at least I would I would suggest not to adopt this I mean, there are a lot of books a lot of things right and you can't just accept everything you have to reason you to think We shouldn't accept people who's you know Revelation 119 the Lord is saying right to these churches not right to seven time periods Right to these seven church. These were literal churches at that time So they were all there at the same time. In fact, they were established in a Paul established the church in Ephesians Acts 19 and He trained people and we know You know these seven churches along with church in Colossae church and you know, they were all in the vicinity You know, so They were all there and these seven churches all then very close to each other The people who were pasting leading the churches or who have planted churches were most likely trained by the Apostle Paul During that time. So that's the history which we discussed in chapter one Okay, but thanks. Thanks. Thank you for sharing Yeah So Chris. Yeah, Christopher, you were going to say something Yes, I actually quite similar to one of the other people saying But I one of the things I didn't know this was that I inferred basically from from the church in Philadelphia Is that you know, they had the right attitude and they were they were they were doing good works which It got recognized and therefore, you know, he was sort of Helping them in this in this process of you know dealing with You know with potential issues that that they were facing. So yeah, the right attitude, I think was was there and also the works that they were doing Okay, so I see the comments in the chat Protection at their level of understanding our share rights, they were not keen to keep the word and also lack of knowledge Maxon shares obedience and faith the church before God Come below maybe strength ability But the one or her The the church in Philadelphia kept the word kept the command. Yeah, so good. I know I just want to thank everyone Thank you for all sharing all your thoughts and you know, that's the whole point here to just look at all the You know the perspectives that we can bring now obviously It is not stated here The Lord is not saying because of this and because of that, you know, it's an explicitly stated so we should just try to Draw what we can from the information that's given and was about the church in Smyrna about the church in Philadelphia now There is no variableness on the side of God. That means on the Lord's side the head of the church He has no favorites and he loves the church in Smyrna as much as he loves the church in Philadelphia or Ephesians or any other location. He loves them equally. There is no, you know favoritism. There's no variableness from God's side so the variables would be on our side, right here on earth and Obviously, there there are there is some very, you know, we were just I'll just use the term variables There are some variables that are causing this difference in experience Between the two churches, even though they are facing somewhat a similar Opposition that basically the opposition is coming from he in both the cases He mentions a group of people who are calling themselves Jews, but they're actually empowered by Satan, right? So What we do know is that there were Jewish brethren Jewish people many people Judaizers who are attacking the Christians. We know that so the primary opponents were the Judaizers the People from the Jewish people were attacked, you know, and we know historically people like Saul and others. They attacked the believers So the church what he said to the facing opposition from a synagogue of Satan these people are actually empowered by the devil So the variables are on our side Now we don't know for sure, but I think all the observations that we shared here were very good And if I were to put it in one sentence, I would just say that the churches were in a different spiritual level or spiritual state, right? They were in different spiritual state one They were there at the same time they were there at the you know during this time John was writing 80 90 They must all have been started between AD Early 60s to now it's early 90s So then these churches would happen about 30 years of it 30 years old is how do you know that because? Paul the apostle Paul On a third missionary journey, which was around was the early part of 86 80s, you know He was on a third missionary journey when he came to Ephesians and he started the church in Ephesians He spent three years there So we know the church in Ephesians was planted sometime in early 60 80 60 Here we are 80 90 when John is writing so about 30 years and these other churches all started around the same time So these all these churches about 30 years into their spiritual journey But they're in a different spiritual level That means 30 years of elapsed all these seven churches have existed for approximately 30 years But they're in a spiritual they're in a different spiritual level as we will compare we can compare all the seven churches You know as very once we read all of them you can contrast Hey, they're all they they all were planted during the apostolic time Paul and you know the people he trained So they all lived out approximately the same duration of time But spiritually they're in a different place Some are in a very bad spiritual place like we will see the church and laudicea the church in Sardis they're not in a very good spiritual place But some of them are in a good spiritual place church in Philadelphia, they're in a place of authority dominion so the spiritual journey they have made Contributes to the variables that we can see now The observations that you've different ones we've made you know terms of attitude the terms of them having endured testing demonstrating the commitment to God and the word of God and You know Holding on enduring and all of the different I think all of those are very important but those are what bring us into a different spiritual level in contrast to That would have brought the church in Philadelphia to a different spiritual level in contrast to the church and smirna which existed about the same time but The Lord said okay, you need to go you have to go through this you got to be tested All right, so That's what we can in for and I'm not saying that this is you know chapter in words because it's not given for us But I think it's good to think through and say okay, you know, what is it is there can be differences Between local church communities even though they've all existed the same period for same duration of time Spiritually there are in different place and therefore, you know, you're seeing what they're going through That doesn't mean that the Lord loves anyone any less than the other right on God's side There is no variation On our side, we are making a spiritual journey. And so there are differences Okay So let's go to and I've spent a lot more time than I wanted go ahead say please Thank you pastor. I was just wondering in relation to what you're seeing now is Is there can we observe something about how Jesus Christ introduces himself to each church? He introduces himself to each other differently So does this tie into what you said the dimension to which a church grows is to which the Lord would manifest himself? because he introduces himself differently as related to whether it's an issue or whether it's It's just it's something they're doing good or doing well, so I don't know if that ties into what you're saying sir Yeah We can observe that definitely we can observe that as And that's a good observation to make like how the Lord introduces himself to each local church It is ink. Do you see a correlation between how his introduction to either What he observes in them or what he's calling them to do, you know, so for example When he introduces himself to the church in Ephesus, he's saying look, I am like the invigilator, you know I'm the one who's looking at everything and I'm watching what's going on You know, so in other words, he's saying look you've got everything good, but I can see beyond that I can see where you are spiritually. You've left your first love, you know, so she kind of introduces himself that way To the church like we just mentioned the church and smithernize saying look I'm the giver of life So even if you have to die, hey, you know that you're going to get a crown of life So there is a correlation In how the Lord introduces himself to each church and what they're going through Okay, let's try to move fast. I just Spend too much time here Revelation chapter 2. Let's move please to verses 12 through 17 3 verses each please somebody could read And to the angel of the church in Bergamos, right These things as he who has the sharp to its sword I know your works and where you dwell With their sittings thrown is and you hold fast my name and did not did not deny my faith Even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr was killed among you with sitting dwells But I have a few things against you If you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam Who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel To And to commit sexual immorality Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolletians thing I hate Depend or else I will come to quickly and fight against them with the sword of my mouth He who has a beer let him hear what the spirit says to the churches To him who comes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat And I will give him a white stone and on the stone a new name written Which no one knows except him who receives it Thank you so I just want to bring our attention to another aspect the issue of doctrine or doctrine is a Old english word for teaching and what do we teach what the the doctrine in these two churches that is the The church in Pagamos, which we are looking at right now As well as the church in Taira We see the lord highlighting the importance of doctrine and the effect of doctrine On the local church In both these you know for both these churches So it's very interesting if you look everywhere He says doctrine doctrine or teaching if you underline that you'll see he talks a lot about that and you find that to to the church in Pagamos He says, you know, again, this is a church That is living in a very difficult city Jesus says it is verse 13 is it's where Satan's throne is. I mean In this city in Pagamos Certainness having so much of influence. He's got his throne there very difficult city And there are cities like that Where there is so much of demonic influence and this Pagamos was one of those And Jesus just recognizes, you know, Satan's got his throne there in that city And but still the believers that they are holding on to the word of the Lord Jesus And one of them was even martyred And killed among them. So, you know But they are facing persecution or threat to their life They're living in a very Demonic city a city where Satan has his throne Now in such a kind of a city, what would be Satan's strategy? You can understand that in such a kind of a city Satan would try to infiltrate the church through doctrine Wrong doctrine and Jesus points of two kinds of wrong doctrines during that time Which this church the church in Pagamos had to defend itself against He says there is there are those who are teaching the doctrine of Balaam Basically There was this teaching that was saying, you know, it's okay to eat things offered to idols and to commit immorality That's Jesus referring to it that teaching as the doctrine of Balaam Then there is was the doctrine of the Nicoletians. We've mentioned that in the earlier church Church in Smyrna the teaching of the Nicoletians again Just by the name Nicoletians, Nicol means to have a thought dominion Latians the laity so to have authority on the ladies, you know, what people Interpret this particular group to be us And Jesus says I hate this very strong words verse 15 the doctrine of the Nicoletians Which I hate so there are certain doctrine Or kinds of teaching that Jesus says I hate that kind of teaching In this particular case going by the name of the group. It was a teaching that would suppress the laity And He also says here this doctrine of Balaam So the problem with the church in Pagamos ears they Let these doctrines creep into the church Because he says verse 14 I have a few things against you except the two verse 14 in other words You didn't guard yourself against you should have of course you should have you know You should have protected the church from this but it's come in and Therefore he's saying look I I got this against you and he calls them to repent Otherwise I'm going to speak my Doctorate my word. It's very interesting as we saw as you mentioned earlier how we introduce himself to the church Right. He says look, I've got a sharp to it. It's sword in my hand meaning. I am also somebody who speaks Speaking my word my word is a double-edged sword What was their problem? They were letting the wrong words come in And he's saying if you don't repent, I'm going to speak my word Right and this time this word is going to Not just you know, the double-edged sword can be a blessing set you free or the double-edged Sword can penetrate and and and bring about judgment because I will fight against them with the sword of my mouth the people of come in who are Causing all these problems, you know, I did so it's going to be shaking in that particular Congregation because the Lord is going to start judging these people who have somehow come in To the congregation and they are They have infiltrated that congregation with this wrong teaching So he says You overcome You're going to eat the manner the good food the spiritual food that I'm going to give and a new name so What can we take away from this? We have to as I'm talking about incense of a local church We have to protect the local church From people who bring in because that's what ultimately happened, you know Hey Verse 16 I will fight against them or the people who held on to this doctrine who came in So we have to protect so in those days It was the doctrine of Balaam It was the doctrine of the Nicolatians today here. We are in the 21st century There are other kinds of doctor So can you imagine you know You know Wrong kinds of doctrine people are bringing it in and If the church today embraces that The Lord is going to speak to us the same way He says look I hate that I hate that doctrine or that kind of teaching Because it's not aligned to who he is. It's not aligned to his teaching The right teaching comes from his mouth The sword comes from his mouth. His word is what should be filling his church but then when we Permit wrong things to come in Then he says look then I will need to judge these people. They'll be shaking in the church and That's going to be painful at that time Any thoughts any questions on this? Okay So let's please take a quick break And we need to pick up a little speed Let's try to finish Chapter three I mean finish from chapter two verse 18 to If you can do till end of chapter three, that'll be good. Let's try it. Okay So I come back in 10 minutes and go forward. Thank you