Revelation 1:19  Revelation is divided into 3 sections

1. Past – Revelation chapter 0ne – a revelation of Jesus Christ

2. Present – Revelation chapters 2-3 – the church age – the 7 churches

3. Future – Rev  4-22 – The Future

verse 20 – the 7 stars r the pastors of the churches.  The Lord deals with them

               – the 7 lampstands are the 7 churches – the church age

1. THE CHURCH AGE STARTED IN THE UPPER ROOM – Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:1-4, 8 & 2:1-21

-Acts reveals the pattern Jesus set up for every church

2. THE CHURCH AGE IS A MYSTERY – Eph 2:13-21 & 3:3-8

Mystery – means something hidden that is now revealed

-given to Paul that those who are Jewish & Gentile could be saved

3. THE CHURCH AGE ENDS WHEN THE RAPTURE OCCURS – 1 Thess 4:13-18

-the body of Christ is removed from the earth

The 7-year tribulation begins

4. THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH AGE – Matthew 28:18-20

-people are not going to hell on our watch

-We need doctrine and dirty feet

            The 7 Churches

-the 7 churches represent the 7 church ages for the entire body of Christ

-they were all actual churches located in Asia Minor – which today is Turkey

Ephesus – The Apostolic church age – Revelation 2:1-7 – 30-100AD

Smyrna – The Persecuted church age – 100-313AD – Rev 2:8-11

Pergamos – The Imperial church age – 313-600AD.- Rev 2:12-17

Thyatira – The Dark or Middle Ages – 600-1500AD – Rev 2:18-29

Sardis – The Reformation – 1500-1750AD – Rev 3:1-6

Philadelphia – The Modern Church Age – 1750-1900 – Rev 3:7-13

Laodicea – The Present church age – 1900 – Present – Rev 3:14-22

———this is our church age, which is the last one

                            EPHESUS – The Apostolic Church

1. Ephesus was the first church

2. Ephesus was the largest church

3. Timothy and John pastored the church

4. Paul pioneered the church  and stayed there for 3 years (Acts 20:31)

verse 1 – angel – means messenger – this refers to the pastor of the church here

hold – means a tight grip

***lampstands made of clay and Jesus looks at them as gold – perfect in His sight.  It also refers to the head of the church who is Jesus & He is God – Colossians 1:15-18

walks up and down – Jesus is in the midst of the church – recognize Him

church – means a called-out group of people who exist in society and begin to be and do something different

———-people are the church

-YOU ARE EPHESUS – the word Ephesus means to RELAX

              ***To be casual & laid back

              ***The Key is Christianity is sustainability – staying with it and being consistent

Ephesus had become a bunch of hot tub Christians – warm & fuzzy…lost their zeal and God enthusiasm

              How can we keep sustained fire & Victory?

***Stay and remain filled up with the Holy Spirit – Gal 5:16 & Eph 5:18-20

           -church helps you to be filled up, but does not fill you up

           -revival is personal……outpourings are groups of people

1. Being filled is revival

2. Being filled is daily

3. Being filled is a command

4. Being filled is not a church thing

5. Being filled defeats the flesh

6. Being filled helps you hear different voices

Sustained – is getting the fire, keeping the fire and increasing the fire

              JOHN SHARES 3 THINGS ABOUT THE CHURCH AT EPHESUS

1. The Commendation – vs1-3,6

2. The Complaint – vs4-5

3. The Challenge  – vs5,7

                               THE COMMENDATION

Verse 2 –

Know – means to observe and see.  Jesus personally observes all things

1. -works – all activities, doctrine, effort & actions

-Toil – means hard tiring work –

2. vs2-3 – endurance, patience, perseverance & steadfastness

-means to stick with it no matter what – to hold your ground no matter what attacks come…it is hang in there power

3. Ephesus stood against evil –

–they did not stand against people

-do not make the battle personal

-do not tolerate evil or endorse it

4. They tested people

-tested people saying they were apostles

5. You hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans – v6

hate – means to be disgusted with…something repulsive

***Jesus does not hate people ever.  He loves everyone

Nicolaitan – means to conquer and subdue the people.  It speaks of 2 things:

1. Leadership thinks that they are better than the people – above them

-subdue them – keep them restrained and pushed to the side

2. Compromise – you can act like a pagan and still be saved

There are Nicolaitans in the body of Christ today:

      ***They embrace everyone and their evil and sins

      *** Don’t judge anyone. Make everyone feel good

      ***No absolute truth.  We can believe in many ways to get to heaven