The Lord Jesus told John to write to seven churches in Asia. The Lord Jesus is in the midst of the assembly as Judge to examine the conditions in the church. The angel of the church is the group of responsible brothers in the assembly. John explains the good things and the bad things about each assembly. These seven assemblies also explain what the condition of the church would be from its beginning up until the Lord Jesus comes to take us to heaven.
The church at Ephesus represents the history of the church starting with the death of the apostles until approximately the year 167. The Christians in Ephesus refused to allow bad teaching in the assembly, and they gave glory to the name of Jesus. But they were slowly losing their first love for the Person of Jesus Christ. So they did good works like a habit, as if it were a job, instead of doing them out of love for the Lord Jesus just like they did when they were first saved.
Smyrna means suffering. During the years between 167 and 313, false teachers taught Christians to live like Jews instead of Christians. They forgot that Jesus was coming to take Christians to heaven. They thought their blessing was on the earth. During these years, the Romans had ten periods of time when they were attacking and killing Christians. Jesus understood about their suffering and death. He also suffered and died as a martyr. The overcomer will receive a crown of life.
Every church is told, “He that hath an ear, let him hear.” So believers need to listen to the instructions given to each church.
1. What city was the assembly in Asia that represents the first period of church history? __________ Revelation 2:___
2. What first thing had the church in Ephesus left? __________ Revelation 2:___
3. What do we need to use to hear what the Spirit is teaching about the church at Ephesus? __________ Revelation 2:___
4. Jesus says He is the first and the last. He was dead. What is He now? __________ Revelation 2:___
5. The believers are overcomers. What will not hurt them? __________ Revelation 2:___