Apocalipse 2
Tony Garland · Citado em PreceptAustin
Apocalipse 2
Garland points out that "A key attribute of those who are not what they appear to be is their self proclamation." (PRINCIPLE - Be suspect of anyone who comes into your fellowship and begins to proclaim their glorious abilities!) The New Testament repeatedly insists on the necessity of testing spiritual ideas and people -- (1) the spirits of men who claimed to be sent from God were tested by their willingness to accept the Incarnation of Jesus Christ "and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God." (1Jn 4:1-3+). (2). Paul wrote "examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good" (1Th 5:21+). (3). Paul insisted that, when the prophets preached, they were to be subject to the testing of the other prophets (1Co 14:29). (4). Jesus demanded the hardest test of all which was to test them "By their fruits" (Mt 7:15,16+). Even though it was some 30-40 years (or so) prior that Paul had warned the Ephesian elders,the spiritual leaders, and they seem to have for the most part (see exception below) taken to heart Paul's clear warning to... “Be on guard (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) for yourselves (THEY SEEM TO HAVE MISSED THIS PART - THE LEADERS WERE NOT GUARDING THEIR OWN HEARTS - AND THEY LOST THEIR FIRST LOVE) and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you (AN "INSIDE JOB!"), not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 “Therefore be on the alert, (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) remembering (THEY FORGOT TO REMEMBER!!!) that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears. (Acts 20:28-31+) Paul writes of some of the ways of false apostles For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers (dolios from dolos = bait - LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON - 2 Cor 11:3), disguising (metaschematizo - alter the outward appearance in such a way as to deceive to be what one is not) themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds. (2Co 11:13-15+) Evil (bad, harm) (2556) (kakos related word = kakia) is a word which basically denotes a lack of something so that it is "bad" or "not as it ought to be. Kakos means not meeting accepted standards of behavior, and thus worthless, bad or inferior. Kakos then speaks of lack of goodness, of a bad nature. morally, of persons characterized by godlessness evil, bad Toil (2873)(kopos from kopto = chop, hew, cut down, strike; figuratively to lament which apparently came from the idea of striking one's breast) (See related verb kopiao) is strictly a smiting as a sign of sorrow, then sorrow itself. Kopos (toil) denotes labor to the point of sweat and exhaustion. It describes an all-out effort, demanding all that a person has to give—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Kopos thus describes a state of discomfort or distress, trouble, difficulty, transferring the sense of the primary meaning which is beating. Kopos referring to labor conveys the sense that the labor involves toil, fatigue, suffering, weariness and sorrow. It thus speaks of an intense effort which can be united with trouble. In short kopos conveys the idea of arduous toil involving sweat and fatigue and emphasizes the weariness which follows as a result of the straining of all of one's powers to the utmost. Test (3985)(peirazo) can have several nuances depending on the context: (1) trials with a beneficial purpose and effect, (2) divinely permitted or sent, (3) with a good or neutral significance, (4) of a varied character, (5) definitely designed to lead to wrong doing, temptation, (6) of men trying or challenging God. The trials may come from God or under His permissive will from Satan, or may be the result of our own wrong doing. The solicitations to do evil come from the world, the evil nature (the "flesh"), or the Devil. Related Resources: What is an apostle? | GotQuestions.org Is God restoring the offices of apostle and prophet in the church today? | GotQuestions.org (Short answer = No). Was the Apostle Paul actually a false prophet? | GotQuestions.org What is the difference between a disciple and apostle? | GotQuestions.org How can I increase my spiritual discernment? | GotQuestions.org What does the Bible say about discernment? | GotQuestions.org Revelation 2:3 and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. NET Revelation 2:3 I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. NLT Revelation 2:3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. ESV Revelation 2:3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. NIV Revelation 2:3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. GNT Revelation 2:3 καὶ ὑπομονὴν ἔχεις καὶ ἐβάστασας διὰ τὸ ὄνομά μου καὶ οὐ κεκοπίακες. KJV Revelation 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. ASV Revelation 2:3 and thou hast patience and didst bear for my name's sake, and hast not grown weary. CSB Revelation 2:3 You also possess endurance and have tolerated many things because of My name and have not grown weary. NKJ Revelation 2:3 "and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name's sake and have not become weary. NRS Revelation 2:3 I also know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up for the sake of my name, and that you have not grown weary. YLT Revelation 2:3 and thou didst bear, and hast endurance, and because of my name hast toiled, and hast not been weary. you have perseverance Ps 69:7 Mic 7:9 Mk 15:21 Lu 14:27 1Co 13:7 Ga 6:2 Heb 13:13 have endured: Rev 1:9 Rev 3:10 Ps 37:7 Lu 8:15 Lk 21:19 Ro 2:7 Ro 5:3,4 Ro 8:25 12:12 Ro 15:4,5 Col 1:11 2Th 3:5 Heb 6:12,15 10:36 Heb 12:1 Jas 1:3,4 James 5:7-11 2Pe 1:6 hast laboured (ONLY IN KJV): Ro 16:12 1Co 16:16 2Co 5:9 6:5 10:15 11:23 Php 2:16 4:3 1Th 1:3 2:9 5:12 2Th 3:8 1Ti 4:10 5:17 Heb 6:10 have not grown weary: Lu 18:1 2Co 4:1,16 Ga 6:9 2Th 3:13 Heb 12:3-5 Revelation 2 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries CHRIST'S COMMENDATIONS CONTINUE (7) and you have perseverance - NRSV is an accurate rendering "you are enduring patiently" (Rev 2:3NRSV) because Have is in the present tense indicating that they had continued perseverance, or as the NRSV renders it "you are enduring patiently." Although they had moved away from their first love (Rev 2:4), they continued to manifest an attitude of of patience and steadfastness, continuing to manifest the capacity to bear up in the face of difficulty. Perseverance pictures the saints at Ephesus steadfastly and unflinchingly bearing up under a heavy load, a quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. While they shared some of the commendable traits of the church at Thessalonica, they lacked love (Rev 2:4), Paul commending this first church in Europe writing they were "constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness (hupomone) of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father." (1 Th 1:3+) Earlier John had described his own perseverance (hupomone), the Source of his perseverance being "in Jesus." (Rev 1:9+). and (8) have endured (bastazo) for My name's sake - The CSB is a good rendering = "have tolerated many things because of My name." NET has "endured much for the sake of My Name." This commendation indicates that the saints at Ephesus continued "bearing up" (NRSV)(bastazo in the present tense). What motivated their endurance? They endured for the sake of Christ's Name and clearly did not deny His Name or their association with Him. Jesus had warned His disciples that when they stand for Him, the world would come against them (see Mt 5:10, 11, 12+, Mt 10:22, cf 2 Ti 3:12+, Php 1:29+, et al). This attitude would speak to some degree of devotion and reverence to Christ, despite the fact that they generally had left their first love. One more point of caution -- we need to make sure when we are reviled, persecuted, slandered, etc, it is for HIS sake. And (9) have not grown weary (kopiao - perfect tense) - The Ephesian saints seemed to have been heeding the exhortation of Paul "Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (Gal 6:9) Our love for Him is the fuel that fires our compassion and service to others. --Gotquestions.org Warren
Apocalipse 2
Garland on fallen - Their current estate is said to be lower than before. As they drifted apart from God in their relationship, their spiritual state also declined. Have fallen is in the perfect tense—the fall had already taken place (AND WAS NOW THEIR STATE), and Jesus is concerned about their present spiritual condition. One might ask from where had they fallen? Recall what Paul said about them in Ephesians 2:6+ "and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." They had in a sense fallen from an understanding of their lofty, exalted position in Christ as well as their "love for all the saints," (Eph 1:15+) which Paul had commended them for in his letter in about 60-61. Rod Mattoon - The first step in being rescued is acknowledging your need. They needed to remember or keep on remembering from where they had fallen. It is when we forget what God had done for us or decisions we have made for the Lord, that we begin to digress spiritually and fall flat on our face. God tells them they need to remember where they came from. Memory is precious and also haunting. (Treasures from Revelation) That this falling is not beyond repair Jude 24-25+ assures us "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. Revival is the Church remembering, the Church repenting, and the Church repeating. -- Rod Mattoon And repent - Repent (metanoeo) is a command in the aorist imperative (JUST DO IT! DO NOT DELAY! DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! - see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey and for God to grant it - see below) and calls for a change of mind and purpose that in turn results in an individual turning from sin and unto God. It is an "urgent appeal for instant change of attitude and conduct before it is too late." (A T Robertson). Such a change involves more than fearing the consequences of God’s judgment. Genuine repentance knows that the evil of sin (in this case leaving one's first love) must be forsaken and the person and work of Christ totally and singularly embraced. John gives us an excellent working definition of repentance declaring to the Pharisees "bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance." (Mt 3:8+). In other words, a genuine change of mind (repentance) is shown to be genuine by the subsequent production of "fruit" or "good works." Good works are Spirit initiated and energized works, works such as "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness" (Gal 5:22+) Note their first aspect of the Spirit's fruit is LOVE, the very thing in which the saints at Ephesus were deficient! John
Apocalipse 2
Garland - It is Christ’s desire that “those who hear the words of this prophecy” (Rev. 1:3+) not only hear the subject matter, but understand its significance. This phrase recognizes the reality that those whose hearts are not open to Christ may hear (or read) the words, but will not understand the message: If we desire that God would reveal more to us, we must first respond in obedience to that which has already been revealed. If we fail to respond to what He has already revealed, then we stand to lose what we already understand (Mark 4:24-25+; Luke 8:18+). Spurgeon rightly said "There are many, who have ears, who do not hear to any real purpose. There is the physical act of hearing, but they do not hear in the heart and the mind. It is a very different thing to have an impression on the drum of the ear and to have an impression on the tablet of the heart. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” Mark Hitchcock - One of my favorite lines from the lips of Jesus is His oft-repeated statement, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Jesus is saying, "Look, if you have a set of ears on your head you'd better use them and listen up to what I'm about to say." It's a direct challenge to us to be spiritually sensitive to the words of Jesus. The responsibility to listen carefully to Him is serious. (ED: OUR RESPONSIBILITY = TO HEAR & HEED; GOD'S SOVEREIGN PROVISION = 1Co 2:14-16 cf Isa 50:5) As we move into a careful study of Jesus' forecast for the future, I can't think of a better reminder. Let's listen carefully and willingly to the mighty Master as He leads us down the corridors of time to the end of the age. And be ready to follow His instructions about how to live while we wait for that day to come. (See What Jesus Says about Earth's Final Days) John
Apocalipse 2
Garland - The tree of life is a common motif for righteousness and wisdom in Scripture (Ps. 1:3; Pr. 3:18; 11:30; 13:12; 15:4) for it is by righteousness and wisdom that life is lived to the full. For this reason, the Jews referred to the Word of God as the “tree of life”. “[Torah scrolls are] written on parchment, sewn together, rolled onto wooden rollers called eytz chayeem (tree of life), and read regularly in the synagogue.” During the present age, while man is barred from the tree of life, God has provided another tree of life: the cross of Jesus Christ. Those who place their trust in His atoning work upon the cross have eternal life (John 3:14-16). Even though every man has been bitten by the Serpent (Gen. 3:15), by merely looking upon this tree in faith, he will be healed (Num. 21:9). In the eternal state, believers will once again obtain full access to the tree of life (Rev. 22:2, 14+). The promise made to the overcomer is an essential element of salvation. In the eternal state, man will still be dependent upon God for access to the tree of life (Rev. 22:2+) because independence from God is sin. John Stott - The promise in this case is particularly apt. It offers free access to the tree of life in God’s paradise, whose fruit was previously forbidden to fallen human beings. This means the enjoyment of eternal life in heaven. But what is eternal life if it is not to know and love God and his Son Jesus Christ (John 17:3)? And what is heaven but the abode of love? For heaven is where God is, and God is love. So the reward of love is more love in the perfect communion of heaven. No hint is given in this letter as to how love may be quickened, but John tells us the way in his first letter. “We love,” he writes, “because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This prior love of God took Christ to the cross to die for our sins. There he gave himself for us with the absolute self-giving of love, as he bore our sins in his own body. “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). The cross is the blazing fire at which the flame of our love is kindled, but we have to get near enough to it for its sparks to fall on us. So the church today, like the church of Ephesus, has a work to be done, a fight to be fought and a creed to be championed. But above all it has a person to be loved, with the love we had for him at first, a love undying. (BORROW What Christ thinks of the church : Revelation 1-3 expounded) Barclay on tree of life - Adam was first forbidden to eat of the tree of life, and then he was barred from the garden so that the tree of life was lost forever. But it was a regular Jewish belief that, when the Messiah came and the new age dawned, the tree of life would be in the centre of all people, and those who had been faithful would eat of it. The wise man said: ‘Those who do what is pleasing to him enjoy the fruit of the tree of immortality’ (Sirach [Ecclesiasticus] 19:19). The Rabbis had a picture of the tree of life in paradise. Its boughs overshadowed the whole of paradise; it had 500,000 fragrant perfumes and its fruit as many pleasant tastes, every one of them different. The idea was that what Adam had lost the Messiah would restore. To eat of the tree of life means to have all the joys that the faithful conquerors will have when Christ reigns supreme. Paige Patterson has an interesting note related to archaeology and the tree of life - First, there is the apparent connection to the Artemesion, which was the jewel of Ephesus. Excavations, as well as examination of historical sources, have led to the discovery that a large garden area was a part of the temple of Artemis in Ephesus. In the heart of that garden, there was a tree, either an oak or an elm. Hemer notes: For the Christian in Domitianic Ephesus these thoughts would, I suggest, have come to a focus in a contemporary reality. The words of the epistle contrasted with a shocking parody which the pagan cult of the city offered. At the heart of its changing fortunes was the theocratic power of the Artemis temple, marked by the fixed point of the ancient tree-shrine which was the place of “salvation” for the suppliant, surrounded by an asylum enclosed by a boundary wall. But this “salvation” for the criminal corrupted the city. The Ephesian who had to live with this problem understood the promise of a city-sanctuary pervaded by the glory of God. Of that city it was said: “There shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie” (Rev. 21:27)." (See Hemer page 50 The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia in Their Local Setting - BORROW - see also additional note below) This “tree-shrine” was a special holy place for the worship of Artemis. Evidence suggests that it was, in fact, the most sacred of all the parts of the famous temple shrine and may even have been spoken of as a “tree of life.” The image appears in some form on most of the coinage from ancient Ephesus along with the additional symbols of the stag and the bee, which were associated with the worship of Artemis. John’s readers in the church at Ephesus knew well that this tree could provide no life at all, but there was a tree with which the Scripture writers were familiar from the earliest biblical stories in Genesis 1–3. This tree of life to which our first parents had access had been lost to them as a result of sin and their exclusion from the garden. John suggests that just as that tree of life was found in the midst of the initial paradise of Eden, so it has been somehow transplanted to “the paradise of God.” (Page 90 Revelation: An Exegetical and Theological Exposition) Additional Note from Hemer page 55 - The ‘tree’ and the ‘paradise’ may have had pointed local analogues in the tree and the temenos/asylum of Artemis which gave them a special meaningfulness for the Ephesian Christian. The cross was the place of refuge for the repentant sinner in contrast with the tree which marked the asylum for the unrepentant criminal. Guzik on tree of life - The promise for these overcomers was a return to Eden, a restoration, and eternal life. This was meant first in the eternal sense of making it to heaven, which was no small promise to a church threatened with the removal of Jesus’ presence. It is also meant in the sense of seeing the effects of the curse rolled back in our own lives though walking in Jesus’ redeeming love Related Passages: Tree of Life - speaks of immortality. Initially in the garden of Eden, now in the "garden of God" in paradise (forever)! Genesis 2:9+ Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 3:22-24+ Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”– 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life. Revelation 22:2, 14+ in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. Revelation 22:19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. Which is in the Paradise (paradeisos) of God - This represents a reversal of the curse. It is notable that the Septuagint translates "garden" with paradeisos (e.g., in Ge. 2:8, 9, 10, 15,16). The use of paradeisos in Genesis 3:1-3 is especially interesting because Ezekiel 28:13 describes Satan in stating "You were in Eden, the garden (Lxx - paradeisos) of God." Satan will not be in the new "garden" in the presence of God, because John says "the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down" (Rev 12:10). As overcomers we will be in the new "garden," the Paradise (paradeisos) of God enjoying unbroken, intimate fellowship with our Creator and Redeemer forever and ever. All that life is and was ever meant to be—that is what will be in the paradise of heaven. Amen! Christ's eternal redemption (Heb 9:12+) makes all things new. As A T
Apocalipse 2
Garland points out that "Significantly, the church which had lost its first love was given the promise of access to a tree which was in the midst of the garden (paradeisos) wherein God and Adam used to have sweet fellowship (Gen. 3:8+). This is the very essence of the first love which the Ephesians had left." Bishop Trench on paradise - Paradise “passes through a series of meanings, each one higher than the last. From any garden of delight, which is its first meaning, it comes to be predominantly applied to the garden of Eden, then to the resting-place of separate souls in joy and felicity, and lastly to the very heaven itself; and we see eminently in it, what we see indeed in so many words, how revealed religion assumes them into her service, and makes them vehicles of far higher truth than any which they knew at first, transforming and transfiguring them, as in this case, from glory to glory”.
Apocalipse 2
Garland explains "The dietary restrictions imposed upon Gentiles by the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:20, 15:29+) were out of concern for retaining Gentile fellowship with Jewish believers. Paul allows such meat sacrificed to idols to be eaten (1Co 8:7+; 1Co 10:18-33+), but only when it does not cause offense to brothers. Here the issue was one of compromising the witness of the church within the pagan culture and partaking of pagan practices which were associated with such banquets. These dinners included the eating of meat sacrificed to idols as well as licentious behavior. " Mounce - “Food sacrificed to idols” probably refers to meat that was eaten at pagan feasts rather than that sold in the open market after having been offered to idols." (See The Book of Revelation) The "Balaamites" were guilty of religious compromise which led as it usually does to moral compromise! Idolatry and immorality are frequent bedfellows! (Bad pun). As
Apocalipse 2
Garland points out that "The problem for the church at Pergamum was not that Nicolaitans existed in the city, but that they were within the church. We are to separate from those who call themselves believers, but deny Christ by their actions (1Co 5:11+)." Spiros Zodhiates on the Nicolaitans writing "Since Nicolaos means victor of the people and Balaam means devourer of the people, the two in symbolic unity signify religious seducers of the people. It is more probable that the Nicolaitans were identical with those who held the doctrine of Balaam, mentioned in Rev. 2:14 (cf. 2 Pet. 2:15), so that likely the Nicolaitans practiced fornication and the eating of things sacrificed to idols while outwardly professing Christianity." (Borrow The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New Testament) Henry
Apocalipse 2
Garland has an intriguing comment that "The manna is set in direct contrast to the things sacrificed to idols. The church was eating earthly pagan food, but the overcomer is promised heavenly food from above." Bishop Trench on "hidden" feels "There can, I think, be no doubt that allusion is here to the manna which at God’s express command Moses caused to be laid up before the Lord in the Sanctuary (Ex. 16:32-34; cf. Heb. 9:4). This manna, as being thus laid up in the Holy Place, obtained the name of ‘hidden.’ ” Swindoll says "They would receive divine food (“hidden manna”), special favor (“white stone”), and a new character (“new name”). The “hidden manna” could refer to Christ Himself, the spiritual nourishment for believers, both now and for eternity. In John 6:48–51 Christ symbolically likened Himself to the “bread from heaven,” the manna that came down from heaven and nourished the ancient Israelites during their wilderness wanderings." (See Insights on Revelation) Alan Johnson on hidden manna - The “hidden manna” is reminiscent of the manna hidden in the ark of the covenant by Moses (Ex 16:33–34; Heb 9:4). Since Moses’ pot of manna was designed to remind the Israelites of God’s grace and faithfulness in the wilderness (Ps 78:24), there may be a similar thought here. (See The Expositor's Bible Commentary) John Walvoord adds a reasonable consideration that hidden manna refers "to the benefits of fellowship with Christ and the spiritual strength that is afforded by that experience.....To those at Pergamum who refused the banquets of the pagan gods, Christ will give the manna of his great banquet of eternal life in the kingdom (Jn 6:47–58)" (Revelation 2: The Letters To Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, And Thyatira) J