Letters to the churches | Part One

So- here’s my first real teaching from the very start of Revelation- end of 1, 2 & 3. These are the letters written by John to many churches, and these reveal secrets within themselves.
First of all is the end of chapter 1 in Revelation – the vision of the Son of Man (verse 12-21 exc.19)
“When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lamp stands. And standing in the middle of the lamp stands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.
This is the meaning of the mystery of the seven stars you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lamp stands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lamp stands are the seven churches.”
The vision above will become apparent as we explore the letters written to the 7 churches.
The first letter is-
Ephesus: (Rev. 2:1-7)
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lamp stands:
“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lamp stand from its place among the churches. 6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
The church of Ephesus had seen the foretold ‘false prophets’, and have not believed them over the Bible. The people silently suffered for not believing the “Jesus” who had come.
Even though Ephesus had gone through hardships, their love is not as much. They were enemies with God’s enemies and friends with God’s friends. That’s how we must live – loving God, and following his rules, that’s what will get us to Heaven. For that’s what it says in Revelation 2:7.
Smyrna: (Rev. 2:8-11)
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the one who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:
I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.
Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.”
Smyrna has also seen hardships. They have gone through suffering, poverty and persecution, but they stayed strong, and God loves that – so he calls them rich! For God delights in people who stay faithful through hard times.
Then God says how the devil will test us by sending suffering, hoping for us to crack and leave the faith, but God says to stand firm and remain faithful, for those people will receive the crown of eternal life in Heaven.