A Primer on the Book of Revelation
A Study Guide
by
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Ephesus
The first church addressed in Revelation 2:1-7 is Ephesus. This church has forgotten their first love, Jesus.
Jesus
Jesus is the one who "holds the seven stars in his right hand" (the angels to the churches) and "walks among the seven golden lampstands" (the seven churches).
Praised
The church at Ephesus is praised for their hard work, perseverance, intolerance wicked men, and calling out false apostles. They have endured and not grown weary. They hate the practices of the Nicolaitans.
Chastised
Ephesus is chastised for forsaking their first love (Rev 2:4). Unlike Ephesians 1:15, where Paul commends this church for its love of God and the saints; with time, the church has forgotten to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37-39). They are warned to remember the heights from which they have fallen (forgotten their God).
Ephesus is warned that their lampstand (church) will be removed if they do not remember God, their first love. They will be destroyed, and lose their hope of eternal life.
Rewarded
Overcomers will eat from the Tree of Life in the paradise of God (Rev 2:7).
Key Takeaway
In our zeal and work for God, don't become so entrenched in the tasks, that we forget why we are doing them in the first place. Remember that behind all we do, is our love for God and our appreciation for our Lord, Jesus.
Nicolaitans
The church at Ephesus was commended for hating the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:6), while the church at Pergamum was chastised because of those who held to the teachings of the Nicolaitans (Rev 2:15). The Nicolaitans appear to be a renegade sect that practices sexual immorality and eats food sacrificed to idols.
There are claims that the Nicolaitans followed Nicolaius of Antioch. Nicolaius was a Gentile convert to Judaism (Christianity), who had fallen from the faith. He was believed to be one of the seven original deacons (Acts 6:5) of the early Christian church.
The Hebrew translation of Balaam is Nicolaius. Balaam is the prophet who could not curse the Hebrews, although he was hired by King Balak to curse them.
Revelation 2:14-15 mention both Balaam and the Nicolaitan teachings:
(14) "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality."
(15) "Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans."
Tree of Life
Revelation 2:22 describes the tree of life: "...On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations."
All curses on mankind have been removed at the end of Revelation, and the ban from the tree of life has been removed. No longer does an angel with a flaming sword (Genesis 3:24) guard the tree from mankind. The tree is available as food to all in the Holy City. This miraculous tree bears 12 crops of fruit; one each month. Its leaves heal the nations.
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About the Book
This guide can help enhance your understanding of Revelation and allow you to read the book for yourself, appreciating the wealth of symbolism and related biblical references. After one time through, read it again. With each reading, you gain further understanding. And don’t forget, God promises blessings to those who “hear it and take to heart what is written in it.”
About the Author
The author has worked as a software engineer and engineering writer for the past twenty-two years, and earned BA, BS, MSM-IT degrees. It was through the invitation to a retreat from a fellow engineer that she first studied the Bible, was baptized, and became a Christian.
The author has been an active member of her church for the past fifteen years. She has received church-based training to teach and study the Bible with people who want to become Christians and also led a small women’s Bible talk.
She has always been intrigued, challenged, and uplifted by the book of Revelation. After taking a recent class on Revelation taught by one of the elders of her church, she was inspired to create this study guide.
Her prayer is that this guide will help others to study and understand the tremendous book of Revelation better.
The author lives in Massachusetts with her family and her West Highland terrier, Alex. Hobbies include hiking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, string art, and cross-stitch.