September 18, 2022

The Defiant Church #

Revelation 2:18-29

Christ - the “Son of God”, eyes like unto a flame of fire (judgement), feet like brass,

Eyes like unto a flame of fire - judgement

feet are like fine brass - righteous

God’s judgement is righteous.

God’s judgement in this portion, can seem harsh to us, but it certainly is not. It is just. We have a very skewed sense of right and wrong, and tolerate much more wickedness than God does.

I. Works (19) #

A. Deeds “works” - God doesn’t miss a beat! #

B. Charity #

Charity, is defined as love in action, God sees our motive!

C. Service - behind the scenes often. #

D. Faith - Also, unseen. #

E. Patience - patience can sometimes be noticed, but not always easy to know the extent of it. God sees it all. #

F. Works (2nd x) but is more #

1. Increase “the last to be more than the first.” #

2. We should grow in charity, faith, patience, #

Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

II. Wickedness (20-21) #

A. consenting “sufferest that woman Jezebel” #

sufferest - allow, permit,
Jezebel, is a name associated with a wicked person. It would be like saying, they have Hitler for a Sunday school teacher. Hitler is a name associated with wickedness.

B. Conceit “calleth herself a prophetess…” #

When people are seeking to elevate themselves, you better be careful!
Pride is a problematic thing.

C. Counsel “to teach” #

We must be careful about who is teaching.
Leading people is an important role

D. Corruption “seduce my servants” #

seduce - 1. To draw aside from the path of rectitude and duty in any manner; to entice to evil; to lead astray; to tempt and lead to iniquity; to corrupt.

1. Corrupted physically - moral standard lowered #

2. Corrupted spiritually - church and God is not that important… that is a lowering of God’s Spiritual standard. #

III. Warning (21-23) #

A. Time (21) #

When looking at the judgement of God… NEVER forget, God is longsuffering, allows time for repentance!
We are often quick to pass judgement on God.

B. Tribulation (22) #

This is a message to the church, and therefore one would assume it is saved, baptized individuals
There certainly can be lost people that are part of a paper membership of the local church, obviously not the goal.
Questions:

Is Jezebel saved? (Probably not)
Are those who commit adultery with her saved?

(Saved people, can live a carnal life, so therefore yes possibly)

What is the ‘great tribulation’?

tribulation - severe affliction - it is not necessary that this is the Great Tribulation

1Cor. 11:28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

IV. Watch (24-25) #

A. Hallelujah (24) #

There are those who have not been corrupted.
No further burden… They really were doing well, but in a mistake, they allowed this wickedness to slip into their church, and take a leadership role!

B. Hold on! (25) #

Keep on faithfully! -
- Don’t allow the wickedness that exist, influence you, or keep you from doing right!

V. Work (26-29) #

overcometh -

1John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

A. Addendum (26) #

Of all the verses that talk about overcoming, this is the ONLY one that adds to overcoming, faithfulness!
This appears to be a special qualification, not for salvation, but for a special assignment!

B. Assignment (26-27) #

1. There are openings to be a ruler! #

2. “give him the morning star” #

The star represents royalty. God will give them his royalty to rule with the dignity of God. - That is my best description of it.