I haven’t written down Bible study notes for a long time, but tonight’s Bible study was quite joyful and fruitful. The Bible study started during the discussion of the palace coup....

The Book of Revelation is a book that many churches and pastors dare not touch. It is also a confusing book that breeds heresy and heresy. When I read through the Bible for the first time, I couldn't hold back my curiosity and read the last book ahead of time. As expected, I didn't understand what it was saying. It was like jumping to the book of Isaiah out of curiosity and being confused. The first time I listened to the book of Revelation systematically was in the previous church, which was a low-level version of dispensationalism, so many of my bad habits were developed from the theology there (making excuses).

Although I gained a lot from the first and second Revelation Bible study at GCRC, I was reluctant to write down notes due to the detailed information. Rediscovered today.

1. The seven letters of Revelation 2-3

The Book of Revelation is a letter written using apocalyptic literary techniques. Both natures must be taken into consideration when understanding. Apocalyptic literature has many unique features, such as numbers and names, which are constantly reflected in the Book of Revelation. The seven letters were written to the seven churches, which are certainly not the seven dispensations mentioned in dispensationalism. John records the letters of seven churches in map order.

All recipients of letters are “messengers”—angels. Why write to an angel? Characteristics of apocalyptic literature; see also Daniel, the devil of Persia, who is also an angel. Apocalyptic literature uses angels to represent a group, that is, letters are written to church congregations. Not only that, but at the end of each letter it is said that whoever has ears should hear what the Holy Spirit says to the churches; therefore it is also written to the churches in the world, and the voice of the Holy Spirit is here - the Holy Word. We should listen to God’s powerful words through the Bible.

The number seven has a special meaning in the Bible; seven spirits does not mean that God has seven spirits, but means perfection; just as later, when the crucifixion lasted ten days, ten is also a perfect number, which means to Suffered for a long time. Similarly, names also have symbolic meanings and should not be taken seriously - for example, Jezebel and Balaam are symbolic references to Old Testament characters here, and are not people with such names in the seven churches.

2. Church of Ephesus

Ephesus, the free city of Rome, was the center of worship of the goddess Artemis. Its temple was one of the seven wonders of the world at that time; Artemis Keeper of the Goddess Rice. In addition, it is also called the guardian of Domita, and Domita is worshiped together at the annual sports meeting. The Greeks really like to hold sports games....

2:2 Three difficult words - conduct, labor, and patience. The church in Ephesus has so many advantages and has done all these things for the Lord. However, because it has abandoned love, it has become one of the two most severely criticized churches among the seven churches (the other is Laodicea). . It also confirms the teaching of 1 Corinthians 15 - Even if a Christian does everything, even if he gives everything, without love, he is nothing! Such heart-piercing words made people's pride, self-righteousness, behavior...have no place at all, and the deepest and most deceitful little corner I had secretly hidden was also breached. We must return to Christ, return to the source of love, return to God....Love is not adding bricks, love is not the icing on the cake, love is everything....

Alas, I am very ashamed. I know that there is no love in my heart, no love at all...

2:6 The Nicolaitans - the Antinomian Club. Legalism and antinomianism are both heresies.

3. Smyrna Church

Smyrna, today’s Izmir in Turkey, is the second largest city and the richest city in Asia. Its Golden Street was all the rage. Be rich and attract Jews.

2:9 Tribulation and poverty are combined to modify "your". There are two kinds of poverty in Greek: one is having nothing superfluous, and the other is being destitute and having nothing; here is the latter . Why are church people so poor in such a wealthy city? We can get a glimpse of this from Hebrews 10:34. According to church history, in the 150s and 160s, Emperor Marcus Aurelius ordered that Christians could be denounced to each other; those who were accused must curse Christ in public, otherwise their property would belong to the informer. So there was a turmoil for a while.

It is reasonable to infer that such a thing has already happened, that is, it is mentioned in Hebrews 10:34, which is around AD 60. Nero also persecuted Christians on a large scale at that time; the same thing may have happened around the year 90 of Revelation.

Bishop Polycarp (a disciple of John) was denounced by the Jews at the time of Marcus Aurelius and burned to death, and he left a famous quote before being burned. The scriptures mention that there were many Jews there and they were members of the party of Satan. The party here seems to refer to a group of people called the congregation of Jehovah. They hated Polycarp and even demanded that he be eaten by lions. When Polycarp was executed at the stake, it was a Sabbath; according to the Sabbath, 39 major works were not allowed to be done and no things were gleaned (just as the Pharisees criticized Jesus for not gleaning ears of wheat). However, the Jews at that time gathered firewood on the Sabbath in order to burn Polycarp to death.

In Smyrna, the few churches that were not punished were in extreme poverty and suffering, and suffered "ten days" and "until death"...

In fact, although they were angry in their hearts , but also fearful. I am afraid of being persecuted, and even more afraid of losing the church and the pastor. I am afraid that I am weaker than I think. I am afraid that I have too few scriptures memorized and experience too little presence, so that I will fall into Siberia if I am not careful. I have gone... I am afraid that my life is young and I have no accumulation, so that I will have no comfort in my weakness... I can only ask the Lord to protect me as Jesus prayed for Peter in advance. No matter what situation I am in, I I know that I am completely useless and fearful (even if I am not afraid, it is meaningless). I just ask the Lord to give me enough confidence and courage to rely on Him and believe in Him in all kinds of hard and soft circumstances. Forever in His house....

Lord have mercy!

Lord, I am so afraid without you!