Recap end of Ephesus
Tree of life
Overcomes eat of the tree of life in the Paradise of God.
What is the tree of life, in the Paradise of God?
***This is vital to know cause we can gain this ourself in our own life if we overcome losing our first love***
Tree of life
Adam & Eve in garden of Eden
Gen 2:9
And out of the ground made Jehovah God to grow every tree that is pleasant 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.
-Which tree is in the "midst" of the garden?
Certainly the tree of life and probably the tree of knowledge of good and evil
Gen 2:16-17
16 And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
-So they were allowed to eat of the tree of life?
Wonder if they had?
-So the serpent convinces Eve and eventually Adam to eat from the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil".
Gen 3:22
And Jehovah God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever —
-The difficulty of this verse. They were allowed to eat of the "tree of life" already.
-But if they eat of the tree of good and evil, they become as one of "US".
Who is 'us'?
-If they eat of both trees, they live for ever?
Seems to suggest it.
Therefore God does this:
Gen 3:23-24
23 therefore Jehovah God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
-So what happened to the "tree of life"?
-Any clues in vs 24 as to who the "tree of life" may refer to?
"East" and "sword"
Next appearance of the tree of life
Pro 3:18
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.
-Who is she?
vs 13 Wisdom
-verse 19 tells us who "US was in Gen 3:22
Pro 3:19
"Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth"
Col 1:16
for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;
Tree of life is also found in these 3 proverbs:
Pro 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.
Septuagint
-"Out of the fruit of righteousness (US) grows a tree of life"
-Out of the godly grow Jesus
Pro 13:12
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
-In Hag 2:7, Jesus was the "desire of nations"
Hag 2:7
and I will shake all nations; and the precious things of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts.
-So when desire (or the precious things) comes (Jesus or Jesus in us), it is a tree of life
So the tree of life in OT is:
Jesus
Jesus in us
Or said another way "Christ in you, the hope of glory"
Col 1:27
to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Pro 15:4
A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
See this verse:
Pro 12:18
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
In the New Testament:
Rev 22:2
in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Rev 22:14
Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
-In what city is the tree of life?
The spiritual city of New Jerusalem (Rev 21:2). It is also known as the Holy City AND the Paradise of God.
Rev 22:19
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.
-We come full circle back to the tree of life which was hidden in Gen 3?
It seems to be Jesus or the Word or Jesus' fruit (Christ in you, the hope of Glory)
What happens if we take away from the words of the book?
God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city
So back to Rev 2:7.
Rev 2:7b... To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
What does it mean?
If you overcome or reestablish your first love, you will be allowed access to Jesus (the tree of life), which is now in the New Jerusalem (Paradise of God).
Smyrna
means "myrrh"
Polycarp was the bishop of Smyrna. Ordained by John.
only mentioned in Rev
approx 1 hour drive north or 14 hour walk from Ephesus
planted by the Ephesus church
Close by off coast was isle of Lesbos...why?
Pattern of How each church is spoken of: (be brief)
The message is given to the angel (messenger) of each church
A reference to Jesus is made that has been already mentioned in Rev 1; (for example: he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand) prob in relation to something regarding that particular church
A positive "validation" for their "work".
But not every church is given postive validation.
Followed by a negative citation in which the church is told to repent of.
Not every church is given a negative reference.
Each church is told "he that hath an ear to hear"...
Each church is challenged to overcome something.
If they overcome, they will receive something from Jesus, usually something found in Rev 20,21 or 22.
Rev 2:8-11
8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: These things saith the first and the last, who was dead, and lived again 9 I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich), and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Summary
To the angel of the church of Smyrna write…
"first and the last, who was dead, and lived again" (reference to Jesus from Rev 1)
Which verse from Rev 1?
Rev 1:18
and the Living one; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Why might "first and the last, who was dead, and lived again" be chosen?
Smyrna = Myrrh; myrrh is used for perfume and embalming
Joh 19:39-40
39 And there came also Nicodemus, he who at the first came to him by night, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. 40 So they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
(Positive statement)
"I know thy tribulation, and thy poverty (but thou art rich)"
****Who wants to read?
The martydom of Polycarp (Bishop of Smyrna)
The Smyrna the church passed through great persecution from 100 to 313 AD at the hands of the Romans.
Polycarp was an old man, at least 86, and probably the last surviving person to have known an apostle, having been a disciple of John.
After the capture of Polycarp
"The time having now come for his departure, they set him on an ass and brought him to the city. He was met by Herodes, the High Sheriff, and by Herodes' father, Nicetes, who, having transferred him to the carriage, sat down beside him and strove to persuade him with these words: "What is the harm of saying, 'Caesar is Lord,' and offering incense" with more to this effect "and saving your life?"
At first he made them no answer, but when they persisted, he said: "I do not intend to do as you advise me." Failing to persuade him, they reviled him and made him descend with so much haste that in getting down from the carriage he hurt his shin. He, as though nothing had happened, paid no heed, but went on quickly with much eagerness on his way to the stadium, where the din was so great that none could be so much as heard.
***They are taking him to a stadium full of people for execution***
As Polycarp entered the stadium, there came a voice from heaven saying, "Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man." None saw the speaker, but the voice was heard by those of our brethren who were present. When he was brought in, thereupon a great din arose as soon as they heard, "Polycarp is taken."
So the proconsul asked him whether he was the man. And when he said "Yes," he tried to persuade him to deny his faith, saying, "Have respect to your age," and other such things as they were used to say: "Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, say, 'Away with the Atheists.'" Polycarp, gazing with a steadfast countenance on all the crowd of lawless heathen in the stadium, waved his hand to them, sighed, and looking up to heaven, said, "Away with the Atheists." When the proconsul pressed him further and said, "Swear and I set you free, curse Christ," Polycarp answered, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He did me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King, who saved me?"
When the pyre was ready, he put off all his upper garments and undid his girdle. ... So he was immediately girded with things devised for his burning; but when they were about to nail him to the stake as well, he said: "Leave me as I am; for He that enabled me to abide the fire will also enable me to abide at the stake unflinching without your safeguard of nails."
So they bound him without nailing him. And he, with his hands bound behind him, like a choice ram taken from a great flock for sacrifice, an acceptable whole burnt-offering prepared for God, looked up to heaven.
When he had offered up the amen and finished his prayer, those who had charge of the fire set light to it. And a great flame blazing forth, we to whom it was given to behold, who were indeed preserved to tell the story to the rest, beheld a marvel. For the fire, forming a sort of arch, like a ship's sail billowing with the wind, made a wall about the body of the martyr, which was in the midst, not like burning flesh, but like bread in the baking, or like gold and silver burning in a furnace. For we caught a most sweet perfume, like the breath of frankincense or some other precious spice.
At last when the impious people saw that his body could not be consumed by fire they gave orders that a slaughterer should go and thrust a dagger into him. This being done, there came forth a dove and such a gush of blood that it put out the fire, and all the throng marveled that there should be so great a difference between the unbelievers and the elect; one of whom was the most admirable martyr, Polycarp, an apostolic and prophetic teacher of our time, and bishop of the Church in Smyrna.
Smyrna has real spiritual wealth. Usually this is something we can't see!!
How different from modern day Christianity that seeks the riches of the world to attempt to do the work of God...
Rev 2:9b…and the blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Does God care who is a natural Jew in the New testament after Jesus's death?
Rev was written 65 years after Jesus crucification.
Paul wrote Romans 25 years after Jesus was crucified. Here is how Paul describes a Jew:
Who are Jews in NT?
Rom 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
Gal 3:28
There can be neither Jew nor Greek, there can be neither bond nor free, there can be no male and female; for ye all are one man in Christ Jesus.
-So a Jew in the NT is not bound to one's ethnic group.
What is it based on now?
Knowing this, who is being referred to in Rev 2:9b "them that say they are Jews"
Christians
So who is being referred to in Rev 2:9b: "blasphemy of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but are a synagogue of Satan."
Synagogue of Satan?
Mat 16:21-25
21 From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up. 22 And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall never be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men. 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.
So "Satan" according to Jesus is anyone who:
Minds not the things of God.
Minds the things of man
Hence causes a stumbling block.
Did not deny himself
Did not take up his cross and follow him
Saved his life (natural?) but lost his (spiritual) life
***And the irony is that this example shows that this was a Christ follower.
So the passage in Rev 2:9 refers to Christians who aren't minding the things of God but the things of man.
In Revelation:
"earth dwellers" vs "those that dwell in heaven"
Rev 2:10-11
10 Fear not the things which thou art about to suffer: behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life. 11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
No negative statement against this church
Fear not the things which you are to suffer.
Remember how Polycarp and the early Christians saw all things as being God ordained. Hence, it helped them remain focused on endurance and steadfastness.
Remember the term "ten days" in Daniel?
What did it mean?
Be faithful and Jesus will give them the crown of life.
What is the "crown of life"?
Jas 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been approved, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to them that love him.
He that hath an ear, let him hear…
"He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death."
Overcomes what?
Suffering, prison, trials, tribulation that are God ordained
What is the second death?
Rev 20:6
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: over these the second death hath no power; but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Rev 20:14
And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, even the lake of fire.
Second death = Lake of fire
Rev 21:8
But for the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part shall be in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death.
Who seems to be included in this group? Earth dwellers or those that Jesus says didn't:
Lose their life (despite following him)
Minded not the things of God
Didn't deny themselves or take up their cross and follow him. Maybe they followed Him without taking up their cross?
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