The Circle
April 19, 2024
Revelation 2:1-7
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
“These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:1-7)
The Tree of Life
(Genesis 2:9)
“And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
(Genesis 3:22-24)
“Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever — therefore the Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”
(Revelation 22:2)
“In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
(Revelation 22:14)
“Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”
Demands of Life in 2024
Leaving your first love for the things of this world may not happen overnight. I think of people who have been caught in an unseen riptide who were simply playing at the beach. Watch out for the pull of worldliness, all the news events and all the busy tasks of our day. They can rob us of our place of studying Scripture with Holy Spirit. Nothing is more important than this!
Leaving your first love may have the consequence of God removing your lampstand. In other words, your “light” will go out.
Vines Dictionary: Lamp or Lampstand
A lamp which held little oil and would frequently need replenishing
This is something Believers also experience. The wise know this and stay committed to be replenished from their source of life: The Bible.
What can happen if one lets this go?
The Parable of the Ten Virgins: Matthew 25:1-13
All ten virgins went to meet the bridegroom.
Five were wise, taking oil with them.
Five were foolish, taking no oil with them.
All of them slumbered! At midnight a cry was heard: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him.”
All ten virgins arose and trimmed their lamps because it was night. Then the foolish said to the wise, “Give us oil, our lamps are going out!” The wise virgins answered, “No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; go and buy some for yourselves!”
While they went to buy oil the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding and the door was shut! Later, the other virgins came saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!”
He answered, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you!”
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:13)
Our generation will be raptured! Read Matthew 24:32-44 often. That clock started clicking in May1948, when Israel became a nation!
__________________________
Did you notice the title at the top of the page? “The Circle”
We started this lesson with the last chapter of Revelation, then went back to the first chapter in Genesis, then ended with the first Chapter of Revelation…a circle.
From Father…For you
A song for you that I couldn’t remember the name…
I had a song about the “tree of life” playing in my head but I didn’t know the title.
So I looked at a list of songs on my phone. I clicked on one which I didn’t recognize and that was what was playing in my heart when I woke up today! Totally God!!!! Totally for you!
The Mighty Cross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLzYiLGTntE
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
(Revelation 1:7-8)
April 19, 2024
Revelation 2:1-7
“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
“These things says He who holds the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:1-7)
The Tree of Life
(Genesis 2:9)
“And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
(Genesis 3:22-24)
“Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever — therefore the Lord God sent him out of the Garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”
(Revelation 22:2)
“In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
(Revelation 22:14)
“Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”
Demands of Life in 2024
Leaving your first love for the things of this world may not happen overnight. I think of people who have been caught in an unseen riptide who were simply playing at the beach. Watch out for the pull of worldliness, all the news events and all the busy tasks of our day. They can rob us of our place of studying Scripture with Holy Spirit. Nothing is more important than this!
Leaving your first love may have the consequence of God removing your lampstand. In other words, your “light” will go out.
Vines Dictionary: Lamp or Lampstand
A lamp which held little oil and would frequently need replenishing
This is something Believers also experience. The wise know this and stay committed to be replenished from their source of life: The Bible.
What can happen if one lets this go?
The Parable of the Ten Virgins: Matthew 25:1-13
All ten virgins went to meet the bridegroom.
Five were wise, taking oil with them.
Five were foolish, taking no oil with them.
All of them slumbered! At midnight a cry was heard: “Behold, the bridegroom is coming! Go out to meet him.”
All ten virgins arose and trimmed their lamps because it was night. Then the foolish said to the wise, “Give us oil, our lamps are going out!” The wise virgins answered, “No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; go and buy some for yourselves!”
While they went to buy oil the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding and the door was shut! Later, the other virgins came saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!”
He answered, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you!”
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:13)
Our generation will be raptured! Read Matthew 24:32-44 often. That clock started clicking in May1948, when Israel became a nation!
__________________________
Did you notice the title at the top of the page? “The Circle”
We started this lesson with the last chapter of Revelation, then went back to the first chapter in Genesis, then ended with the first Chapter of Revelation…a circle.
From Father…For you
A song for you that I couldn’t remember the name…
I had a song about the “tree of life” playing in my head but I didn’t know the title.
So I looked at a list of songs on my phone. I clicked on one which I didn’t recognize and that was what was playing in my heart when I woke up today! Totally God!!!! Totally for you!
The Mighty Cross
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLzYiLGTntE
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
(Revelation 1:7-8)