Seven: “The Church of Ephesus”

Seven

“The Church of Ephesus”

1/5/24

Pastor Mark England

The Book of Revelation is not a horror story… it’s a story.

John 14:1-3 (CSB) “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

God does intervene on earth, however most of His plan is a “” to get you out of this broken world.

God’s motivation is not judgement and wrath, it’s God wants to be !

Six Major Events in Revelation

The .

Revelation 2-3

“The playbook on how to get ready for what’s next.”

The .

Revelation 4:1

1 Thessalonians 4

Revelation 4:1 (CSB) After this I looked, and there in heaven was an open door. The first voice that I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

After Revelation 4:1 the word “” is never mentioned again in the book of Revelation.

It’s mentioned in the first three chapters.

Why? Because the “” isn’t there anymore.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-9 (CSB) About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you. ² For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. ³ When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. ⁴ But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵ For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. ⁶ So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. ⁷ For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation. ⁹ For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

The .

Revelation 6-19

The antichrist cannot come until the is taken away from the earth.
The resides in (the Church).

2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 (CSB) And you know what currently restrains him, so that he will be revealed in his time. ⁷ For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but the one now restraining will do so until he is out of the way, ⁸ and then the lawless one will be revealed.

The .

Revelation 19-20

Revelation 19:11-16 (CSB) Then I saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse. Its rider is called Faithful and True, and with justice he judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes were like a fiery flame, and many crowns were on his head. He had a name written that no one knows except himself. ¹³ He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.¹⁴ The armies that were in heaven followed him on white horses, wearing pure white linen. ¹⁵ A sharp sword came from his mouth, so that he might strike the nations with it. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will also trample the winepress of the fierce anger of God, the Almighty. ¹⁶ And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The .

Revelation 20

God doesn’t send people to . Hell is the place where people choose to .

The and .

Revelation 21-22

Revelation 19:7 (CSB) Let us be glad, rejoice, and give him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself.

Why do we spend so much money, time, and preparation on ?

Because it for a bride to get ready for her groom.

Revelation 2-3 is the wedding coordinators guide for the Church (bride) and her Groom (Jesus).

The Church of :

Return to your .

Revelation 2:1-7 (CSB) “Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus: Thus says the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands: ² I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars. ³ I know that you have persevered and endured hardships for the sake of my name, and you have not grown weary. ⁴ But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love you had at first. ⁵ Remember then how far you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first. Otherwise, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. ⁶ Yet you do have this: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷ “Let anyone who has ears to hear listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.

The Church of Ephesus is great at doing “church”. They tested everything by the Scriptures and lived by doctrine.

They had correct doctrine, but not a correct .

The key word is “”.

Ephesus lost their of an intimate with Christ.

If the activities in Diversity Church are about rather than about , He’ll remove from us, and we will lose our to function with kingdom authority on earth.

Diversity Church isn’t about performance, it’s about with .

Jesus is saying, “Please fall back in with again.”

For the next 21 days, be intentionally passionate with your love for Jesus and pursue His presence in and .