Revelation 2:8 the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:

 

In our quest to determine God’s Pattern for His Church we began in the Book of Acts which led us to the 2nd and 3rd Chapters of the Book of Revelation. Here we find where Jesus dictated to John, a letter to each of the seven Churches in Asia. Those letters are similar to a report card from the Lord. In each letter, the Lord praises that particular Church for what they are doing right and scolds them for their wrongdoing. In addition, He tells them of both the rewards and judgment coming their way. Every Church would be well advised to read and study these Letters because all the information there applies to us today.

 

His first Letter was to the Church in Ephesus where Jesus pointed out many things; some good, some bad. From this Letter we have started the following list of what God expects of His Churches: Hard work, patience, turn from evil, test all spirits, call out false apostles, persevere, lift up the Name of Jesus, never forget your first love, and hate the doctrine and practice of the Nicolations, which is bringing occultic beliefs and practices into the Church.

 

Yesterday, we looked at the second Letter which was to the Church in Smyrna. The first thing we notice in this Letter is that Jesus identified Himself as the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: (Revelation 2:8) This statement serves as a reminder that Jesus was there at the beginning of Creation and will be there until the end. Jesus did not come into being when He was born a human being. He has always been and will always be.

 

It also reminds us that the One writing to them is Jesus who was crucified on the Cross of Calvary and Resurrected to Life on the Third Day. This Letter is not from John or anyone else. It is from Jesus Christ who is GOD! Therefore, we would be well advised to take every Word to heart and apply them to our personal lives and our Churches.

 

The Church in Smyrna was heavily persecuted. In this Letter, Jesus reminds them of Who He is and His ability to protect them and see them through all the persecution. This should cause us to remember how He was persecuted. The religious leaders at the time hated Him and actually killed Him but that did not stop Him! He rose from the Dead and continued His Ministry until He Ascended into Heaven to sit at the Right Hand of the Father.

 

This Letter reminds us that He is still there making intercession for us and God is still there very much able to strike down those who persecute us. He is the First and the Last. He is there with our Heavenly Father watching and working on our behalf as we seek the Guidance and Direction of the Holy Spirit to build the Kingdom of God. We are not alone. He will never leave us nor forsake us. This is a Promise found SEVEN times in the Word of God.

 

All persecution is a test of our faith. It was the test of the faith of those in the Church at Smyrna and it is still the test of the faith of every Christian today. Nothing has changed. Please recognize this and BELIEVE that the FIRST AND THE LAST is still here and the HOLY SPIRIT is at work on our behalf.

 

Never give up! Never quit! God can help a failure but He cannot help a quitter.

 

 

Hold on. He is about to…...….turn the tide

 

Holding on!        Doreen

 

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