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启示录［第二章］
Book of Revelation 2

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启示录［第二章］|Book of Revelation 2

【当听圣灵对教会所说的话】

主讲: 陈炎明牧师

14/09/2022

引言：人人都想成为得胜者！

一、以弗所：为主劳苦却少了爱心的教会（V1-7）

1.以弗所教会被主称赞之处：

有行为上的见证，愿意劳苦付出，能够为主忍耐坚守信仰，甚至愿意为主责备罪恶。还有辨别假使徒的能力，可见他们在真理和灵里都是强的。他们也恨恶尼哥拉一党人的行为，就是混杂着外邦信仰引人陷入罪恶的一群人。我们是否也在这些层面得主称赞呢？

2.以弗所教会被主责备之处：

离弃了起初的爱心！这是很严厉的责备，若按照保罗在哥林多前书13章的形容，缺了爱，再有其他的作为也都算不得什么了。主耶稣更是说过律法的总纲就是爱，缺了爱也几乎是缺了一切。回想一下什么是起初的爱？这爱还在吗？

二、士每拿：经历患难还要至死忠心的教会（V8-11）

基督徒在罗马时代所面对的患难和考验是极大的，而且信仰让他们陷入在失去平等机会的社会中，更容易陷入贫困和缺乏。但是主要告诉他们，“其实你们是富足的”。因为在基督里得享的丰盛岂是物质世界能比拟的吗？然而同胞中有说毁谤话的人，那可是出于魔鬼的，要加以提防。

教会面对逼迫、甚至是一连串的患难；主提醒教会要至死忠心，因为最终将得着荣耀的冠冕。那是何等尊贵至上的奖赏。更重要的是这样的得胜者就不再面对将来的审判，既是名字已经稳妥记载于生命册上，已经脱离了地狱的火湖之刑罚。（启示录 20:14 死亡和阴间也被扔在火湖里，这火湖就是第二次的死。15 若有人名字没记在生命册上，他就被扔在火湖里。）

三、别迦摩：魔鬼的作为混杂在其中的教会（V12-17）

别迦摩教会是位于魔鬼大本营的所在地，因此所面对的属灵争战特别的大。甚至忠心的见证人会经历为主殉道，然而教会不会因此而胆怯，反而更加坚守主名。可是仇敌的攻击也搅扰人的信念；例如巴兰的教训，把拜偶像和行奸淫等事给平常化了。例如说，恶者可以把二元论的思想放在人里面，灵魂与身体是分割的。信仰在乎灵魂，和肉体没有关系。因此，得救在乎灵魂，情欲奸淫只是肉体的事，不会影响信仰。这是大错特错，主警告这样的人要认罪悔改，否则是死路一条。

得胜者不但是完全得着基督，而且是享有“白石无罪”的记号，并标明有一个独特的新生命。

四、推雅推喇：有善行教会但是却少了真理立场（V18-29）

主称赞这是一间有善行的教会，她比以弗所教会更完全，她们确实有爱心和行动。但是主却责备她一件很严重的事，即是容忍假先知耶洗别的迷惑，引诱人陷入奸淫与吃祭偶像之物的陷阱。这是因为没有站稳在真理的立场，凡事都要查验，得以站稳立场。只要愿意悔改就可以成为得胜者，得胜者将得着制伏列国的权柄，正如与主一同作王掌权。

总结：教会要胜过重重考验

不要失去爱心、不要陷入扭曲的信念、不要给魔鬼留地步、不要陷入罪恶迷惑。忠心跟随到底，必得生命的冠冕。

Revelation 2: Everyone wants to be the overcomer!
GK611 Morning Devotion
14/09/2022
Speaker: Rev David Tan

Introduction:

(1) The church in Ephesus was commended by the Lord for:

They had a testimony of works, were willing to labour and give, and were able to persevere in the faith for the Lord, and were even willing to rebuke sin for the Lord. They also had the ability to discern false apostles, which showed that they were strong in truth and in spirit. They also hated the behaviour of the Nicolaitans, a group of people who mixed with the Gentile faith and led people into sin. Do we praise the Lord on these levels as well?

(2) Where the church in Ephesus was rebuked by the Lord:

Forsaking the first love! This is a very severe rebuke, for if Paul describes it in 1 Corinthians 13, without love, all other works are nothing. The Lord Jesus even said that the general outline of the law is love, and without it, almost everything is missing. Think back to what was the first love? Is this love still there?

2. Smyrna: The Church that endures tribulation and remains faithful to the death (V8-11)

The sufferings and trials Christians faced in Roman times were great, and their faith plunged them into a society where they lost equal opportunities and were more prone to poverty and lack. But the Lord will tell them, "but you are rich". For is the abundance in Christ not comparable to that of the material world? However, those who speak slander among their fellow citizens are of the devil, so beware of them.

The church faced persecution and even a series of troubles; the Lord reminded the church to be faithful to the death, for it would eventually receive a crown of glory. What an honourable and supreme reward that is. More importantly, such an overcomer will no longer face the future judgment, since his name is securely written in the book of life and he is free from the punishment of the lake of fire in hell. (Revelation 20:14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.)

3.Pergamos: A Church in Which the Works of the Devil Are Mixed (V12-17)

The church in Pergamos was located in the seat of the devil's stronghold, and therefore faced a particularly great spiritual battle. Even faithful witnesses would experience martyrdom for the Lord, but the church would not be cowed by this, but would stand firm in the name of the Lord. But the attacks of the enemy also disturb the faith of people; for example, the teaching of Balaam normalises such things as idolatry and adultery. For example, the evil one can put dualism in man, and the soul is divided from the body. Faith cares about the soul and has nothing to do with the flesh. Therefore, salvation is about the soul, and lust and adultery are only matters of the flesh, and do not affect faith. This is a great mistake, and the Lord warns such a person to confess and repent of his sins, or else he will die.

The overcomer is not only completely saved by Christ, but also enjoys the sign of the "blameless white stone", and is marked with a new and unique life.

4. Thyatira: A Church of Good Works but Less of a Truthful Position (V18-29)

The Lord commended her as a church of good works, more complete than the church in Ephesus, which was indeed loving and active. But the Lord rebuked her for a serious matter, namely, for tolerating the false prophet Jezebel, who led people into the trap of adultery and eating idolatrous things. This is because she did not stand firm in the truth, and must be tested in all things to stand firm. If one is willing to repent, he can become an overcomer, and the overcomer will have authority over the nations, just as he reigns with the Lord.

Conclusion: The church must overcome many trials

Do not lose your love, do not fall into distorted beliefs, do not leave room for the devil, and do not fall into sinful confusion. Follow faithfully to the end, and you will receive the crown of life.