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NASB | Revelation 2:5 'Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place--unless you repent. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 2:5 'So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self--your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior--seek God's will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place--unless you repent. |
Bible Question: Does this verse mean that if you have quite going to church and living a christian life. When you return back to church and repent of this sin , that you still have a chance to go to heaven? |
Bible Answer: Rev 2:5 is a warning to the Ephesians church (also us). It is not a sentence, but a warning. The Ephesians church had made a concise choice to leave the first love they had originally had for Jesus. Notice the WORD says they LEFT their first love, not LOST it. Jesus also gives them instructions on how to regain it. Jesus warns that their “lampstand will be removed” if they continue in the way they are going. This means they are in danger of losing their influence and the light of His presence, not their salvation. This is the same application as Jesus used in Mat 5:13-16 when He spoke of us being salt and light and His warning that salt that has lost its flavor (influence) is good for nothing. The application for us today? Doctrinally pure: yes. Unloving: no. retxar P.S. Here is a quote from Charles Spurgeon that might help: “The Ephesians church was a doctrinally pure church. Sometimes a focus on doctrinal purity will make a congregation cold, suspicious, and intolerant of diversity. "When love dies orthodox doctrine becomes a corpse, a powerless formalism. Adhesion to the truth sours into bigotry when the sweetness and light of love to Jesus depart." |