Bible Question:
What does Rev. 2:4 mean when it says: "thou hast left thy first love"? Secondly can this verse be cross referenced with 1 Tim. 5:12 which says; "they have cast off their first faith"? What does this mean? Are these verses intended for a certain group of people, or are they written also for our learning, admonition and warning? Rom. 15:4 and 1 Cor. 10:11 In Christ zach† |
Bible Answer: Brother Zach: I think that in order to understand a verse such as Rev. 4:12 we have look at it the following way. To whom was the book written? To the seven churches of Asia which existed as Churches of God in A.D.96 (Rev. 1:4) The Lord is speaking to the church and its corporate testimony. It is the church, the professing people in the church as a group who are warned and exhorted to repent. We see that through each stage of professing Christendom that there is a remanent faith to Christ. In looking at the seven churches, we notice at the beginning the Lord Jesus Christ is in the midst of the Church by church #7 Christ is outside the door knocking and inviting individuals to come into him. What is it about? Rev. 1:1 "The revalation or (unveiling) of Jesus Christ". The book is about "things which thou hast seen" (past) Rev. 1:19; "things which are"( present) (Rev. 2-3); and "things which shall be hereafter" (future) Rev. 4-22. The things which are now A.D. 96 is the condition of the churches of God relative to Jesus Christ. However, like so many things in prophecy, each of the seven churches are also representative of a church age. 1. The Chruch of Ephesus. The condition of the churh at the end of the apostolic age. circa A.D.96 2. The church of Smyrna: The condition of the church from the time of the great persecutions until A.D. 316 Smyrna means Myrrh which is symbolic of suffering. 3. The church of Pergamos: The condition of the church from A. D. 316 to the end. This condition merges with the condition of the next church of Thyratira. 4. The church of Thyatira: A.D. 500 - 1500 The condition of the church under the sytem of Rome. 5. The church of Sardis: The church at the time of the Reformation 6. The Church of Philadelphia:(brotherly love) The restoration of the church in a measure to first love. These were times of great blessing. 7. The Church of Laodica (Rule of the People) The condition of the church in the last days and is representative of the church now. Just a few words on the 1st Church in Ephesus: The Lord first of lists their good qualities: - Thy labor, thy patience, they have stood against evil, judged false teachers, they have labored for his names"s sake and have not fainted. This church was doctrinally correct. They labor, in other words they work very hard to serve the Lord for his names's sake. So what is wrong? "Thou hast left thy first love" When they were first saved they joyfully labored for the Lord motivated by love. However, as time passes they labor out of duty rather than out of love. The people in this particular church would be regarded as hardworking, faithful, and dutiful Christians. I will stop for now Your brother by his grace Robert |
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Questions and/or Subjects for NT general Archive 1 | Author | ||
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charlottetu | ||
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charlottetu | ||
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wak | ||
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A Disciple | ||
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Flipside | ||
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etta3dove | ||
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zach† | ||
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zach† | ||
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Mommapbs | ||
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Robert Nicholson | ||
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Searcher56 | ||
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zach† | ||
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carterto |