Reflection on Revelation 2 | 沉思啟示錄2

Author：Karen   Narrator：Liying

I visited Turkey with some brothers and sisters in last May. We went to the geographic sites where seven churches mentioned in Revelation were located. When the LORD instructed John to write letters to those seven churches, they were probably gathering places or house churches for believers. The church buildings or ruins we saw today are very likely built later.

Even though there is no where to trace the seven churches' buildings, we must keep in mind that God builds His Church in believers' hearts, which is the body of Christ, which stands forever.

However, my Turkey tour does help me to grip more real sense what the letters to the seven churches talk about.

First I realized that they are down to earth real letters to seven real churches. Those churches faced external pressure to compromise with the world and internal pressure to compromise biblical truth. Likely, we face pressure from others around us and pressure from sinful nature within us. They were afraid not being able to overcome. We have the same fear for ourselves or for our loved ones. But when I read the letters, I'm so encouraged by the fact that Jesus knew their struggle as churches and individuals. The LORD spoke the words "I know" to each church. He intimately knows all actions and read the innermost depths of all hearts. He speaks words of affirmation to our commendable deeds, hard work, perseverance, .... He speak words of challenge   to our condemnable aspects, for example, forsaken the love we had at first. The letters reflect real situations, call for real repentance. The LORD walks among the churches , trimming the wicks of some of the lamps where needed and feeding others with the oil of his grace. In the same way, the Holy Spirit in our hearts is doing the similar thing to forge us to be more and more His likeness using the tool of His Word, under the conditions of this fallen world and our dark desires.

Jesus calls us to hear what the Spirit says to the churches in all seven letters. This repetition speaks the importance of this appeal. The call is for spiritual listening and an obedient heart to motivate righteous actions. It is our responsibility to response to the LORD's call.

"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Rev.2:7

"Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Tho one who is victorious will not be hurt at all by the second death." Rev2:11

Do you desire the right from the creator of heaven and earth to access to "the tree of life"? God barred the access to this tree when sin first entered the world in Genesis. Now , in Revelation, the final book of Bible, the LORD promises access to the tree of life to those who overcome sin by His blood and power.

The first death, phisical death, is not man's most dreadful threat. The second death introduces a soul into eternal punishment. Belivers in Jesus will not experience the second death. He promised. Are you comforted?

 

2015年五月，我跟著幾個弟兄姐妹們一起去了一趟土耳其，到了啟示錄提到的七個教會所在地參觀。當年，主指示約翰給這七個教會寫信時，這幾個教會很可能是信徒們的聚集地點，最有可能是在某人家裏。我們去看到的教堂建築或者廢墟大概是以後才建的。

盡管當時七個教會的痕跡難以尋找，我們要謹記神把祂的教會建立在信徒的心裏，這教會是基督的身體，永遠聳立著。

當然，土耳其之行確實幫助我更真實地體會到給七個教會的信所涉及的內容。

首先，我意識到它們確實是寫給七個曾經存在過的教會的信件，外來的壓力逼迫這些教會與世界妥協，內部的壓力逼迫它們不要堅持真理。我們現在的情況和當時類似，也受到來自周圍之人的壓力和自身罪性的壓力。他們擔心自己扛不住這些壓力，我們也擔心自己和自己所愛的人扛不住這樣的壓力。但當我讀這些信時，我深受鼓勵，因為主耶穌深知教會層麵和個人層麵的掙紮，我們的主告訴每個教會說，“我知道”。 主耶穌知道每一間教會所做的事，透識每個人的心靈深處。祂稱讚我們的善行，勞苦和忍耐；祂責備我們的欠缺，比如，離棄了起初的愛心。這些信件反映了當時教會的實情，呼籲信徒們真心悔改。 主在眾教會中行走，照料象征教會的燈台，給有些燈台剪燈芯，給有些燈台添加恩典之油。同樣地，在世界墮落，人心向惡的背景下，住在我們裏麵的聖靈，一直用主的話當工具，打造我們越來越有主的樣式。

主耶穌在給教會的七封信裏，每一封都呼籲讀信的人要聆聽聖靈對教會所說的話，重複的呼籲說明了其重要性。這個呼籲是對著我們的心靈喊出來的，呼籲順服的心，生出行義的動機。我們都有責任回應主的呼籲。

“聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，都應當聽！得勝的，我必將神樂園中生命樹的果子賜給他吃。” 啟2：7

“聖靈向眾教會所說的話，凡有耳的，就應當聽！得勝的，必不受第二次死的害。” 啟2：11

你渴望從天地的創造者那裏得到許可，去接近“生命樹”嗎？聖經的第一卷書創世記告訴我們，當罪第一次進入世界時，神禁止任何人走近這棵“生命樹”。聖經的最後一卷書啟示錄告訴我們，主應許所有靠著祂的寶血和大能戰勝罪的人，可以接近“生命樹”。

第一次的死亡，肉體的死亡，不構成對人們的最大威脅。第二次的死亡，才會把靈魂丟進永恒的懲罰。信主的人不會經曆第二次的死亡，主自己做的保，你是否大得安慰？