THE CHURCH PERIODS
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Revelation 2:1-7
c. 90-200 A.D.
“fully purposed”
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u I. The Commission
Rev. 2: 1a
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II. The Character
Rev. 2: 1b
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III. The
Commendation
Rev. 2: 2-3
Ephesus
A. It was a
performing
Church
“fully
purposed”
Ephesus
B. It was a
persevering
Church
“fully
purposed”
Ephesus
C. It was a
pure Church
“fully
purposed”
(Rev 2:2-3) I know thy works, and
thy labour, and thy patience, and
how thou canst not bear them
which are evil: and thou hast
tried them which say they are
apostles, and are not, and hast
found them liars: And hast
borne, and hast patience, and for
my name's sake hast laboured,
and hast not fainted.
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1. This means this
church was a Holly
Church that exercise
discipline
(Rev 2:2-3) I know thy works, and
thy labour, and thy patience, and
how thou canst not bear them
which are evil: and thou hast
tried them which say they are
apostles, and are not, and hast
found them liars: And hast
borne, and hast patience, and for
my name's sake hast laboured,
and hast not fainted.
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2. This means this
church gauged the
words and work of all
so called believers by
the Bible
Warning!
Denoting the difference between:
Christian vs. Biblical
Spiritual vs. Scriptural
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How will Satan beguile us?
 The same way he beguiled Eve
1st He tries to get her
to question God’s
Word
2nd He changes God’s
Word
3rd He reinterpreted
God’s Word
HIS APPROACH WAS
RELIGION!
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How will Satan beguile us?
 The same way he beguiled Eve
 Through preaching
(2Co 11:1-3) Would to God ye could
bear with me a little in my folly: and
indeed bear with me. For I am jealous
over you with godly jealousy: for I have
espoused you to one husband, that I
may present you as a chaste virgin to
Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as
the serpent beguiled Eve through his
subtilty, so your minds should be
corrupted from the simplicity that is
in Christ.
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How will Satan beguile us?
 The same way he beguiled Eve
 Through preaching
 Who are these preachers?
(2Co 11:13) For such
are false apostles,
deceitful workers,
transforming
themselves into the
apostles of Christ.
(2Co 11:14) And
no marvel; for
Satan himself is
transformed into
an angel of light.
(2Co 11:15) Therefore it
is no great thing if his
ministers also be
transformed as the
ministers of
righteousness; whose
end shall be according to
their works.
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Understanding the Issue determining
these false Apostles
 The issue is NOT whether they use
the bible!!!!
 They all use the Bible (out of
context)
 The question is do they use the Bible
correctly
(2Co 2:17) For we are
not as many, which
corrupt the word of
God: but as of sincerity,
but as of God, in the
sight of God speak we
in Christ.
(2Co 4:2) But have
renounced the hidden things
of dishonesty, not walking in
craftiness, nor handling the
word of God deceitfully; but
by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to
every man's conscience in the
sight of God.
(1Ti 4:1) Now the Spirit speaketh
expressly, that in the latter times some shall
depart from the faith, giving heed to
seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
(1Ti 4:2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy;
having their conscience seared with a hot
iron;
(1Ti 4:3) Forbidding to marry, and
commanding to abstain from meats, which
God hath created to be received with
thanksgiving of them which believe and
know the truth.
(Tit 1:6-11) If any be blameless, the husband of
one wife, having faithful children not accused
of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be
blameless, as the steward of God; not
selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no
striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of
hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just,
holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word
as he hath been taught, that he may be able by
sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince
the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and
vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of
the circumcision: Whose mouths must be
stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching
things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's
sake.
WHAT ABOUT UNITY?
(Joh 17:11) And now I am no more in the
world, but these are in the world, and I come
to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own
name those whom thou hast given me, that
they may be one, as we are.
(Joh 17:21-22) That they all may be one;
as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that
they also may be one in us: that the world
may believe that thou hast sent me. And the
glory which thou gavest me I have given
them; that they may be one, even as we
are one:
Turn to:
John 17
(Joh 17:11) And now I am no more in the
world, but these are in the world, and I come
to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own
name those whom thou hast given me, that
they may be one, as we are.
(Joh 17:21-22) That they all may be one;
as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that
they also may be one in us: that the world
may believe that thou hast sent me. And the
glory which thou gavest me I have given
them; that they may be one, even as we
are one:
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How was the Father and the Son one?
1. Their image was the same
(Col 1:15) Who is the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn
of every creature:
(Joh 14:9) Jesus saith unto him,
Have I been so long time with
you, and yet hast thou not known
me, Philip? he that hath seen me
hath seen the Father; and how
sayest thou then, Shew us the
Father?
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How was the Father and the Son one?
1. Their image was the same
2. Their works were the same
(Joh 5:19) Then answered
Jesus and said unto them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you,
The Son can do nothing of
himself, but what he seeth
the Father do: for what
things soever he doeth,
these also doeth the Son
likewise.
(Joh 8:28) Then said Jesus
unto them, When ye have
lifted up the Son of man,
then shall ye know that I
am he, and that I do
nothing of myself; but as
my Father hath taught me, I
speak these things.
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How was the Father and the Son one?
1. Their image was the same
2. Their works were the same
3. Their words (doctrine) was the
same
(Joh 7:16-17) Jesus
answered them, and said,
My doctrine is not mine,
but his that sent me. If any
man will do his will, he
shall know of the doctrine,
whether it be of God, or
whether I speak of myself.
(Joh 12:49) For I have not spoken of
myself; but the Father which sent me,
he gave me a commandment, what I
should say, and what I should speak.
(Joh 14:10) Believest thou not that
I am in the Father, and the Father
in me? the words that I speak unto
you I speak not of myself: but the
Father that dwelleth in me, he
doeth the works.
(1Co 1:10) Now I beseech
you, brethren, by the name
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye all speak the same
thing, and that there be no
divisions among you; but
that ye be perfectly joined
together in the same mind
and in the same judgment.
(Joh 8:31-32) Then said
Jesus to those Jews which
believed on him, If ye
continue in my word, then
are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the
truth, and the truth shall
make you free.
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How was the Father and the Son one?
1. Their image was the same
2. Their works were the same
3. Their words (doctrine) was the
same
Nowhere does God tell you to drop
your doctrine for the sake of unity
(Jud 1:3) …it was needful for me to
write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith…
(2Ti 1:13) Hold fast the form of sound
words, which thou hast heard of me, in
faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
(Tit 1:9) Holding fast the faithful word as
he hath been taught, that he may be able
by sound doctrine both to exhort and to
convince the gainsayers.
(Gal 3:27) For as many of you as
have been baptized into Christ
have put on Christ.
(Col 3:12-13) Put on therefore, as the
elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels
of mercies, kindness, humbleness of
mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving
one another, if any man have a quarrel
against any: even as Christ forgave you,
so also do ye.
(1Pe 2:22-23) Who did no sin, neither was
guile found in his mouth: Who, when he
was reviled, reviled not again; when he
suffered, he threatened not; but committed
himself to him that judgeth righteously:
(Isa 53:7) He was oppressed, and he was
afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he
is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and
as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so
he openeth not his mouth.
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WWJD?
 When dealing with “sinners” and
those who persecuted him, he
always took the approach of love
and meekness
 But those who claim to be speaking
for God….
Matt.
9:3
15:1,7, 12-13
16:6, 12
23: 2, 13-17, 19, 23-29,
33
(2Ti 2:24) And the
servant of the Lord
must not strive; but be
gentle unto all men,
apt to teach, patient,