Away from their First Love 把起初的愛心離棄

A study of the letter of Christ Jesus to the church who left her first love:

1:3 念這書上預言的, 和那些聽見又遵守其中所記載的, 都是有福的. 因為日期近了.

Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

D.Lim: We are reading this revelation for our blessings. The Day of Christ is near. We are at the end time. Eschatos is for us. We are part of the picture. No dispensationism.

1:4 約翰寫信給亞西亞的七個教會. 但願從那昔在今在以後永在的 (.神.) 和祂寶座前的七靈.

John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

1:5 並那誠實作見證的, 從死裡首先復活, 為世上君王元首的耶穌基督. 有恩惠平安歸與你們. 祂愛我們, 用自己的血使我們脫離罪惡. ((脫離有古卷作洗去))

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

1:6 又使我們成為國民, 作祂父神的祭司. 但願榮耀權能歸給祂, 直到永永遠遠. 阿們.

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1:10 當主日我被 (.聖.) 靈感動, 聽見在我後面有大聲如吹號說,

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

1:11 你所看見的, 當寫在書上, 達與以弗所, 士每拿, 別迦摩, 推雅推喇, 撒狄, 非拉鐵非, 老底嘉, 那七個教會.

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

1:20 論到你所看見在我右手中的七星, 和七個金燈臺的奧秘. 那七星就是七個教會的使者. 七個燈臺就是七個教會.

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

2:1 你要寫信給以弗所教會的使者, 說, 那右手拿著七星, 在七個金燈臺中間行走的, 說,

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

D.Lim: Ephesus has been a very learned church. She is the symbol of great maturity and understanding in doctrine and teachings. Yet this position can still reap corruption and condemnation. She can still lose sight of her path and passages. She can still be blind to the truths she has attained and to new revelations.

2:2 我知道你的行為, 勞碌, 忍耐, 也知道你不能容忍惡人, 你也曾試驗那自稱為使徒卻不是使徒的, 看出他們是假的來.

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:

D.Lim: the evil people惡人 are the false apostles. They came with the message that they are commissioned/sent to come to lead and teach and to rule over.

The church did not put up with the liars, the pretenders.

There was the right tests.

However, she has wandered away from this Godly path. She has left her first love.

She has lend herselves to other teachings and ways. She has become idolatous, which is condemnable and miserable. This is a way to death.

Now, with false ways, there are false tests, and evil acceptance, entertainment, and nourishment.

The people/congregation/assemblies there do not realise that. Christ came to tell them, speaking of their true state. Warning them the need to repent.

Are you ready to repent?

2:3 你也能忍耐, 曾為我的名勞苦, 並不乏倦.

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

2:4 然而有一件事我要責備你, 就是你把起初的愛心離棄了.

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

2:5 所以應當回想你是從那裡墜落的, 並要悔改, 行起初所行的事. 你若不悔改, 我就臨到你那裡, 把你的燈臺從原處挪去.

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

2:6 然而你還有一個可取的事, 就是你恨惡尼哥拉一黨人的行為, 這也是我所恨惡的.

But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

D.Lim: There is Godly hatred in the true church. Even Christ/God hates.

Hating the Nicolaitanes is good and acceptable action. Tolerance in and for all things is evil in disguise.

2:7 (.聖.) 靈向眾教會所說的話, 凡有耳的, 就應當聽. 得勝的,我必將神樂園中生命樹的果子賜給他吃.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.-KJV

D.Lim: This revelation/letter is addressed to all those who have ears, including you and me.

This is not a setting in the past, finished and dealt with. This is no dispensationism; we have not passed that stage yet. So, beware, pay attention, and examine yourselves.

D.Lim: The Bible talks a lot of the Spirit Holy(Neuma hagios, Roach HaKodesh). The true church has a lot of SPIRIT TALK.

D.Lim: The Spirit is holy, is Christ, is God. Do you heed the Spirit in revelation?

Or do you rely on your wayward teachings, traditions, and practice?

Repent!

You are not to be tolerated any longer.

Your false teachings of love can not get you right with God.

Your hope must be hinged on the true faith, through revelation of the Spirit.

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Rev 2v4: 'But I have this against you, that you have (Jer 2:2; Matt 24:12 ) left your first love. �NASV

Jeremiah 2 Continuity with the OT

v2 "Go and (1) proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD,

"I remember concerning you the (2) devotion of your youth,

The love of your betrothals,

(3) Your following after Me in the wilderness,

Through a land not sown. -NASV

Matthew 24 Continuity with the syn-optic gospel

v12 "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. -NASV

D.Lim: The true lover was found and followed when the church was young. Following God in the wilderness was no problem. Now she matured up in wayward ways.

For anti-charismatics, they followed God in unfamiliar territories in the past. But when they grow older they take on the façade of being established, and reject new grounds and new learnings of God. They have left their former ways, which were Godly and holy ways.

Love is a way. Leaving a way is leaving that love.

The first way/love is to obey and follow God regardless of difficulties and unfamiliarity.

No love partner knows her beloved in everything from the very beginning to the very end.

　

　

Matthew 24

12 "Because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold.

D.Lim: This is relating to getting lukewarm, being hypocritical, even wicked.

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D.Lim:

Over the last 35 years I have been deeply sadened by the depths of manipulation and even hipocrosy in so many churches. Please pray for our brothers and sisters in established churches to rekindle their first love of Jesus and minister the word of God with power from the Holy Spirit! - Posted by Rev. John Garretson on November 10, 2004, 3:32 pm

　

The group, challenged by the prophet because they are smug and comfortably insulated from a perishing world in their warm but untested theology, is not likely to vote him "Man of the year" when he refers to them as habituates of the synagogue of Satan!

In a day of faceless politicians and voiceless preachers, there is not a more urgent

national need than that we cry to God for a prophet! - Leonard Ravenhill

A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

Proverbs 11:12/NIV

Little children worship God! Guard yourselves from idols!