Ps 104 · Rev 2

Devotion 1 of 2: Ps 104

This psalm gives us a beautiful picture of what the natural world should be like, everything in harmony, with animals, plants and nature all working together to make the earth a wonderful environment to live in! It’s almost like a picture of what the Millennial Kingdom will be like! The key is in v.35, “But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more.” Yes, Lord, bring for the great LDR and after that the wonderful Millennial Kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth!

Devotion 2 of 2: Rev 2

For Rev 2, another choice you have is to answer this question: If we divide the 7 churches of Rev 2-3 into different church ages, and categorize the 1st 4 churches this way…Ephesus = 30 – 100 AD (1st Century Church), Smyrna = 30 – 300 AD (Persecuted Church), Pergamum = 300 – 500 AD (Compromising Church), and Thyatira = 500 – 1500 AD (Dark Ages Church), what is one description in Jesus’ words to each of them that would match each church?

Rev 2 answer: 1) Ephesus (v.1-7) = 30-100 AD (1st Century Church). This church is also called the Apostolic Church because the original apostles led it and because there were other apostles ministering in it. This church tested all who claimed to be apostles and found some of them false (v.2), which shows it had keen discernment!
2) Smyrna (v.8-11) = 30-300 AD (Persecuted Church). This church suffered much persecution from the Roman Empire (v.10), but in the end, it was able to conquer the Empire, and persecution of Christianity was banned in 313 AD.

3) Pergamum (v.12-17) = 300-500 AD (Compromising Church). Christianity was made the state religion of the Roman Empire in 380 AD. But this led to compromise as many Roman pagan customs came into the church. This church held the teaching of Balaam, who enticed Israel to compromise and do idolatrous and immoral practices (v.14), and the teaching of the Nicolaitans (v.15), who also promoted compromise with the world!

4) Thyatira (v.18-29) = 500-20??) (Dark Age Church). This church tolerated Jezebel (=fleshly religious organization?), perhaps the wickedest woman in the Bible! This led to sexual immorality and eating food sacrificed to idols (v.20). This church is the Catholic Church, which has been hit hard by numerous scandals involving priests recently, but that may be just the tip of the iceberg of hidden sexual wrongdoings that stretch over 1500 years as a result of priests and nuns being prohibited from marrying. But there are also sincere believers. In v.25, Jesus says to them, “…hold on to what you have until I come,” indicating this church will see Jesus’ 2nd coming!

デボーション2/2：Rev 2

黙2の答え。 1）エペソ（1-7節）＝AD30-100年（1世紀教会）。この教会は、最初の使徒たちが率い、また他の使徒たちが奉仕していたので、使徒教会とも呼ばれている。この教会は、使徒と名乗る者たちを試し、その中の何人かを偽者とした（2節）ので、鋭い洞察力を持っていたことがわかる。
2) スミルナ(8-11節)=AD30-300年(迫害された教会)。この教会はローマ帝国から多くの迫害を受けたが（10節）、最後には帝国を征服し、紀元313年にキリスト教の迫害が禁止された。

3） ペルガモ（12-17節）＝AD300-500年（妥協型教会）。キリスト教は紀元380年にローマ帝国の国教となった。しかし、このことにより、多くのローマ異教の習慣が教会に入り込み、妥協することになった。この教会は、イスラエルに妥協して偶像崇拝や不品行をするように誘ったバラムの教え（14節）や、世との妥協を進めたニコライ派の教え（15節）を受け入れていた。

4) テアテラ（18-29節）=500-20??（暗黒時代の教会）。この教会は、おそらく聖書で最も邪悪な女性であるイゼベル(=肉的な宗教組織?)を容認していた! そのため、性的不道徳や偶像のいけにえを食べるようになった（20節）。この教会とは、最近、神父の数々の不祥事で大打撃を受けたカトリック教会ですが、それは、神父や修道女が結婚を禁じられていた結果、1500年以上に及ぶ隠れた性悪行為の氷山の一角に過ぎないのかもしれない。しかし、誠実な信徒もいる。25節で、イエスは彼らに「あなたがたの持っているものを、私が行くまで、しっかりと持っていなさい」と言われ、この教会はイエスの再臨を見るようになる。