Sat.’s Devo - The Messages to Ephesus, Smyrna and Pergamum

Read: Amos 1:1-3:15; Revelation 2:1-17; Psalm 129:1-8; Provers 29:19-20 Yesterday, we read where God called all the nations to be judged at the Valley of Decision. Today we read about God’s verdict on the nations of the people of Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah and Israel. The people of Damascus whose king was Hazael and Ben-hadad, would be punished for beating down God’s people in Gilead. The people of Gaza would be punished for sending his people into exile and selling them as slaves. The people of Tyre had broke their treaty with Israel, selling whole villages as slaves. The people of Edom chased down the Israelites who were their relatives. They killed them with swords showing not mercy. The people of Ammon attacked Gilead and ripped open pregnant women with their swords. The people of Moab desecrated the bones of Edom’s king. The people of Judah rejected the instruction of the Lord and refused to obey his decrees. The Israelites sold honorable people for silver and poor people for a pair of sandals. They oppressed helpless people. Their idolatry led to all sorts of vile sins. They had watched as God defeated their enemies for them and it didn’t change their hard hearts. They had defiled and killed their own prophets and Nazarites. Now they will not stand in the face of their enemies. All of these nations including Israel and Judah were judged by how they treated God’s chosen people. In Revelation, his first message was to the messenger of the church of Ephesus. They were commended for their discernment of the false apostles. They had patiently suffered with our quitting. God’s complaint against them was that they had lost their first love for God and each other. If they didn’t repent, their lamp stand would be removed. The church in Smyrna was commended for their faithful hearts under suffering, He warned them of the enemies plans to throw some of them in prison but encouraged them to hand on and not give up. The church of Smyrna was the only church not to receive a rebuke. Since this church was from the one who was dead but now alive, their emphasis was on the fact that thought they might be killed they will resurrect and their reward would be a crown of life. The messenger to the church of Pergamum was from the one with the sharp two-edged sword so the emphasis was on the spoken Word. Pergamum was the place of Satan’s throne so many followers were martyred. They were rebuked for following false teachings instead of holding on to God’s Word and what it taught. If they repented, God would come and fight them with the sword of his mouth. Their reward would be God’s hidden manna which is revelation of God’s Word and a new name written on a white stone. Lord, may we learn from our ancestor’s mistakes and not repeat them. May we hold close to your word and not be enticed by teachers who only want to be paid. May we have discernment to know the truth. Thank you for covering us with your hand and sealing us with your Spirit.