The Test of Truth
rEVELATION 2:12-17
Main Idea: Christ calls us to faithfully hold onto the truth that leads to eternal reward.
I. What are you holding on to? (2:13-15)
A. Holding onto Christ (v. 13)
Satan’s Attack Plan
Persecution
Seduction
Deception
B. Holding onto Christ and… (v.14-15)
Jesus + Nothing = Everything
Jesus + Anything = Nothing
II. Where does it lead? (2:12, 16-17)
Revelation 1:16: […from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword…]
Hebrews 4:12-13: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness…
Ephesians 6:16-17: In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…
Revelation 1:16,20:In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword...As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
A. Hidden Manna
Psalm 78:23-25: Yet he commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven,
and he rained down on them manna to eat
and gave them the grain of heaven.
Man ate of the bread of the angels;
he sent them food in abundance.
John 6:31-15: Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
B. A White Stone
Those who triumphed in games were given white stones for entry into celebratory banquets. Such stones were used also in court cases to signify acquittal. Those who overcome will enjoy the messianic banquet and stand clean before God forever.
-Tom Schreiner
C. New Name
Revelation 19-11:12: Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
