He that Has an Ear, Let Him Hear Revelation 2:7

After John the apostle saw the vision of Jesus in chapter one of “Revelation”, he began to write to the “seven churches in Asia”. He began with the church located in “Ephesus”, and after he them how they “left their first love”, he told them to, “Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent.” He added, “But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” In chapter two and verse seven of Revelation, John shared how Jesus said to the church in Ephesus, “he that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches” where we read:

He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

The verse begins, “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches;” John began with the words, “he that has an ear” which means “the person who hold, owns and possesses the body part used for the faculty of hearing, perceiving, understanding and knowing with the mind”, “let him hear” or “allow and permit that person attend to, consider, understand and perceive” “what the Spirit” which refers to “that which the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit who is coequal and co-eternal with the Father and the Son” “says” or “speaks, utters, declares and proclaims” “unto the churches” which refers to “toward the assemblies of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”.

The verse continues, “To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” John added the words, “to him” or “to the person whether male or female” “that overcomes” which means “who conquers, carries off the victory and holds fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, temptations and persecution” “will I give” or “will Jesus grant, deliver, bestow, supply and furnish” “to eat” which means “to consume and devour” “of the tree” or “of the wood or timber” “of life” which means “pertaining to the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God ”, “which is in the midst” or “that is located in the middle or center most part” “of the paradise” which means “the upper regions of the heavens and the garden” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”. Jesus' promise to those who “conquer and carry off the victory” is to partake of the “absolute fullness of life” which comes from the “tree” located in the “center” of God's heavenly “paradise”.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we understand Jesus' beckoning for people to “listen to” and “hear” what “God's Spirit” is “declaring” to “the churches”. There is a reward of “eating from the tree of life in paradise” for “overcoming” all “foes, temptations and persecutions” which are certain to come into the life of one who believes and trusts in Jesus Christ as their “Savior and Lord”. God Almighty desires to have a blessed relationship with every person who will “hear” Him and receive His Son Jesus into their lives. The church of Ephesus is historically the first period of church history up unto the death of the apostles, and it is seen in the book of Acts. Towards the end of the first church period the church was growing cold as they began to formalize the religion. The call for the “church of Ephesus” to “hear God's Spirit” continues to the “church today”, and those who are wise shall pay close attention to His declaration to them.

Next time John begins to write, “unto the angel of the church in Smyrna”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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