Episode 63 – Revelation 2 – The Letter to Thyatira

~ Tyler Goza

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:17:07 — 72.5MB)

This week on Tell the Truth, we continued our journey through the book of Revelation, diving into the letter to the church at Thyatira.

Still in the Church Age

Before we jumped into the text, we wanted to remind everyone where we are in Revelation. Right now, we’re still in the church age in the book of Revelation, with another chapter to go. After chapter three, we’ll see the church in heaven in chapter four, which takes place after the tribulation. Then the tribulation here on earth will start. But for now, Christ is still speaking directly to the churches.

The Promise to Overcomers

We also recapped the beautiful promise from the previous week’s passage: “To the one who conquers, I will give him some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on that stone be written a new name that no one can understand except the one who receives it.” This is the new name given to us by Christ—a deeply personal and intimate promise to those who overcome.

Living Out God’s Word

We opened in prayer with a powerful reminder that God’s Word isn’t just meant to stay in book form. Through the Holy Spirit, God writes His living Word in our hearts so that it lives in us. The things we do and say may not be an exact quote from the Bible, but they should mirror the Word of God. We can only accomplish this by studying Scripture and spending time in prayer.

Our prayer for this podcast remains constant: that the truth of God’s Word would penetrate hearts, direct the church, and guide our families—moms, dads, husbands, and wives—to be godly men and women who follow Christ with passion and compassion.

The Perfect Church… With a Problem

When we examined Christ’s words to Thyatira, we discovered something remarkable. Jesus commends them for their works, their love, their faith, their service, their patience, and their endurance through dark times. Even more impressive, their works had actually increased over time. This sounds like the perfect church!

When Good Works Aren’t Enough

But here’s where we discussed the challenge many modern churches face. Churches can get so focused on the works—showing up every Sunday, every Wednesday, all the kids’ programs, revivals, and special events—that they lose sight of something critical. They work hard at making everyone feel welcome and comfortable, inviting anyone to come in and sit down, making them feel like family.

We talked about how churches can look back at everything they’re doing and think, “Look at us! We’re working hard. We’ve got faith. We’re faithful to show up.” But Jesus was about to deliver one of the harshest rebukes to any of the seven churches—and it came right after acknowledging all these good things they were doing.

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Join us next week as we continue exploring the letters to the seven churches in Revelation!

Episode 62 – Revelation 2 continued

~ Tyler Goza

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:11:34 — 67.5MB)

Episode 62: Revelation 2 – Smyrna and Pergamum

This week on Tell the Truth, we dove deep into a critical issue that plagued the early church and continues to challenge believers today: the misunderstanding of grace as a license to sin.

The Nicolaitan Heresy

We explored how the Apostle Paul addressed a dangerous teaching that twisted the concept of grace. Some were saying, “Let us sin more so that grace may abound” – essentially the core belief of the Nicolaitans. This heresy suggested that because we’re saved by grace, we can do whatever we want. But as we discussed, this completely misses the heart of Jesus’s message.

Jesus’s Consistent Command

One of the most striking patterns we examined was how Jesus consistently told those He forgave: “Go and sin no more”. Every single time Jesus forgave someone, healed them, or directly interacted with them, this command followed. It wasn’t just a casual suggestion – it was central to His teaching.

What’s remarkable is how quickly even the early church began to forget this. We talked about how believers – barely a century removed from Christ – were already saying, “Well, we have this grace thing. We’re not under the law anymore”. They were dropping the ball on Jesus’s clear directive almost immediately.

Eternal Perspective

We also reflected on the sobering reality of the “second death” mentioned in Revelation – the lake of fire at the great white throne judgment. As D.L. Moody wisely said, “He who is born once will die twice; he who is born twice will die once”. This reminder challenges us to consider: we know death is coming, so what are we doing while we’re waiting?

Grace is amazing, transformative, and free – but it’s never a license to continue in sin. Join us as we continue exploring what it means to live faithfully in light of God’s truth while studying Revelation Chapter 2 in the letters to the leaders in Smyrna and Pergamum.

Episode 61 – Revelation Part 3

~ Tyler Goza

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:08:24 — 64.6MB)

Diving Into Revelation Chapter 2: The Church of Ephesus

Welcome back to Tell the Truth! This week, we’re continuing our journey through the Book of Revelation, focusing on Chapter 2 and the first of the seven churches.

The Unveiling of Jesus Christ:

As we begin Revelation Chapter 2, it’s important to remember what this entire book is about—it’s the revelation, or unveiling, of Jesus Christ. This isn’t just a prophetic timeline; it’s about revealing who Jesus truly is.

The Letter to Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-3):

The chapter opens with a message to the angel of the church of Ephesus. The letter begins: “These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand”.

Ephesus was no ordinary city—it was the chief city of Asia, serving as the religious and cultural center that influenced both East and West, Asia and Europe. The Apostle Paul had his greatest and most powerful ministry in this city.

Jesus as Sovereign Judge:

A crucial detail in these opening verses is the imagery of Jesus holding the churches in His right hand. This symbolizes that Jesus Christ is ultimately in control—He is the sovereign judge over His churches. This reminds us that no matter what challenges the churches face, they remain under Christ’s authority and care.

Approaching the Study of Revelation:

We want to encourage you: studying Revelation is similar to studying the letter to the Romans—you won’t understand it all in the first read-through. This book requires dedication. Read it, let it soak in, take notes, and then go back and repeat the process over and over. That’s how you really get your head around this profound book.

The beauty of studying Revelation is discovering what Christ’s return truly means. As we work through these chapters together, we’re reminded of our ultimate hope and home.

Join us next week as we continue unpacking Revelation Chapter 2 and the messages to the seven churches!

Revelation – Part 2

~ Tyler Goza

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:37 — 57.4MB)

The Book of Revelation: Understanding the End Times

In this episode, we continued our study of the Book of Revelation, exploring the key themes and symbolism in the book. We discussed how the book is not meant to be scary or intimidating, but rather a message of hope and encouragement for believers.

The Importance of Understanding Revelation

We emphasized the importance of understanding the book of Revelation, not just as a book of prophecy, but as a book that reveals the character and nature of God. We discussed how the book is a call to believers to be faithful and obedient, and to trust in God’s sovereignty and power.

The Symbolism of Revelation

We explored the symbolism in the book of Revelation, including the seven churches, the seven seals, and the seven trumpets. We discussed how these symbols are not just random or arbitrary, but are rooted in biblical history and theology.

The Importance of Context

We emphasized the importance of understanding the context of the book of Revelation, including the historical and cultural background in which it was written. We discussed how the book is not just a prediction of future events, but a message of hope and encouragement to believers in the midst of persecution and hardship.

The Call to Evangelism

We ended the episode with a call to evangelism, encouraging believers to share the message of the gospel with others. We discussed how the book of Revelation is a reminder that our time on earth is short, and that we should be urgent in our efforts to share the gospel with others.

Key Takeaways

  • The book of Revelation is a message of hope and encouragement for believers, not a book of fear or intimidation.
  • Understanding the symbolism and context of the book is crucial to interpreting its meaning.
  • The book is a call to believers to be faithful and obedient, and to trust in God’s sovereignty and power.
  • We should be urgent in our efforts to share the gospel with others, as our time on earth is short.

 

Revelation – Part 1

~ Tyler Goza

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:05:55 — 62.3MB)

Beginning Our Journey Through Revelation: Understanding the Unveiling of Jesus Christ

Welcome back to our Bible study series! After taking a couple weeks off for family time, we’re diving into one of the most intriguing and often misunderstood books of the Bible: Revelation. This isn’t just a study about future events—it’s fundamentally about Jesus Christ and His ultimate victory.

The True Nature of Revelation

The book is called “Revelation” (singular), not “Revelations.” In Greek, it’s “apocalypsis”—the source of our word “apocalypse”—which simply means “uncovering” or “unveiling.” This entire book is about revealing Jesus Christ in His glory and demonstrating that He wins in the end.

John received these visions while exiled on the island of Patmos, and he was instructed to write them down for the churches. Unlike Daniel, who was told to seal his prophecies, John was commanded to reveal these truths because “the time is at hand.”

Our Perspective

This study comes from a pre-millennial, pre-tribulation perspective. We believe the church will be raptured before the tribulation period described in later chapters. However, regardless of your eschatological position, the central truth remains: Jesus Christ is coming back, and those who belong to Him have nothing to fear.

A Promise of Blessing

One of the most encouraging verses in the entire book comes right at the beginning:

“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.” (Revelation 1:3)

This verse contains a threefold blessing for those who:
1. Read the book
2. Hear its words
3. Keep (treasure and apply) its teachings

This isn’t a book to fear—it’s a book that promises blessing to those who engage with it.

The Eternal Christ

The opening chapters present Jesus in terms that emphasize His eternal nature. He is described as “which is, and which was, and which is to come”—a phrase that connects directly to God’s declaration to Moses: “I AM.” This emphatic language underscores Christ’s deity and unchanging nature.

Jesus identifies Himself as “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,” encompassing all of time and eternity. He is the “faithful witness,” the “first begotten of the dead” (the first to rise never to die again), and the “prince of the kings of the earth.”

Our Identity as Believers

The text reminds us that Christ “loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God.” More accurately translated, we are “a kingdom of priests”—not individual kings, but part of Christ’s kingdom serving as His priesthood.

There is only one King: Jesus. We will rule and reign with Him, but He alone holds the ultimate authority.

The Vision of Glorified Christ

John’s vision of the glorified Christ is breathtaking. This is Jesus as John had never seen Him before—not the humble carpenter from Nazareth, but the exalted Lord of glory:

• White hair like wool, representing eternal wisdom

• Eyes like flames of fire, showing His penetrating insight into all things

• Feet like polished bronze, symbolizing His role as judge

• Voice like the sound of many waters, the voice of ultimate authority

This is the same voice that spoke creation into existence and will one day call His bride home.

The Church as Lampstands

The seven lampstands in John’s vision represent the seven churches, but by extension, they represent all churches. We are the lampstands because we hold the light of Christ in this world. Jesus is the light of the world, and we are called to shine that light, not hide it.

As we prepare to study the messages to the seven churches, we’ll see both commendations and corrections. These aren’t just historical accounts—they’re mirrors for modern churches to examine themselves.

Looking Ahead

The book of Revelation isn’t primarily about end-times events to fear—it’s about the revelation of Jesus Christ in His glory and the assurance that He has already won the ultimate victory. Whether we see some, all, or none of the tribulation events, our calling remains the same: to live faithfully for Christ and shine His light in the world.

As we continue this study, remember that Christ sees everything—His eyes like flames of fire penetrate to the very depths of our hearts. But this isn’t cause for fear if we belong to Him. Instead, it’s an invitation to live authentically and allow Him to work in our lives.

The God we serve is not dead or distant. He is alive, He is coming back, and He is calling us to live victoriously in the present while we await His return.

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Next week, we’ll continue with Revelation 1:16, diving deeper into John’s magnificent vision of the glorified Christ. Bring your Bible as we continue our verse by verse study.