04 what the spirit says to the churches (part 2) slideshow

The Book of Revelation 03/25/2007

Lesson 4
What the Spirit Says to the Churches
(Part 2)

Amen! Hallelujah! – A Study of the Book of Revelation
By Dale Wells
Text: Rev 1.9-3.22

SARDIS

Rev 3:1-6 WEB
"And to the angel of the assembly in Sardis write: He who has
the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars says these things:
"I know your works, that you have a reputation of being alive,
but you are dead. Wake up, and keep the things that remain,
which you were about to throw away, for I have found no works
of yours perfected before my God. Remember therefore how
you have received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If therefore
you won't watch, I will come as a thief, and you won't know what
hour I will come upon you. Nevertheless you have a few names
in Sardis that did not defile their garments. They will walk with
me in white, for they are worthy. He who overcomes will be
arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out
of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father,
and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the assemblies.

Lesson 4 1


Sardis - the modern Bin Tepe - was
about thirty miles south of Thyatira
It was the capital of Lydia,
whose last ruler was Croesus.
“As rich as Croesus” comes
from the wealth of the king who
reigned from 560 to 546 BC.
Cyrus the Great of Persia,
invaded Lydia
Croesus consulted the oracle of
Delphi.
The oracle said: "If Croesus
goes to war he will destroy a
great empire."
So Croesus went to war with
Cyrus and was defeated – he
destroyed his own great
empire.

Sardis was in very early times an
important commercial city
Pliny says that the art of dyeing
wool was invented there, and it
was known for manufacture of
dyed woolen products, carpets,
etc.
It was also the place where the
metal electrum was procured.
Gold was found in the bed of
the Pactolus River.
Silver and gold coins are said to
have been first minted there.
The worship of the goddess
Cybele was celebrated there,
and the massive ruins of her
temple are still visible.

Sardis sat 1500 feet up on a ledge
jutting out of the side of a mountain
It was considered
impregnable because of its
nearly vertical rock walls.
Even so, it was captured
twice, by stealth.
Herodotus tells of Cyrus
taking the city in 549 BC.
A Persian soldier observed
a Sardian descending the
southern winding path to
retrieve his fallen helmet.
The Persians followed his
path back up to the summit
and took the city by
surprise.

Lesson 4 2


From the Persians it passed into the
hands of Alexander the Great
For the next three hundred
years, its history is obscure.
In 214 BC it was taken by
Antiochus III after a siege of
two years.
After reading Herodotus'
account, Antiochus' army
invaded the city in the same
way the Persians had.
In the reign of Tiberius it was
among a dozen cities
destroyed by an earthquake.
The calamity was increased
by pestilence.

Sardis boasted a necropolis ("city of
the dead") that was visible for 7 miles
The name of Sardis had
become synonymous with
unjustified pretensions and
unfulfilled promises.
Almost a century ago, a ship
was launched with the
promise that it was
unsinkable. The Titanic, has
been sitting at the bottom of
the ocean ever since.
Sardis, like the Titanic, never
lived up to its promises.

The Messenger

Rev 3:1b WEB He who has
the seven Spirits of God, and
the seven stars says these
things...

Lesson 4 3


The "Seven Spirits of God" refers to
the Holy Spirit

Rev 1:4-5a WEB Grace to you and peace, from God, who is and
who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are
before his throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the
firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
It puts the Holy Spirit on a par with God and Christ.
Rev 4:5 WEB There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne,
which are the seven Spirits of God.
Rev 5:6 WEB I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having
seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out
into all the earth.

The 7 stars have been identified as
messengers of the 7 churches
Rev 1:16 WEB He had
seven stars in his right hand.
Out of his mouth proceeded
a sharp two-edged sword.
His face was like the sun
shining at its brightest.
Rev 1:20 WEB [T]he mystery
of the seven stars which you
saw in my right hand, and
the seven golden
lampstands. The seven stars
are the angels of the seven
assemblies. The seven
lampstands are seven
assemblies.

The Message
Rev 3:1c-4 WEB "I know your
works, that you have a
reputation of being alive, but
you are dead. Wake up, and
keep the things that remain,
which you were about to throw
away, for I have found no works
of yours perfected before my
God. Remember therefore how
you have received and heard.
Keep it, and repent. If therefore
you won't watch, I will come as
a thief, and you won't know
what hour I will come upon you.
Nevertheless you have a few
names in Sardis that did not
defile their garments. They will
walk with me in white, for they
are worthy.

Lesson 4 4


The church, like the city, appears to
be resting on its reputation
They appear to be alive, but
Jesus says they are just as
dead as the corpses
inhabiting their world-famous
necropolis.
It's like looking at well-
dressed bodies at the funeral
parlor - they may look
natural, but they're dead!
Jesus assures them that "I
know your works", but the
problem is that "I have found
no works of yours perfected
before my God."

If the church doesn't wake up, Jesus
will execute his own sneak attack
The church is in trouble, but
some Christians are living up to
their calling. Jesus says they
are "worthy". They "did not
defile their garments," so "they
will walk with me in white".
The Sardians could not miss the
contrast between "defiled" and
"white" garments. The heart of
their economy was the dyeing
trade. They took white cloth and
stained it with colors.
Jesus promises that those who
had not stained their garments
"will walk with me in white".

The Promise

Rev 3:5-6 WEB He who
overcomes will be arrayed in
white garments, and I will in
no way blot his name out of
the book of life, and I will
confess his name before my
Father, and before his
angels. He who has an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit
says to the assemblies.

Lesson 4 5


The promise is threefold
First, there is the promise of
white garments for the
overcomer. The Sardians would
understand this promise, given
their commercial dyeing trade.
Second, there is the promise
that the overcomer's name will
be indelibly printed in the book
of life.
Third, there is the promise that
Jesus will acknowledge the
overcomer before God.

In Revelation, everyone worships the
beast, except for those in the Book of Life
Rev 13:8 WEB All who dwell on
the earth will worship him,
everyone whose name has not
been written in the book of
life of the Lamb who has been
killed.
Rev 17:8 WEB The beast that
you saw was, and is not; and is
about to come up out of the
abyss and to go into
destruction. Those whose
names have not been written in
the book of life from the
foundation of the world will
marvel when they see that the
beast was, and is not, and shall
be present.

In Judgment, the key question is:
Was one's name in the Book of Life?
Rev 20:11-15 WEB I saw a
great white throne, and him who
sat on it, from whose face the
earth and the heaven fled away.
I saw the dead, the great and
the small, standing before the
throne, and they opened books.
Another book was opened,
which is the book of life. The
dead were judged out of the
things which were written in the
books, according to their works.
They were judged, each one
according to his works. If
anyone was not found written in
the book of life, he was cast into
the lake of fire.

Lesson 4 6


The New Jerusalem is home to those
with names in the Book of Life
Rev 21:27 WEB There will in
no way enter into it anything
profane, or one who causes
an abomination or a lie, but
only those who are written in
the Lamb's book of life.
I want my name there! Don't
you?

PHILADELPHIA

Rev 3:7-13 WEB
"To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: "He who is holy, he
who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one
can shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says these things: "I know
your works (behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one
can shut), that you have a little power, and kept my word, and didn't
deny my name. Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of those who
say they are Jews, and they are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them to
come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the
hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who
dwell on the earth. I am coming quickly! Hold firmly that which you
have, so that no one takes your crown. He who overcomes, I will make
him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he will go out from there no
more. I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city
of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from
my God, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the assemblies.

Lesson 4 7


Philadelphia - modern Alasehir ("City
of Allah") - was 28 miles SE of Sardis
It was in the Hermus River
valley on the main highway that
connected Smyrna to northwest
Asia, Phrygia, and the east.
It was also on the imperial post
road from Rome via Troas,
Adramyttium, Pergamum, and
Sardis, on the way to the east.
The region was a wine-growing
district, and its coins bore the
head of Bacchus (also known
as Dionysos), the god of drink.
The population included Jews,
Jewish Christians, and converts
from heathenism.

The region was earthquake prone

In 17 AD an earthquake
destroyed Philadelphia.
Tiberius paid to have the city
rebuilt.
As a result, the city of
Philadelphia ultimately
became dependent on
government aid to exist.

Jesus doesn’t have a single word of
condemnation for the church
They are being persecuted.
The chief opposition to the
church comes from the
Jews.
But they are assured that
God protects them and that
they will ultimately be
crowned.
All they’ve got to do is hang
on.

Lesson 4 8


The Messenger

Rev 3:7b WEB He who is
holy, he who is true, he who
has the key of David, he who
opens and no one can shut,
and who shuts and no one
opens, says these things:

There are four aspects to the self-
designation in this letter
"He who is holy, he who is true" are elsewhere used of God
Rev 4:8 WEB The four living creatures, each one of them having
six wings, are full of eyes around about and within. They have no
rest day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the
Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!"
Rev 6:10 WEB They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long,
Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on
those who dwell on the earth?"
Jesus is called "the Holy One" elsewhere.
Mar 1:23-24 WEB Immediately there was in their synagogue a man
with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, saying, "Ha! What do we
have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to
destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!"
Joh 6:67-69 NIV "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus
asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall
we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know
that you are the Holy One of God."

"The True One" is a recognized title
of the Messiah in Revelation
Rev 3:14 WEB "To the angel
of the assembly in Laodicea
write: "The Amen, the
Faithful and True Witness,
the Head of God's creation,
says these things:
Rev 19:11 WEB I saw the
heaven opened, and behold,
a white horse, and he who
sat on it is called Faithful and
True. In righteousness he
judges and makes war.

Lesson 4 9


The figure of the "key of David"
comes from the Prophet Isaiah
Isa 22:20-22 WEB It shall
happen in that day, that I will
call my servant Eliakim the son
of Hilkiah The key of the
house of David will I lay on his
shoulder; and he shall open,
and none shall shut; and he
shall shut, and none shall open.
What Jesus does, no man can
undo.
This is similar to what is said
about God elsewhere.
Job 12:14 WEB Behold, he
breaks down, and it can't be
built again; He imprisons a
man, and there can be no
release.

The Message

Rev 3:8-11 WEB "I know your works (behold, I have set before you an
open door, which no one can shut), that you have a little power, and
kept my word, and didn't deny my name. Behold, I give of the
synagogue of Satan, of those who say they are Jews, and they are not,
but lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet,
and to know that I have loved you. Because you kept my command to
endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come
on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. I am coming
quickly! Hold firmly that which you have, so that no one takes your
crown.

We will see the metaphor of the door
in the Book of Revelation
Rev 3:20 WEB Behold, I stand
at the door and knock. If anyone
hears my voice and opens the
door, then I will come in to him,
and will dine with him, and he
with me.
Rev 4:1 WEB After these things
I looked and saw a door opened
in heaven, and the first voice
that I heard, like a trumpet
speaking with me, was one
saying, "Come up here, and I
will show you the things which
must happen after this."

Lesson 4 10


The "open door" here is opportunity
in the midst of opposition
There is opportunity for
evangelism in spite of Jewish
hostility against Christians.
"You have a little power", refers
to the fact that the church had
little influence in Philadelphia
since Christians were likely from
lower classes.
1Co 1:26 WEB For you see
your calling, brothers, that not
many are wise according to the
flesh, not many mighty, and not
many noble;
But in Philadelphia the church
had remained faithful during
their crisis of trial.

Jesus wants people to keep his word

Joh 17:6 WEB I revealed your name to the people whom you
have given me out of the world. They were yours, and you have
given them to me. They have kept your word.
When Jesus praises them because they "didn't deny my name",
he is likely referring to some crisis when unbelievers tried to
compel the Christians to deny Jesus, but they had stood true.

As in Smyrna, this opposition had
come from the Jewish community
Rev 2:9 WEB "I know your
works, oppression, and your
poverty (but you are rich), and
the blasphemy of those who say
they are Jews, and they are not,
but are a synagogue of Satan.
In time the Jews will
acknowledge that Christians are
loved by God
Rev 3:9 WEB Behold, I give of
the synagogue of Satan, of
those who say they are Jews,
and they are not, but lie.
Behold, I will make them to
come and worship before your
feet, and to know that I have
loved you.

Lesson 4 11


This is a reminder of similar promises
to God's people in the OT

Isa 45:14 WEB Thus says Yahweh: "The labor of Egypt, and the
merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come
over to you, and they shall be yours. They shall go after you. In chains
they shall come over; and they shall fall down to you. They shall make
supplication to you: 'Surely God is in you; and there is none else, there
is no other god.
Isa 60:14 WEB The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending
to you; and all those who despised you shall bow themselves down at
the soles of your feet; and they shall call you The city of Yahweh, The
Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Jesus goes on to give assurances to
the faithful within the church
Rev 3:10 WEB Because you
kept my command to endure, I
also will keep you from the hour
of testing, which is to come on
the whole world, to test those
who dwell on the earth.
Since they had persevered, he
promised to preserve them.
This implies, not keeping them
from temptation, but keeping
them in it, as a result of which
they will be delivered out of its
power
This is consistent with his
prayer for the disciples.
Joh 17:15 WEB I pray not that
you would take them from the
world, but that you would keep
them from the evil one.

The Promise

overcomes, I will make him a
pillar in the temple of my
God, and he will go out from
there no more. I will write on
him the name of my God,
and the name of the city of
my God, the new Jerusalem,
which comes down out of
heaven from my God, and
my own new name. He who
has an ear, let him hear what
the Spirit says to the
assemblies.

Lesson 4 12


First, Jesus promises stability
Jesus contrasts the stability of a
"pillar" in God's temple with the
instability of Philadelphia, with
frequent earthquakes.
Strabo: “And Philadelphia has
not even its walls unimpaired,
but daily they are shaken in
some way, and gaps are made
in them. But the inhabitants
continue to occupy the land
notwithstanding their sufferings,
and to build new houses.”
Dan 2:44 WEB In the days of
those kings shall the God of
heaven set up a kingdom which
shall never be destroyed and
it shall stand forever.

Second, Jesus promises access
The High Priest wore the name
of Yahweh on a golden plate on
his forehead when performing
his duties.
Exo 28:36-38 WEB "You shall
make a plate of pure gold, and
engrave on it, like the
engravings of a signet, 'HOLY
TO YAHWEH.' It shall be on
Aaron's forehead, and Aaron
shall bear the iniquity of the holy
things, which the children of
Israel shall make holy in all their
holy gifts; and it shall be always
on his forehead, that they may
be accepted before Yahweh.

God's people are seen elsewhere
with God's name on their foreheads

They are priests protected by & with access to God.
Rev 7:3 WEB "Don't harm the earth until we have sealed the
bondservants of our God on their foreheads!"
Rev 9:4 WEB They were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth
but only those people who don't have God's seal on their foreheads.
Rev 14:1 WEB I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and
with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and
the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.
Rev 22:4 WEB They will see his face, and his name will be on their
foreheads.

Lesson 4 13


LAODICEA

Rev 3:14-22 WEB
"To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: "The Amen, the
Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God's creation, says these
things: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you
were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor
cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, and
have gotten riches, and have need of nothing;' and don't know that you
are the wretched one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; I counsel you
to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and
white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of
your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your
eyes, that you may see. As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be
zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If
anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him,
and will dine with him, and he with me. He who overcomes, I will give
to him to sit down with me on my throne, as I also overcame, and sat
down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear
what the Spirit says to the assemblies."

Laodicea (Eskisehir) was 45 mi. SE
of Philadelphia & 100 E of Ephesus
It was on a group of hills
between two tributaries of
the Lycus - the Asopus and
the Caprus.
It was on the great Roman
road stretching to the inland
of Asia from the coast at
Ephesus.
This made it an important
center of trade and
communication.

Lesson 4 14


In the 1st Century, it was one of the
most flourishing cities of Asia Minor
Hiero, bequeathed his property
to the people, and adorned the
city with costly gifts.
The citizens developed a taste
for Greek art, and were
distinguished in science and
literature.
It was a great banking center.
It was a fashion center known
world-wide for a fine quality of
glossy black wool.
Laodicea had a school of
medicine known for an eye
ointment called "Phrygian
powder," as well as ear
ointments.

It was the chief city of a Roman
conventus or political district
It was the city in which the
proconsul of the province held
court, and where taxes from the
area towns were collected.
Cicero held his court there, and
wrote many of his letters there.
The conventus represented by
Laodicea comprised at least 25
towns, and inscriptions refer to
Laodicea as “the metropolis.”
Laodicea was so wealthy that
after it was destroyed by the
earthquake of 17 AD, the
people refused imperial help.
Unlike Philadelphia, they rebuilt
entirely by themselves.

Epaphras was from there and Paul
wrote at least one letter to the church

Col 4:12-16 WEB Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ,
salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand
perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I testify about him, that
he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in
Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you. Greet
the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that
is in his house. When this letter has been read among you, cause it to
be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read
the letter from Laodicea.

Lesson 4 15


The church, like the city, is cocky &
self-assured
They don’t know they are
spiritually destitute & they make
Jesus want to throw up.
Laodicea was known for hot
mineral springs which were
fashioned into spas visited by
wealthy visitors from all over the
world.
The water was curative, but
because of the high mineral
content, it was almost
impossible to stomach.
Anyone who lived in Laodicea
could hardly mistake the
reference to their tepid water.

The Messenger
Rev 3:14b WEB "The Amen, the
Faithful and True Witness, the
Head of God's creation, says :
“The Amen”: God's last word.
“Faithful and True”: Leader of
God's armies.
Rev 19:11 WEB I saw the
heaven opened, and behold, a
white horse, and he who sat on
it is called Faithful and True. In
righteousness he judges and
makes war.
“Faithful and True”: He is also
God’s message
Rev 21:5 WEB these words
of God are faithful and true."
Rev 22:6 WEB "These words
are faithful and true..."

Jesus calls himself "the Head of
God's Creation"
Other translations say "the
beginning". The idea is seen
elsewhere.
Col 1:18 WEB He is the head of
the body, the assembly, who is
the beginning, the firstborn from
the dead; that in all things he
might have the preeminence.
Heb 12:1-2 WEB let us run
with patience the race that is set
before us, looking to Jesus, the
author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross,
despising shame, and has sat
down at the right hand of the
throne of God.

Lesson 4 16


The Message

Rev 3:15-20 WEB "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish
you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I
will vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say, 'I am rich, and have gotten
riches, and have need of nothing;' and don't know that you are the wretched
one, miserable, poor, blind, and naked; I counsel you to buy from me gold
refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may
clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and
eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. As many as I love, I reprove
and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and
knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will come in to him,
and will dine with him, and he with me.

Jesus makes references that would
have been familiar to the Laodiceans

They are neither hot, nor cold, but lukewarm.
"Cold" denotes that there is no pretense of religion.
"Hot" denotes the opposite - zealous devotion.
"Lukewarm" is professed religion, with no zealous devotion. Jesus prefers
opposition to indifference.
Lukewarmness would resonsate with Laodicea
A six-mile-long aqueduct brought Laodicea its supply of water from the
south. The water came from hot springs and was cooled to lukewarm in the
aqueduct on the way. For all its wealth, the city had poor water. They knew
what drinking tepid water was all about.

Then, Jesus moves to more figures
that were familiar to the Laodiceans
Laodicea was a center of high finance and fashion.
To say they were spiritually destitute and naked would speak
volumes about their spiritual condition.
Remember "The Emperor's New Clothes“?
They thought they were dressed in the height of fashion, when they
were spiritually stark naked.
Laodicea housed the foremost medical school of its day,
reknowned for treatment of the eyes.
Calling them "blind" would speak volumes
The bankers could never miss the encouragement to buy "gold
refined by fire".
The clothiers could not miss the significance of buying "white
garments" instead of black wool.
The doctors could not miss the meaning of Jesus' encouragement
to obtain "eye salve" so they could see.
Here was a city that seemed to have everything going for it. But
the church had absolutely nothing going for it. What a tragedy!

Lesson 4 17


Jesus counsels them - and others
like them - to make needed changes
He urges them to repent. His
words are motivated by love, as
were similar words from
Yahweh in the Old Testament.
Pro 3:12 WEB For whom
Yahweh loves, he reproves;
Even as a father reproves the
son in whom he delights.
Heb 12:6 WEB For whom the
Lord loves, he chastens, And
scourges every son whom he
receives."

Jesus adds a picture we are all
familiar with - knocking at the door
The basis for Holman Hunt's
great picture.
Elsewhere of the Lord's coming.
Mat 24:33 WEB Even so you
also, when you see all these
things, know that it is near,
even at the doors.
Jam 5:9 WEB Don't grumble,
brothers, against one another,
so that you won't be judged.
Behold, the judge stands at the
door.
Always be ready for his coming.
Luk 12:36 WEB Be like men
watching for their lord, when he
returns from the marriage feast;
that, when he comes and
knocks, they may immediately
open to him.

People who are not ready may find
themselves shut out
Luk 13:25 WEB When once the
master of the house has risen
up, and has shut the door, and
you begin to stand outside, and
to knock at the door, saying,
'Lord, Lord, open to us!' then he
will answer and tell you, 'I don't
know you or where you come
from.'
But he offers fellowship to those
who invite him in.
Joh 14:23 WEB Jesus
answered him, "If a man loves
me, he will keep my word. My
Father will love him, and we will
come to him, and make our
home with him.

Lesson 4 18


The Promise

overcomes, I will give to him
to sit down with me on my
throne, as I also overcame,
and sat down with my Father
on his throne. He who has
an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit says to the
assemblies."

The proof of our future victory is the
fact that Jesus is already victorious
Joh 16:33 WEB I have told you
these things, that in me you
may have peace. In the world
you have oppression; but cheer
up! I have overcome the world."
Heb 1:3 WEB His Son is the
radiance of his glory when he
had by himself made purification
for our sins, sat down on the
right hand of the Majesty on
high;
Col 3:1 WEB If then you were
raised together with Christ, seek
the things that are above, where
Christ is, seated on the right
hand of God.

Seven Lessons from Seven Letters

Each is the message of Christ and of the Holy Spirit
to the messenger of a church.
Each has a special message suited to the actual
condition of his congregation.
In each case the individual who overcomes has a
promise of blessing.
Christ knows his people and he lays bare the
strengths and weaknesses of each individual and
each congregation.

Lesson 4 19


1. Christ knows every Christian
Every letter emphasizes this tie.
He walks among the lampstands & knows the good & bad,
strengths & weaknesses, fears & joys, triumphs & dangers of each
individual Christian
He knew that the Ephesian church was sliding downhill, that
Antipas of Pergamum had been killed for being faithful, that the
Christians in Smyrna were materially poor, but spiritually rich.
Christ knows each of us today, just as well.
This should be a comfort to us, if we are faithful
It should scare us to death if we are not.
Jesus knows you.
If that thought makes you uncomfortable, maybe there’s something
about you that needs to be changed.

2. Christ wants churches to guard
their teaching
In five of the seven letters, Christ indicated approval or
disapproval of the teaching of the congregation.
He praises Ephesus for their doctrinal purity.
He condemns Pergamum & Thyatira for allowing the teaching of
compromise.
He urges Christians at Sardis to remember what they had received
& keep it.
He praises Philadelphia for keeping his word.
Since we eventually become what we are taught, we must
maintain doctrinal purity in our congregations and keep on guard
against false teaching.

3. Christ wants Christians to grow in
service
Christ comments to five of the churches on the trend of their
work.
Thyatira is doing more than it used to.
Philadelphia has an open door of opportunity.
Ephesus has left its first love & needs to repent.
Laodicea is lukewarm.
Sardis has a reputation, but they’re not living up to it.
Only working Christians please Christ.
Where, along the line from Thyatira to Sardis, do we fall?
We must bear fruit or be cut off.
Jesus is interested in whether we are stronger or weaker, doing
more or less than our past.
He wants to see progress.

Lesson 4 20


4. Christ wants Christians to live in
purity
Both Pergamum and Thyatira were weak in their
moral stance – eating meat offered to idols &
practicing & allowing fornication.
They lived where temptations were everywhere and they
were not taking a strong stand against sin.
The standards of the world must not become the
standards of Christians.
We’ve got to take a stand against sin, both in our personal
lives and in our communities.

5. Christ wants Christians to be
ready for persecution
Five of the seven are commended for standing firm
during persecution.
Two are told things are going to get worse.
The primary purpose of Revelation was to prepare
First Century Christians for persecution.
They had already suffered under Nero, but worse
was coming under Domitian.
Our so-called “persecutions” are so puny: pressure,
ridicule, loss of status.
Will we let these lesser dangers make us fall while
early Christians were not stopped even by threats
against their lives?

6. Christ wants Christians to know
they can be lost
Ephesus: Rev 2:5 WEB Remember and repent or else I am
coming to you swiftly, and will move your lampstand
Smyrna: Rev 2:10 WEB Be faithful to death, and I will give you the
crown of life.
Pergamum: Rev 2:16 WEB Repent or else I am coming to you
quickly
Thyatira: Rev 2:22 WEB I will throw her into a bed, and those who
commit adultery with her into great oppression, unless they repent
Sardis: Rev 3:3 WEB Remember and repent. If you won't watch, I
will come as a thief
Philadelphia: Rev 3:11 WEB Hold firmly that which you have, so no
one takes your crown.
Laodicea: Rev 3:15-16 WEB "I know your works, that you are neither
cold nor hot So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor
cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth.
The doctrine of “once saved, always saved” is not in the teaching of
Revelation 2-3.

Lesson 4 21


7. Christ will reward Christians who
overcome
Ephesus: Rev 2:7 WEB I will give to eat of the tree of life, .. in the
Paradise of my God.
Smyrna: Rev 2:11 WEB He who overcomes won't be harmed by the
second death.
Pergamum: Rev 2:17 WEB ... to him I will give of the hidden manna,
and I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name ...
Thyatira: Rev 2:26-29 WEB to him I will give authority over the
nations and I will give him the morning star ...
Sardis: Rev 3:4-6 WEB He will be arrayed in white garments, and
I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess
his name before my Father
Philadelphia: Rev 3:11-13 WEB I will make him a pillar in the temple
of my God ... I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of
the city of my God and my own new name...
Laodicea: Rev 3:21-22 WEB I will give to him to sit down with me on
my throne
Christ wants us to be people of hope!

Lesson 4 22

04 what the spirit says to the churches (part 2) slideshow

Recommandé

Recommandé

Contenu connexe

Tendances

Tendances (11)

En vedette

En vedette (7)

Similaire à 04 what the spirit says to the churches (part 2) slideshow

Similaire à 04 what the spirit says to the churches (part 2) slideshow (20)

Plus de Palm Desert Church of Christ

Plus de Palm Desert Church of Christ (20)

04 what the spirit says to the churches (part 2) slideshow