WEEK 3: The Seven ChurchesPergamus = compromised Church lasting until AD 500 Sardis = age of the Reformation Philadelphia = age of evangelism Laodicea = liberal churches in a “present

®2018 Ken Miller BAND of BROTHERS is sponsored by MOMENTUM, the ministry to men at Christ Chapel Bible Church

WEEK 3: The Seven Churches – Revelation 2-3 • The “things that are” (Revelation 1:19)

- Jesus is going to address the current situation (late 1st-Century) - He has chosen seven literal churches - And their circumstances are real, not symbolic - Why is this important?

o Remember the historical interpretive model o It views Revelation as a record of the continuous history of the church o First proposed in the 16th Century by a Puritan named Thomas Brightman

Ephesus = apostolic age Smyrna = persecution of the Church through AD 313 Pergamus = compromised Church lasting until AD 500 Sardis = age of the Reformation Philadelphia = age of evangelism Laodicea = liberal churches in a “present day” context

o Fascinating, but flawed o How would this have helped the seven churches? o It is an example of retro-interpretation o Diminishes the intended universal application

• Why these seven churches?

o Because of their particular circumstances o Their issues were real and representative o Seven scenarios that are universal and timeless

Ephesus = the orthodox, but love-less church Smyrna = the suffering church Pergamum = the worldly, compromising church Thyatira = the sin-tolerant church Sardis = the spiritually dead church Philadelphia = the faithful church Laodicea = the lukewarm, useless church

o Each message contains the following:


§ A characteristic of Jesus § A commendation § A correction or condemnation § A challenge § A call to hear and obey

• Ephesus

The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. – Revelation 2:1 ESV

- Ties in to Revelation 1:16 - holds = (krateō) – sovereign control, power - 7 stars = 7 angels of the 7 churches - aggelos – angel, one sent as a messenger - To what is Jesus referring?

o Heavenly beings (guardian angels) o Human leaders (pastors/elders)

To the angel of the church of Ephesus, write… 2:1 …to the angel of the church in Smyrna, write – 2:8 …to the angel of the church in Pergamum, write – 2:12 …to the angel of the church in Thyatira, write – 2:18 …to the angel of the church in Sardis, write – 3:1 …to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write – 3:1 …to the angel of the church in Laodicea, write – 3:14

o Why would Jesus have John tell angels… …to repent? (2:5, 16; 3:3) …to be faithful unto death? (2:10) …to hold fast what you have until I come? (2:25; 3:11) …they are dead? (3:1) …they have but little power? (3:8) …they’re wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked? (3:17)

o These are messages to the leaders of these seven churches o This was a common designation for a religious leader

This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger [aggelos] before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’” – Matthew 11:10 ESV Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger [aggelos] greater than the one who sent him. – John 13:16 ESV


I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger [aggelos] and minister to my need. – Philippians 2:25 ESV

• Smyrna The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life. – Revelation 2:8 ESV - Ties in to Revelation 1:17-18 - “first and last” – He is eternal - “who died and came to life” – He is the guarantee of our eternity – victory over death

• Pergamum

The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. – Revelation 2:12 ESV - Ties in to Revelation 1:16 - “two-edged sword” – justifies & judges, saves & strikes, defends & destroys

• Thyatira

The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze. – Revelation 2:18 ESV - Ties in to Revelation 1:14-15 - “eyes like a flame of fire” – He sees all - Nothing escapes His penetrating gaze - “feet like burnished bronze” – judgment - He is holy, pure, and just in His judgment

• Sardis

The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. – Revelation 3:1 ESV - Ties in to Revelation 1:4 - “seven spirits” – The fulness of God’s Spirit - Jesus is represented in His church through the indwelling Spirit - Ties in to Revelation 1:16 - “seven stars” – The 7 leaders of the 7 churches - “Jesus has” – The Spirit was given by Christ, as was the leadership of the church

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. – Ephesians 4:11 NLT

• Philadelphia The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. – Revelation 3:7 ESV


The term “overcome” plays an important role in Revelation. To the “victorious” or “overcomers” in each congregation Jesus promises future blessings: eternal life, provision, justice, participation in Christ’s victory, and the very presence of God. – J. Scott Duvall, Teaching the Text Commentary Series: Revelation

o SEE CHARTS ON THE SEVEN CHURCHES DISCUSSION QUESTIONS • Why do you think the vision that John saw in chapter one plays such a prominent role in

these chapters? • In what ways does the church get itself into trouble by losing sight of who Christ is and

what He has done? • Seven different times, Jesus spoke of the need to overcome or conquer. Why did He stress

this so often and so strongly? What does it say to you?


- Ties in to Revelation 1:18 - “the key” – He has conquered death and Hades - He is holy as God is holy

“You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” – John 6:68-69 ESV

- He is true and authentic - He is truth itself

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” – John 14:6 ESV

• Laodicea

The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. – Revelation 3:14 ESV - Ties in to Revelation 1:5 - “faithful witness” – the Amen – faithful, sure, true - He is the “origin” of all creation - “Nothing was created except through Him” (John 1:3)

• Why is any of this important?

- It’s the primary point of these two chapters - NOT the behavior of the various churches - Jesus is emphasizing Himself - The success or failure of the churches is directly tied to their understanding of who He is

o How did the church at Ephesus know there were false apostles? (2:2)

§ Because they knew the One who holds the seven stars (messengers) in His right hand

o Why did Jesus threaten to remove their lampstand? (2:5) § Because they had left their first love § Jesus, the One who walks among the lampstands (churches), threatens to

remove their effectiveness § They loved the local church more than the One who established it

o Why did Jesus stress conquering or overcoming? § The emphasis is on the reward for overcoming § It’s not about love of orthodoxy or love of the church § It’s about love for Christ Conquers – nikaō – overcomes, gets the victory


Week 4 Homework: Holy, Holy, Holy – Revelation 4:1-11

• Read Revelation chapter 4:1-11, as well as pages 42-45 of the Devotionary™ blog. • As you read what Jesus has to say to each of the seven churches, look for any similarities

you find in His description of Himself to the churches and how John described seeing Him in chapter one, verses 12-16

• How would you have felt had you been on the receiving end of the message given to John in verse 1? ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

• Without the use of any commentaries or outside help, write down what you think each of the following items represent as described by John in Revelation 4:2-8: A thone – ___________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ The appearance of jasper and carnelian – _________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald – ________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 24 thrones and 24 elders – ____________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ White garments – ____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________


Golden crowns – ____________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peels of thunder – ______________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ A sea of glass like crystal – _____________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ Four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind – _______________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ A creature like a lion – ________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ A creature like an ox – ________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ A creature with a face like a man – ______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ A creature like an eagle in flight – _______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

• Finally, look at what the four creatures and the 24 elders had to say about Jesus. While these words are very familiar to most of us, what should be our reaction to them? ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________

EPHE

SUS

The

wor

ds o

f him

who

ho

lds

the

seve

n st

ars

in

his

right

han

d, w

ho w

alks

am

ong

the

seve

n go

lden

la

mps

tand

s.

jesu

s’ ch

arac

ter

• Th

ey h

ate

fals

ehoo

d•

They

love

orth

odox

y•

They

end

ure

patie

ntly

jesu

s’ co

mmen

datio

n•

They

had

repl

aced

thei

r lo

ve fo

r Chr

ist a

nd

ot

hers

with

a lo

ve fo

r be

ing

right

jesu

s’ co

ndem

natio

n

• Re

pent

or f

ace

rem

oval

of t

heir

ef

fect

iven

ess

• Je

sus

wou

ld ju

dge

them

by

allo

win

g th

em to

bec

ome

irrel

evan

t

jesu

s’ ch

alle

nge

• He

ar a

nd o

bey!

• Fo

cus

on fu

ture

rew

ard

• Et

erna

l life

is th

e ob

ject

ive

jesu

s’ ca

ll

smyr

na

The

wor

ds o

f the

firs

t and

la

st, w

ho d

ied

and

cam

e to

life

. jesu

s’ ch

arac

ter

• Th

ey s

uffe

r per

secu

tion

• Th

ey e

ndur

e po

verty

• Th

ey a

re s

urro

unde

d by

w

icke

dnes

s

jesu

s’ co

mmen

datio

n•

You

fear

dea

th•

You

lack

faith

jesu

s’ co

ndem

natio

n

• Be

faith

ful u

nto

deat

h•

He re

min

ds th

em o

f the

cro

wn

of li

fe

jesu

s’ ch

alle

nge

• He

ar a

nd o

bey!

• Fo

cus

on e

tern

al li

fe•

Do n

ot fe

ar th

e fir

st d

eath

(mar

tyrd

om)

or th

e se

cond

dea

th (h

ell)

jesu

s’ ca

ll

perg

amum

The

wor

ds o

f him

who

ha

s th

e sh

arp

two-

edge

d sw

ord.je

sus’

char

acte

r•

They

are

sur

roun

ded

by

wic

kedn

ess,

but

rem

ain

stea

dfas

t in

thei

r fai

th

jesu

s’ co

mmen

datio

n•

You

put u

p w

ith fa

lse

te

achi

ng•

You

com

prom

ise

with

th

e w

orld

in o

rder

to fi

t inje

sus’

cond

emna

tion

• Re

pent

!•

Or J

esus

will

war

aga

inst

them

with

th

e sw

ord

of H

is m

outh

• He

will

pro

tect

and

pre

serv

e Hi

s ch

urch

jesu

s’ ch

alle

nge

• He

ar a

nd o

bey!

• Je

sus

rem

inds

them

that

He

has

so

met

hing

in s

tore

for t

hem

• Hi

dden

man

na (s

uper

natu

ral p

rovi

sion

)•

A w

hite

sto

ne (d

ivin

e re

cogn

ition

)

jesu

s’ ca

ll

thya

tira

The

wor

ds o

f the

Son

of

God,

who

has

eye

s lik

e a

flam

e of

fire

, and

who

se

feet

are

like

bur

nish

ed

bron

ze.jesu

s’ ch

arac

ter

• He

com

men

ds th

em fo

r th

eir w

orks

, lov

e, fa

ith,

and

serv

ice

jesu

s’ co

mmen

datio

n•

You

tole

rate

fals

e

teac

hing

•

You

prac

tice

imm

oral

ity•

You

have

lost

you

r se

t-ap

artn

ess

jesu

s’ co

ndem

natio

n

• Re

pent

or f

ace

judg

men

t!•

His

eyes

sea

rch

the

min

d an

d he

art

• He

will

judg

e ea

ach

acco

rdin

gly

jesu

s’ ch

alle

nge

• He

ar a

nd o

bey!

• Je

sus

calls

them

to h

old

fast

to th

e en

d•

They

are

to o

verc

ome

– to

the

end

• Th

ere

is a

rew

ard

wai

ting

for t

hem

jesu

s’ ca

ll

THE

CHUR

CHES

OF

REVE

LATIO

N 2-

3

laod

icea

The

wor

ds o

f the

Am

en, t

he

faith

ful a

nd tr

ue w

itnes

s,

the

begi

nnin

g of

God

’s

crea

tion.jesu

s’ ch

arac

ter

• Th

ere

is n

one

jesu

s’ co

mmen

datio

n•

They

are

spi

ritua

lly

lu

kew

arm

• Th

ey a

re p

ridef

ul a

nd

blin

d to

thei

r tru

e

spiri

tual

con

ditio

n

jesu

s’ co

ndem

natio

n

• I a

m g

oing

to v

omit

you

out o

f my

mou

th•

I am

goi

ng to

repr

ove

and

disc

iplin

e yo

u be

caus

e I l

ove

you

• I a

m k

nock

ing.

Rep

ent a

nd o

pen

the

door

.

jesu

s’ ch

alle

nge

• He

ar a

nd o

bey!

• Pu

rsue

rest

ored

fello

wsh

ip w

ith m

e•

Focu

s on

the

vict

ory

to c

ome

in th

e he

reaf

ter,

not t

he p

leas

ures

of t

he

he

re-a

nd-n

owjesu

s’ ca

ll

phila

delp

hia

The

wor

ds o

f the

hol

y on

e,

the

true

one,

who

has

the

key

of D

avid

, who

ope

ns

and

no o

ne w

ill s

hut,

who

sh

uts

and

no o

ne w

ill o

pen.

jesu

s’ ch

arac

ter

• Th

ey h

ave

kept

His

wor

d an

d no

t den

ied

His

nam

e•

They

hav

e pa

tient

ly

en

dure

d

jesu

s’ co

mmen

datio

n•

Ther

e is

non

e!je

sus’

cond

emna

tion

• I a

m c

omin

g so

on, s

o, h

old

fast

!•

I hav

e se

t bef

ore

you

an o

pen

door

, w

hich

no

one

is a

ble

to s

hut

• Yo

u ha

ve li

ttle

pow

er, b

ut y

ou a

re

love

d

jesu

s’ ch

alle

nge

• He

ar a

nd o

bey!

• I w

ill k

eep

you

from

the

hour

of t

rial

that

is c

omin

g on

the

who

le w

orld

• I w

ill m

ake

you

a pi

llar i

n th

e te

mpl

e of

m

y Go

d

jesu

s’ ca

ll

sard

is

The

wor

ds o

f him

who

has

th

e se

ven

spiri

ts o

f God

an

d th

e se

ven

star

s.

jesu

s’ ch

arac

ter

• Th

ey h

ave

a re

puta

tion

for g

ood

wor

ks•

Ther

e ar

e a

few

who

rem

ain

unso

iled

jesu

s’ co

mmen

datio

n•

Your

wor

ks a

re la

ckin

g•

You

appe

ar s

pirit

ually

al

ive,

but

are

dea

d•

Your

effe

ctiv

enes

s as

a

chur

ch is

wai

ning

jesu

s’ co

ndem

natio

n

• Re

mem

ber w

hat y

ou re

ceiv

ed!

• Ke

ep it

and

repe

nt!

• W

ake

up!

• Re

ly o

n th

e Sp

irit a

nd th

ose

in a

utho

r-ity

ove

r the

m•

Or fa

ce H

is u

nexp

ecte

d ju

dgm

ent

jesu

s’ ch

alle

nge

• He

ar a

nd o

bey!

• Th

ose

who

rem

ain

unso

iled

(pur

e) w

ill

rece

ive

whi

te g

arm

ents

• He

cal

ls th

em to

ove

rcom

e in

this

life

by

focu

sing

on

the

rew

ard

of e

tern

al li

fe

jesu

s’ ca

ll

THE CHURCHES OF REVELATION 2-3 DESTINATION THE LORD COMMENDATION CONDEMNATION EXHORTATION PROMISE 1 John 5:4-5

EPHESUS 2:1-7• Free city • Holding 7 • Works • Remember • Eternal Acts 19:35 stars • Endurance • Repent (Tree of life)• Temple of Diana • Walking • Discernment • Left first love • Repeat first• Commercial among the • Hatred of the works center churches Nicolaitans

SMYRNA 2:8-11• Trade center • Resurrection• Beautiful city to life (no• Free city • Guarantor of • Spiritual • None • Do not fear part in 2nd• Center of resurrection wealth • Do be faithful death) Caesar worship• Jewish population

PERGAMUM 2:12-17• 200,000 • Idolatry volume library • Judge • Steadfast • Immorality • Repent • Christ is• Worship of (sword) • License sufficient Asklepios• Center of Caesar worship

ThYATIRA 2:18-29• Trade center • Judge • Increasing • Following • Avoid the • Sharing (Acts 16:14) (eyes/feet) number of Jezebel’s sins of Christ’s • Guilds good works teachings & Jezebel rule and practices fellowship

sardis 3:1-6• Trade center, dyeing • Wise and • Only a few • Lifeless • Remember • Assurance• Worship of sovereign remained profession • Repent of eternal Cybele one faithful • Incomplete • Watch life• Loose living works

philadelphia 3:7-13• Grape growing • Using • Humiliation• Worship of • Holy, true, opprotunities • None •Hold fast of enemies Dionysius sovereign • A litte power • Deliverance• Earthquakes • Keeping His • I come word quickly • Fidelity • Honor identification

laodicea 3:14-22• Banking center • Faithful • Spiritual • Find true • Continuing• Black wool and true • None profession riches in and bountiful• Medicines • Spiritual Christ fellowship poverty with Christ

Documents

WEEK 3: The Seven ChurchesPergamus = compromised Church lasting until AD 500 Sardis = age of the Reformation Philadelphia = age of evangelism Laodicea = liberal churches in a “present