Recap: - friendshipgracebrethren.com€¦ · Web viewRevelation Teaching Notes. Recap: Rev 1:1-3...

Revelation Teaching NotesRecap:

Rev 1:1-3 sets the stage for the rest of the book. Verse 1 clearly tells us that the book is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, given to Him by God, and given to John. We identified John as the gospel writer, the apostle.

We also saw in verse 3 that blessings attach to those who read aloud the book, to those who hear and keep the words of the book.

Verse 4 reveals that John is writing to the seven churches in Asia. John brings to them grace from the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the ever present one.

Rev 1:4 also speaks of the Spirit as the Seven Spirits who are before His throne. We discovered that this alludes to a passage from Isaiah.

Rev 1:9-12 we looked at a couple of weeks ago and spent a little bit of time on what “In the Spirit” means. I said that I believe that John was transported, at least in his spirit to view first hand the events he witnessed as they happened. And since God stands outside of time and space John may not have missed a heart beat on Patmos when he observed the events he records in Revelation.

Study

So, let’s pick up our study. I am going to do it a little different from here on out. I will still utilize Randy’s notes, but I am reworking them to support my own style. I know a couple of weeks ago it was a little intense and I need to present it better, which means I have to put it into my own style.

Revelation 1:12–16 (ESV)

12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were

like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his

face was like the sun shining in full strength.

John, transported through time and space turned to see the voice that was speaking to him. He saw seven golden lampstands and in the middle was one “like the son of man, clothes in long rob, gold sash, white hair, flaming eyes, feet like bronze, with a voice roaring like mighty waters.

Let’s work through this pericope.

Son of Man –

Daniel 7:13 (ESV)

13 “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven

there came one like a son of man,

and he came to the Ancient of Days

and was presented before him.

As we have seen in our study of Matthew “Son of Man” was used in the Old Testament in a progressive way. Originally it was a statement demonstrating the humanity of Ezekiel. Daniel uses it as we see in the above verses as a reference to mission or ministry of the Messiah while still maintaining the idea of humanity.

So, John see in the middle of the lampstands one he identifies as like a “son of man.” Since the article is not a definite article I don’t think that this is a use of the tile that Jesus used of Himself, “Son of Man” but is a statement reflecting the humanity of the one standing in the middle of the lampstands.

Clothing –

The clothing links the figure in the middle of the lampstands with the High Priest. Compare the description in Revelation to the description Moses gave for the high priest in Exodus.

Exodus 39:2–4 (ESV)

2 He made the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. 3 And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined

linen, in skilled design. 4 They made for the ephod attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges.

John describes the Son of Man as priest which indicates Jesus’ ongoing role during the age of the Gentiles as our high priest. We have descriptions all through the Old Testament describing priests and kings in long robes. It is a sign of their authority and position. So, John sees the son of man as both a priest and king standing in the lampstand.

Hair –

In the ancient near east white hair was seen as belonging to someone who deserved respect because of their age. In this description John recognized that respect and honor were due the son of man.

Many New Testament scholars argue that this is a reference to His antiquity.

Colossians 1:16–17 (ESV)

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things

were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Creating everything makes Him older and above all things.

Eyes –

Eyes of blazing fire. Perhaps this is a reference to Him seeing everything as seen in

Psalm 139:16 (ESV)

16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;

in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me,

when as yet there was none of them.

Jeremiah 16:17 (ESV)

17 For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes.

It seems to me that John describes the eye that see and know everything.

Feet –

Feet of fine bronze, still glowing: The metal that was being made in the furnace was still glowing hot.

Ezekiel 1:7 (ESV)

7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot. And they sparkled like burnished bronze.

The word used here - chalkolibano - occurs in the New Testament only here and in Revelation 2:18 and means "white brass" (compound of chalkos or brass, and libanos, whiteness, from the Hebrew “lavan” or white).

This is a PURIFIED state of His feet, reminiscent of the (millu’im) consecration of priests in

Leviticus 8:23 (ESV)

23 And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his

right foot..

Voice –

We have to go back to verse 10 to learn about voice.

Revelation 1:10 (ESV)

10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet

A loud voice like a trumpet. At the end of verse 15 we see that the voice is described like the sound of mighty rushing waters. Like a large waterfall, the noise is deep and loud. On Patmos John would not have been able to get away from the constant sound of waves crashing onto the rocky shore.

Ezekiel 43:2 (ESV)

2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the east. And the sound of his coming was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone

with his glory.

John uses much the same description that Ezekiel did.

Hands –

In His right hand He held seven stars. We have to jump down to verse 20 to see what the stars are.


20 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.

We have to determine what is actually being said here. The word Angels is the Greek word ἄγγελοι (angeloi) but the word means messenger or sent one. So is Jesus saying messengers of the seven churches or is He saying angel such as guardian angel.

Matthew 18:10 (ESV)

10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

This verse would seem to indicate that at least children have guardian angels. Is that what Jesus means here or is He speaking about the messengers from or to the churches?

Weapon –

From the mouth of the Son of Man came a sword, a double-edged sword. Typically a double-edged sword was a longer sword with cutting edges on both sides so it could be used forehand and backhand. We will see this description again.


15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress

of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.

The sword described I believe is a metaphor for His power. I do not envision Jesus standing there with a physical sword coming out of His mouth striking down enemies. It seems like a perfect illustration for the power of the word of Jesus.

Face –

The last description John provides of the one standing in the lampstands was of His face. John describes it as shinning like the sun in full strength. This is reminiscent of what we saw in the transfiguration:

Matthew 17:2 (ESV)

2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

A clearer picture is offered anew, as the Lord revealed His Son:

He looks like us – he is a PERSON. Though a man – He is ancient and eternal. He sees everything, knows everything and understands everything. His feet tread in purity. His voice is loud and powerfully effective. His people are held in His grasp. His face shines with excitement, energy and intense love.

John’s Response –


17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and

Hades.

John responded the only way he could in the presence of God, he fell to the ground. The same thing happened to the Apostle Paul.

Acts 9:4 (ESV)

4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

The proper response to man seeing God is worship.

Exodus 3:6 (ESV)

6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to

look at God.

What followed for Moses was blessing, and that is what followed for John as well. Look again at the text.


17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and

Hades.

Jesus lays His right hand on John and tells John that he should not fear because He was the first and the last, meaning from eternity past to eternity future.

Jesus also says that He is the living one. That does not seem like very important clause but it is extremely important. Jesus was executed on the Roman Cross. John remembers this, he stood at the base of the cross with Mary Jesus;’ mother. Jesus was taken off the cross dead and remained dead for Friday night all day Saturday, Saturday night until sunrise Sunday morning, when He was raised from the dead. 40 day slater Jesus ascended back to heaven. But here He was standing right in front of John. He had died but was now alive. Alive forever.

Every human from Adam on was subject to death and has died, with the exception of just a few. Enoch, and Elijah, to name a couple. All the others have and those still alive today and into the future will die due to sin, with eh exception of those followers of Jesus who are alive at the time Jesus returns. Sin has had a tremendous affect on the world.

Jesus stood before John alive, sin could not hold Him. We will see this theological point emphasized in Rev chapter 5.

John saw that Jesus held the keys of death and hades. Jesus, the final judge has the power to judge the physically dead and send them to their eternal death, the lake of fire. We will see this judgement in Revelation 20.


19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 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.

Jesus goes on to tell John to write the things that he has seen, those things that are, and those that are to take place after this. Write the past, the present, and the future. As we discussed previously, this is really the outline for the entire book.

The things that you have seen equates to Revelation Chapter1

The things that are equates to Revelation chapter 2-3, the letters to the churches of Asia

The things that will take place after this equates to the rest of the book Revelation chapter 4-22.

This is the second time in this chapter John is commanded to write what he has seen.


11 saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to

Philadelphia and to Laodicea.”




The first chapter closes with John told that the stars Jesus is holding are the Angels/Messengers for the seven church in chapter 2-3 and the lampstands Jesus is standing in represent the seven churches themselves.

I think the context here would lead to a conclusion that Jesus is referring to the members of the seven churches and to their leadership and not angelic beings.

Chapter One Conclusion

John basically gives us a portrait of Jesus that reflects both His deity and His humanity. Both are required for our salvation to be real and true. It is difficult for us to understand the hypostatic union, the technical theological term.

John demonstrated for us the proper response to coming face to face with God, that is fall to the ground, a position of subjection, and obedience. We should place ourselves in that position and worship Him.

We also see toward the end of chapter one that Jesus in intimately involved with the church. Easley Kendell, author of the Holman New Testament Commentary on Revelation says:

No one can read Revelation 1 without recognizing Jesus’ commitment to his churches. The same Jesus who promised to build his church (Matt. 16:18)

continues to be present with the congregations. All who follow Christ seriously will be involved in one of his congregations. We who serve as church leaders

today—whether as pastor, elders, deacons, or otherwise—will do well to remember that they are his churches, not ours.1

Principles we should see in Revelation chapter 1:

1. God promises to bless those who read and obey the teaching of Revelation, the Word of God.

2. Grace and peace are privileges God extends to all believers.3. Christians are “freed … from … sins”; “a kingdom and priests”; “companions in

suffering … and patient endurance”; and “servants.”4. The public, glorious return of Jesus Christ is the theme of Revelation.5. Jesus is “the First and the Last”; “the Living One”; “the firstborn from the dead”; the one

“alive for ever”; “the faithful witness”; and the one who holds “the keys of death.”6. The Father is “him who is, and who was, and who is to come”; “Alpha and Omega”; and

“Lord God … Almighty.”2

Applications:

1. Read the Book of Revelation if you want a divine blessing!2. Commit yourself in advance to obey what you learn from studying Revelation.3. Take seriously Revelation’s claim to be the trustworthy word of God.4. Worship Christ for who he is and all that he has done.5. Believe that Christ will come again just as the theme verse of Revelation announces.3

1 Kendell H. Easley, Revelation, vol. 12, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 21.2 Ibid, 22.3 Ibid, 22.

Chapter Two

Before we get into the contents of chapters two and three, we need to discuss potential interpretations for these two chapters. Specifically, what these churches represent.

Many scholars link these seven actual churches and what Jesus says about them to periods of time during the church age.

Ephesus a church that left its first love is said to represent the early church from 70ad to 170ad.

Smyrna is a persecuted church that is said to represent the church from 170ad to 312 ad when the church became legal in the Roman Empire.

Pergamos who is accused of false teaching and represents 312ad through 606ad. It was during this time that the first Pope was made and power vested in him for the church

Thyatira a church who permitted women teachers who taught false doctrine is said to represent the church age from 606ad to 1520 ad.

Sardis was called a dead church and is said to represent 1520 to 1750 or the reformation

Philadelphia a church of love represents 1750 to 1900

Laodicea a church Jesus had nothing good to say but did accuse it of being neither hot nor cold so that He would spit it out of His mouth is said to represent 1900 to the end of the church age.

While these periods of the church age roughly exist, they greatly overlap and often are concurrent with each other. Many scholars want to make these seven churches descriptive of the church age, the reality is this can only be true if the church age ends now. What if the church age continues for 2000 more years and goes through other cycles? This does not seem to be a valid description or interpretation of these chapters.

Dr. Randy Smith interprets the Seven Churches as a reference to Seven Deadly sins. Let me try to develop this as Randy does.

Proverbs 6:16–19 (ESV)

16 There are six things that the LORD hates,

seven that are an abomination to him:

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 a heart that devises wicked plans,

feet that make haste to run to evil,

19 a false witness who breathes out lies,

and one who sows discord among brothers.

Later, in church history, “The Seven Deadly Sins” became known as the “Capital Vices” or in Latin theology the “Cardinal Sins.” These vices have been recalled since early Christian times to instruct the church concerning fallen humanity's sin nature. The currently recognized version of the list is usually given as wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony. No matter how you slice it – we have always known there is a SIN PROBLEM in the world. To naively believe that most people are “basically good” is to show you have a VERY LIMITED life experience.4

Coming back to our study in Revelation, we see the sin problem as it affected seven churches of the time of the Apostle John – at the end of the first century. It was now more than fifty-five years from the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection. We have noted already that John wasn’t writing to individual believers, but to churches that were characterized by sin problems. Though that was true, it was equally true that each church was made up of believers that individually struggled – just as we do today.5

Key Principle: There are sinful choices that can cripple believers and churches. We must identify the dangers, and deliberately choose to walk away from the temptations. (Or: There are sinful choices we must identify and deliberately choose to walk away from.)6

The letters of chapters 2 and 3 were written to real, literal, existing churches, that were in ministry during the time John writes what he is directed to write by Jesus. It appears that these churches are listed in a postal circuit route. Beginning in the coastal town of Ephesus and then following the clockwise order around the loop. Each of these cities were hub cities in which mail was carried to be distributed to the surrounding cities. It seems to me that Jesus was going

through the churches along the route rather than churches that represent stages of the church age.

A common mnemonic to remember the order of these churches is: “Everybody Sing Please That Sounds Pretty Lovely.” Another one is: “Every Small Person That Sings Prays Loudly.” Use whichever you desire to aid you in remembering the order. Or you can do what I do, I open my Bible to see the order.

Each section related to an individual church describes a characteristic of the sender, a compliment to the recipients (with one exception), criticism against the recipients, a command to the recipients, and finally a commitment to all. We should keep these in mind as we work through the letters.

4 Smith, “Revelation Final,” 13.5 Smith, 13.6 Smith, 13.

Ephesus


2 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden

lampstands.

Again, we need to determine what “angel” ἀγγέλῳ means here. Is Jesus referring to a spiritual being, angel, assigned to each church. That is kind of a cool concept. Many believe the book of Daniel teaches that angels are assigned to nations.

Daniel 10:10–14 (ESV)

10 And behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly loved, understand the

words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for now I have been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he

said to me, “Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been

heard, and I have come because of your words. 13 The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia, 14 and came to make you understand what is to happen to your people in the latter days. For

the vision is for days yet to come.”

Daniel 10:20–21 (ESV)

20 Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold, the prince of Greece will come. 21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth:

there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.

The prince of Greece and the Prince of Persia are often referred to as angels, more specifically Demons who have control or oversight over pagan nations.

Daniel 12:1 (ESV)

12 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there

was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

Exodus 23:20 (ESV)

20 “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.

Psalm 91:9–12 (ESV)

9 Because you have made the LORD your dwelling place—

the Most High, who is my refuge—

10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,

no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you

to guard you in all your ways.

12 On their hands they will bear you up,

lest you strike your foot against a stone.

Hebrews 1:14 (ESV)

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

While these passages seem to corroborate the idea that God has assigned angel and Satan has assigned demons to nations and people groups, I am not sure we can infer that the angel of Rev 2:1 and subsequent verses is a spiritual being, an angel. Perhaps the use of angel here means messenger, a valid and often used use of the word.

Another understanding of messenger would be that of the church Pastor(s) and leadership, elders, as a unified group which is why the word is singular in the original. “Angel” ἀγγέλῳ is also used in the New Testament to refer to human messengers. Some have suggested that since John was the last standing Apostle, living in Ephesus after he was released from Patmos and had oversight and influence over these 7 churches that he called the leadership of all the churches together and gave them the letters from Jesus through him to them.

Matthew 11:10 (ESV)

10 This is he of whom it is written,

“ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.’

Messenger here is the Greek word ἄγγελόν.

Mark 1:2 (ESV)

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way,

Again, messenger is ἄγγελόν. Luke 7:24 (ESV)

24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed

shaken by the wind?

Luke 7:27 (ESV)

27 This is he of whom it is written,

“ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.’

I am not prepared to answer that question today, I am not certain that the text gives us enough information to answer the question. Scholars have not formed a consensus on this topic. I can make a Biblical case for either view. I lean toward the human messenger view, only because Jesus is giving John a human, the message to give to the messenger. It makes a little more sense that the messenger is human. If the messenger were Angelic, I would expect Jesus to speak directly to them. That logic is sound, but I do not believe it is completely compelling.

The city of Ephesus was in decline at the time John writes this from Jesus. It was once a thriving shipping city with great wealth and a temple to the goddess of love Artemis. Ephesus had great and opulent buildings. But it was on the decline and its shipping business had become a trinket trade along with some tourism. Some believe that before the decline Ephesus may have been the 4th largest city in the world. It had become a leading city in the region for the growing church.

The Compliment


2 “ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves

apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.

The compliment section of this letter and the other 6 letters begins with the words “I know.” Jesus telling John that He knows the truth and the facts about Ephesus and the other churches. I suspect that John also knew much of the truth as well.

Jesus says that He knows their work, and toil. The church in Ephesus and her leaders were hard workers. They were always busy being as Ed Lewis our CE National Director, they were busy being “on mission.”

Not only did they work hard they patiently endured even struggling through false teachers. We don’t know who these self-appointed apostles were but they caused a great deal of pain for Ephesus and other early churches. The false apostle taught a false doctrine that caused problems in the church.

The church ejected them but not until they caused trouble in the church. Yet the church remained patient waiting for Jesus and His return. Jesus says they did not even grow weary.


4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.

This is the second section and deals with the criticism of the church by Jesus. We should remember that He is the groom for the church and sacrificed Himself for her, He has to right to criticize and correct her.

The criticism that Jesus has of the church in Ephesus is that they have abandoned their first love. In His praise Jesus says that they remained patient and faithful to Jesus but in the pursuit of the truth they failed to continue to love Jesus and have a relationship with Him. We should see this as not only being a relationship with Jesus but with His people. They sought the truth to the exclusion of loving relationship with Jesus and His people.

John 13:35 (ESV)

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

To be a true follower of Jesus we have to love each other. Ephesus had stopped doing that.

If I were to summarize Jesus complaint against Ephesus it would be that their good deeds, which were are not denied, were not motivated by love of Jesus, but duty. They had become legalists.


5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its

place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Jesus command to the church of Ephesus was three pronged. 1st they should remember their first love. They should return to the love they had for Jesus and His service. 2nd they must repent of their loveless attitude toward Him and each other. 3rd they must return to the things they did at first, when they were new followers of Jesus.

Failure to comply with the direction from jesus would result in the removal of their lampstand. In Matthew 16 we saw Jesus tell Peter that He will build His church, but that promise does not mean every church will succeed, many will not. There was no guarantee that the church in Ephesus would if they did not turn back to Jesus and love each other.

In verse 6 Jesus gives them another praise. Jesus praises them for hating the practices of the Nicolaitans. We know nothing of the Nicolaitans other than the 2 references here in chapter 2.


7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise

of God.’

This verse represents the commitment Jesus makes at the end of each letter to a church. Jesus calls attention to those who have an ear to hear what the Spirit says to the churches, the one who overcomes. That one is to be praised. This is a member of the congregation, or potentially the entire congregation, in hearing what Jesus said and then do it. Overcoming is the sense of conquering or winning the battle.

1 John 5:4–5 (ESV)

4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes

the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

To overcome the issues Jesus describes in Ephesus they would have to return to following Him, Loving Him and love each other. In that they would overcome the world. The one who overcomes will receive eternal life as represented by eating of the tree of life in the garden of God. The word paradise here is Persian word which means garden.

Let me step back to Dr. Smith’s teaching on this passage. As you might recall Randy views the letters as depicting 7 deadly sins or hindrances to the church.

Hindrance #1: Neglected Priorities – When we don’t place our heart for God above all else.7

Ephesus had turned form loving Jesus and loving each other. Randy describes this as not having our love for God being our highest priority.

How does that happen to a church? How does it happen to an individual believer? There are several ways.

• We can forget whose pleasure our life is for. We must stand against the current of SPIRITUAL DRIFT and seek the Lord’s pleasure first in every situation. Currents will pull strongly to self-satisfaction – but the focus of the believer is to be the pleasure of the Lord.

7 Smith, 14.

• It can also happen by getting caught up in PROGRAM CREEP. We start to measure our walk with God and our work for God – instead of gauging our passion FOR God Himself.

Jesus offered a three-fold prescription:

1. Remember – recognize what we have left behind (2:5).

2. Repent – change our mind in a way that leads to a change of action (2:5).

3. Return - restore the old works by turning back (2:5).

Surprisingly, the answer isn’t to QUIT WORKING but to go back to the reasons we were working in the first place.8

8 Smith, 14–15.

Smyrna

Hindrance #2: Fear of Opposition – When we pull back on our witness for fear the reactions will be painful.

Forty miles north of Ephesus is the city of Smyrna. The actual city was high on a hill on an Isthmus off the mainland. Smyrna was always in competition with Ephesus and Pergamum for the title of First City of Asia. The modern name of the city is Izmir, Turkey. Smyrna, being on hill was easily defended and provided a great vantage point of the port it became a significant city in the Roman world. It came to prominence under the rule of Alexander the Great. This city was also the first city to build a temple to Roma, the spirit of Rome, in 195 BC. We have no New Testament record of how the gospel came to Smyrna. Most scholars believe that Smyrna was reached by the gospel in an outreach from Ephesus as reflected in:

Acts 19:8–10 (ESV)

8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some became

stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him,

reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. 10 This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and

Greeks.


8 “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘The words of the first and the last, who died and came to life.

Again, Jesus instructs John to write to the angel of the church. Angelic spiritual being or human messenger is open to debate.

Jesus describes Himself as “the first, the last, who died and came to life.” The first phrase is very interesting, and I think often overlooked in its depth. I believe that it means more than just the same as alpha and omega. The words used first and last are not alpha and omega but speak of before time and last speaks coming after all others in time. In other words, Jesus stands before time and after time, as the sovereign who created time.

Jesus then said that He died and came to life. This is a very poignant statement for Smyrna to hear, as the city itself had been raised from the dead. Smyrna had been destroyed 700 years earlier and then laid in ruin for 300 years. The city was rebuilt by Alexander the Great and had become a significant city in the region and the Roman empire. The city would have resonated with Jesus’ resurrection statement.


9 “ ‘I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue

of Satan. 10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten

days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.

The people of Smyrna were facing difficult, troubling times. The city was very wealthy, but it appears that the Christians in Smyrna were very poor. At the end of verse 10, it seems Jesus uses a word picture. One of the things we know about the city’s wealth is that its great building had very decorative porticos and frescos, or murals, portraying gold inlay and overlay, much like crowns. Jesus says the believers will be given the crown of life. Many scholars believe Jesus was making an analogy of the wealth of the city and the eternal reward of believers of the city.

Jesus was also telling the believers of Smyrna that their persecution was going to grow and get more difficult. Yet in their poverty and persecution, they would remain spiritually rich and eternally wearing a crown. This was an encouragement to them that their persecution and poverty were temporary, not permanent or final.

Jesus’ reference to the “Synagogue of Satan” is challenging to interpret. We know that the rich and powerful in Smyrna had a great dislike of the real followers of Jesus, at least by the midpoint of the 2nd century AD. But there is also a good indication that this hostility began early on and was in full swing by the time John records the book of Revelation. Smyrna was believed to have the largest Jewish population in Asia.

Jesus may be using the same idea that Paul does in

Romans 2:28 (ESV)

28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical.

In the book fo Romans, the Apostle Paul spoke of those Jews who were ethnic Jews but had no relationship with God. I believe that Jesus here is saying the same thing. The Jews of Smyrna may have been ethnic Jews but participants in a hybrid pagan/Jewish system that God hated. These Jews rejected Jesus and His followers. It also appears that this group of Jews cooperated with the gentiles in persecuting the church in Smyrna. Jesus called them the Synagogue of Satan.

Randy states:

The church of Smyrna was gripped with fear. Jesus knew their physical troubles and material needs (2:9), as well as the persecution by other religious people (2:9). Instead of promising the church a FREE RIDE in the coming days – Jesus warned the people of coming persecution. He said:

New imprisonments will be ordered (2:10) New troubles are ordained to arrive (2:10) Some would be martyred (2:10)9

How do believers face the fear of rising ANTI-CHRIST waves that seem to be growing in strength and severity? Even more, how do believers face the harsh reality that many are, right now, suffering severely for the cause of Christ?

First, remember that COMPLAINING was not to be the church’s water mark – so we need to check the whining.

Second, we need to remember that this is not our permanent home. Believers must constantly reinforce Heaven as our home and spiritual warfare as our constant companion.

A church that is focused on creating the kingdom on Earth will be tempted to lose its edge in seeing this as a temporary situation.10

What should we take away from this letter to the church in Smyrna?

Randy states: A church that is focused on creating the kingdom on Earth will be tempted to lose its edge in seeing this as a temporary situation.11

If there is any key note in this second letter, it is found near the end of verse 10: be faithful, even to the point of death. These persecuted believers were not promised escape from tribulation; they were promised instead something far greater: the grace to endure afflictions without fear and the pledge that the one who died and came to life again will certainly bring them through to the “crown of life.”12

9 Smith, 15.10 Smith, 15.11 Smith, 15.12 Kendell H. Easley, Revelation, vol. 12, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 37–38.

Pergamum

We are beginning each church section with quotes from Dr. Randy Smith’s study on Revelation. Randy has developed principle statements for each section. We should recall that many scholars aregue that each church represents phases in the entire church during the church age. We worked through that in a previous study and have rejected it. These were churches that existed at the time John wrote the book of Revelation and I believe that John gave the leaders of each of the churches the message from Jesus to their church. I believe that the messages to the church illustrate various hinderances or difficulties churches can face or issues they may have. For the church in Pergamum this principle is:

Hindrance #3: Compromise of Principles – When we join the corps of the unfaithful because we feel they are stronger.

We need to remember that the seven churches in Revelation 2 & 3 are postal centers and the order they follow is along the normal postal route. About 1 and half hours north along the coast of Asia Minor, Modern Turkey, lies the city of Pergamum. The name of this city means citadel. Pergamum was a very wealthy city. It was also a city that had a

very heavy Roman influence in and one in which Rome had invested a great deal of money. Ruin still stand of the temple to Athena in Pergamum, as well as a Roman amphitheater. Pergamum had been the

capital of the Attalid Dynasty from 283 BC to 133 BC. When the last of the kings to rule this region gave the region over to the Romans. Caesar Agustus awarded Pergamum to be a Neocorate which was a ranking or status making it superior to the other cities. In order to obtain this status the city had to build shrines and temples to certain gods as well as participate in the cult of

worshiping the imperial family. Pergamum was on the way to becoming the capital of the region until Ephesus overtook it in importance. The regional supreme court was also in Pergamum. There was also the temple to Asklepius, the Greek god of healing, which is represented by figure of a snake on a stake. Potentially an image of Satan as Jesus calls Satan a snake in verse 9.

There was an altar to Zeus with an altar that was 120 x 112 feet on an 18 foot high platform. Some scholars equate the altar of Zeus with Satan’s Throne we will see in the Biblical Text. Others associate Satan’s throne more with Pergamum’s heavy involvement in the cult of worshiping the Imperial family.

Despite the heavy presence of imperial worship, there was also a heavy Jewish presence in Pergamum. Josephus states that the Jews in Pergamum sent gold to Jerusalem for the rebuild of hearod’s temple. We have no record of any Apostilic visits, but it seems reasonable that the Apostle Paul visited Pergamum as it was on the route he would have taken from Ephesus north toward Macidonia and Greece. Archeologists have uncovered the remains of churches from the earhly 2nd century. Pergamum also had an extensive library that some say reviled Alexandria.

So let’s dig into the text of jesus’ letter to the church in Pergamum.


12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

The section begins like all the church sections do, with a declaration of who the letter is addressed to, the “angel” of the church in Pergumum. We worked through this last week that the word ἀγγέλῳ which is translated as angel and can mean a spiritual being or can also mean messenger or envoy or sent one. I believe that Jesus is writing to the pastors, the representative of each of the churches and in this case the church in Pergamum. I believe that John who lived in Ephesus at the time called the leaders of each of the churches to Ephesus and gave them the letters from Jesus. We saw last week that it does not seem to make sense that Jesus would write a letter to the spiritual being assigned to each church and then give that letter to John to then give it to the angels. I think Jesus would have just given the letters to the angels and then given a copy to John.

Jesus identifies Himself as the one “who has the sharp two-edged sword.” The two edged sword is a reference to the power of Jesus to judge and conquer His enemies.


12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were

like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his

face was like the sun shining in full strength.




This description of Jesus with the sharp two-edged sword would have had a significant impact on the people of Pergamum. The Roman proconsul ruled in Pergamum from a judgement seat where

he exercised the power of the sword to deal with enemies of Rome and violent offenders. The Proconsul even had to the responsibility to persecute and execute the church. This is often called the power of the Sword. Since the city was a significant city in the worship of the Emperor and his family the Christian doctrine of not worshiping any king other than Jesus there was real danger of the church in Pergamum being persecuted and even executed.


13 “ ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful

witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

Jesus tells the church that He knows that the church is in the heart of evil, the throne of Satan. Whether this was the throne of Zeus or the cult of imperial worship, we cannot say, but what we can say is that the church in Pergamum was in the heart of Satanic influence. What is clear is that Satan made life miserable for the church in Pergamum.

We do not know the identity of Antipas. The name Antipas means “against all.” We have no historical information on who this person was or how he was executed. We only have this one reference in the passage. Dr. MacArthur and some others believe that Antipas was the pastor of the church in Pergamum. The execution of Antipas did not cause the church to alter their faith in Jesus. Jesus was proud of them.

While Jesus complimented the church in Pergamum He also had a complaint against them.


14 But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons

of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the

Nicolaitans.

Jesus’ complaint against the church in Pergamum was that there were teachers who were teaching the teachings of Balaam. In the book of Numbers we read about Balaam counceling King Balak to cause Israel to sin through intermarriage with heathen women. Many scholars believe that this is reference church members who were participating in the cult prostitution active in the many cults and temples in Pergamum. Also remember that Roman law provided form a temporary marriage for a short period of time to engage with a temple prostitutes. It is believed that church members who had previouls participated in the cult practices continued to practice many of those practices even after come to faith in Jesus and becoming part of the church. This would be like someone in the modern church continue to practice their evil deeds they participated in, such as seances and juiji boards and horescopes etc.

Jesus also accuses them of following the Nicolaitans just as he did the church in Ephesus. Irenaeus wrote that Nicolus was one of the Deacons appointed in Acts chapter 6, but was also a false believer. But as a deacon appointed by the apostles he had the ability to lead many astray.

His followers apparently grew in number to be a force of false doctrine in the church. We have very little other information. It seems likely that since Jesus is paring the taching of Balaam and the teaching of the Nicolaitians together would indicate that both groups were leading the church to keep one foot in the church and one foot in the pagan practices of the day. Which is why Randy had the principle from this church: Hindrance #3: Compromise of Principles – When we join the corps of the unfaithful because we feel they are stronger.


16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth. 17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit

says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone

that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

Jesus then tells the church in Peramum to repent. If they don’t He would return and war agains them with the sowrd of His mouth. This means that Jesus will judge them with the power and might of His positon as the judge.

We must notice something we may not see immediately upon reading the passage. Jesus uses two different words here in identifyin the groups in Permamum. Notice that Jesus He will come to you soon and war against them. What is the difference between you and them? I think you is a reference to the true believers in the church and them is a reference to the false teachers of Balaam and the Nicolaitans.

Numbers 22:31 (ESV)

31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed

down and fell on his face.

The angle of the Lord here is a Christophany, an appearance of the preincarnate Jesus.




There were those in the church in Pergamum who were leading the church to follow the world and not God. It may have appeared that the world was going to win the battle and so these false teachers wanted keep a foot in both sides. But in reality we have to decide if we are going to follow Jesus or the world. We cannot possibly follow both as they are going in two completely different directions.


17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows

except the one who receives it.’

Jesus closes this short letter to the church in Pergamum with two references to eternal life. Hidden Manna and white stone with a new nam written on it both refer to eternal life. The ancient Israelites had a pot of manna hidden in the ark of the covenant. Jewish tradition taught that the manna given to the wandering Hebrews would be preserved in the ark and then multiplied to feed the Jews in the Millenial age.

Exodus 16:32–35 (ESV)

32 Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Let an omer of it be kept throughout your generations, so that they may see the bread with which I

fed you in the wilderness, when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’ ” 33 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the LORD to be kept throughout your generations.” 34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it before the testimony to be kept. 35 The people of Israel ate the manna forty years, till they came to a habitable

land. They ate the manna till they came to the border of the land of Canaan.

2 Maccabees 2:5–7 (NRSV)

5 Jeremiah came and found a cave-dwelling, and he brought there the tent and the ark and the altar of incense; then he sealed up the entrance. 6 Some of

those who followed him came up intending to mark the way, but could not find it. 7 When Jeremiah learned of it, he rebuked them and declared: “The place shall remain unknown until God gathers his people together again and shows

his mercy.

The white stones with a new name is a reference the small white stones that were often used to as admission tickets to public festivals. Possession a stone with a specific name on it would gain the person admittance to the event. Possessing a white stone with the name of Jesus will give entrance to eternity with Jesus. It is our guarantee to heaven.

Thyatira

The next church on the postal route beginning in Ephesus, north to Smyrna, and then Pergamum. If we head east about 60 miles we would come to the city of Thyatira. In its history Thyatira had been subject to Pergamum after 190 BC. It had been established as a shrine to the son god Tyrimnus. It was originally a

Macidonian settlement and then rebuilt as a frontier garrison. It became the modern city of Akhisar and sits on the Lycus River. By the Time of the writing of the letter to the Angel of the church of Thyatira it had become industrialized with many industrial and commercial guilds.

Acts 16:14–15 (ESV)

14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods,

who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. 15 And after she was

baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed

upon us.

The Apostle Paul’s first convert in Europe was Lydia from Thyatira. By the time John writes Revelation there was a large Christian community in Thyatira.

As we have been doing in our previous study we have been weaving principles and insights from the book of Revelation from Dr. Randy Smith. The principle that Randy articulates for the letter to Thyatira is:

Hindrance #4: Tolerating Immorality – When we allow immoral actions to continue unchecked because we don’t want to cause conflict.13

Let’s work through the letter to see the compliment, complaint, and command Jesus gives to the church in Thyatira.


18 “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: ‘The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished

bronze.

Jesus again directs this letter to the Angle of the church in Thyatira. It is my belief that “Angle” here refers to the church leadership and not a spiritual being, but I have no conclusive proof that

13 Dr. Randy Smith, Revelation - Final, n.d.

it should be interpreted that way. Jesus identifies Himself as the “Son of God.” This is the only time that Jesus uses this identification of Himself in Revelation. John uses this Title for Jesus seven times in 1st John and eight times in the Gospel of John to refer to Jesus and a total of 32 times in all of the new Testament.

The title of “Son of God” in the New Testament provides 4 distinctive senses:

First is covenant sonship, which focuses on the fact that Jesus lived his earthly life in a positive religious relationship to God as his heavenly Father.14

Second is nativity sonship. The nativity of Jesus is traced to the direct, spiritual paternity of God. Jesus is the Son of God because his incarnation and birth into the human race was by conception of the Holy Spirit,15

Third is messianic sonship. Jesus is the Father’s son and representative whose earthly mission is to establish the kingdom of God. At his baptism, he began his mission with the Father’s coronation: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17; cf. Ps 2:7)16

Finally is personal sonship. Jesus’ personal sonship is revealed in Peter’s confession, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16) and in Jesus’ identification of himself at his trial: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?… I am, said Jesus” (Mk 14:61, 62). In both instances, the issue is his personal being or essence, his essential identity.17

Jesus also says that He has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like burnished bronze. If we go back to chapter 1 we see:


13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head

were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was

like the roar of many waters.

That is how John described when John turned to see who was talking to him and he saw Jesus. We saw in chapter 1 that the Eyes of flaming fire represent the omniscience of Jesus, His all emcompassing knowledge. Feet of burnished bronze speaks to His all emcompassing power, His omnipotence.


19 “ ‘I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.

14 Walter A. Elwell and Barry J. Beitzel, “Son of God,” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988), 1981.15 Ibid16 Ibid17 Ibid

Jesus’ compliments to the church in Thyatira is much like what Jesus gave to the church in Ephesus. Jesus recognized that the church in Thyatira was involved in working for Jesus in a maner that shows they are growing. Their later works were greater than their earlier works. Think about that compliment for a moment. Isn’t that what we all should want Jesus to say about us? We grew in our work and abilities so that we worked better than we had before? I know it is something I want Jesus to say about me.

Jesus also compliments them on their works being characterized by faith, love and patience. They trusted Jesus so they followed Him. They loved Jesus so they were obedient to Him. They were patient in waiting for the results to come and for the blessings of Jesus. They endured a great deal in their quest to follow Jesus.

The Complaint:


20 But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice

sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

While the church in Thyatira was working to serve the Lord in love and faith, they also were tolerant of false teaching going on in the church. Jesus acuses them of tolerating “that woman Jezebel.” The verb used here does not mean that they do not condemn, but that they actually permit it. Maybe even support it.

I don’t believe that her name was Jezebel. I believe that the use of the name Jezebel is to indicate Jesus contempt for this women and the teaching she gave within the church. In the Old Testament Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab who was king of Israel from 869-850 BC. Her claim to fame was that she led the king into worship of the Canaanite gods. That comparison is on purpose because that it what this false teacher was doing, leading the church away from following Jesus. Some early church leaders said that she was the wife of the pastor or bishop, and was part of the teaching and leading of the church. Of course none of that is in the text here other than that she is teaching the church.

This false teacher was leading some in the church to a practice of sexual immorality and then partacking in eating the food sacrificed to idols. Whether this woman was a bona fide leader in the church is not known but she had claimed for herself the title of prophetess. She was leading the church in continuing to practice their pagan worship which included sexual activity with temple prositutes and then partcating in the feasts after the sacrifices to the idols. She was teaching that you could do both. Practice the world’s religions and be a follower of Jesus at the same time.

Randy’s principle here is so fitting:

Hindrance #4: Tolerating Immorality – When we allow immoral actions to continue unchecked because we don’t want to cause conflict.18


It is what is going on in the church today as well. Not with idols and so forth but certainly with sexual immorality. More and more churches, fellowships, and denominations are tolerating sexual immorality in many forms. It has become so accepted in the secular world that the church has less and less to say about it. To the point that many denominations permit practicing homosexuals to lead and teach, and even sanctioning same sex mariages. In conflict with what God has stated in His word. In other words these teaching and churches that teach it and practice it are in direct conflict with God and His word.


21 I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality. 22 Behold, I will throw her onto a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her works, 23 and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know

that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

Jesus gave her time to repent, but she refused to. As I was studying this I though about the statement, “I gave her time to repent.” This indicates to me that Jesus had somehow made known to her that what she was doing was in conflict with the truth, with the word of God. Through a proper teacher of the church, through the Holy Spirit, through others around her? We don’t know. We just know that God had warned her, but she remained intransient and refused to repent, which of course means to change her direction. As a result of her unwillingness to repent she would become sick and those who follow her and participate in her sexual immorality will be thrown into great tribulation.

This does not mean that those who participate with her will be in the 7 year tribulation. It means that will be going through seriously difficult times. Sometimes God uses physical illness to get our attention and to correct us. Sometimes even to punish us. Here God promises her that a failure to repent will lead to her getting physically sick. Not all illness is the direct result of sin, but sometimes it is. We need to remember that God controls our world, including your health. He can make you sick right now!~

Not only will the self proclaimed prophetess get sick but here children will die. This woman was playing with the lives of her own children. Imagine now, the pastor of the church comes to met with John and receives this letter from Jesus through John. Remember some scholars argue that this woman was the wife of the pastor. Presumably the pastor was the father of her children and he reads that her failure to repent would result in the death of the kids. That would be bad.

When the surrounding churches come to the funerals of the children they will know that Jesus is Lord who knows what we think and what we believe who will give us what we are due. God will punish those who flaunt His word. Today many in churches around the world believe that they can do what they want and they way they want with reguard for the word of God. We cannot do that and those churches that do should expect the hammer coming down on them.


24 But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay

on you any other burden. 25 Only hold fast what you have until I come.

Jesus also told those in the church who had not followed Jezebel. He was not going to hold them accountable for her actions. I found this verse to tell me a great deal more then it appears on the surface. It tells me that the teaching of Jezebel was not the official sanctioned teaching of the church and Jezebel was not a church official. If her teaching was official and she was a church official the church would have also been punished by Jessus. But since the church itself was not held accountable for her teaching it seems to me that she was not a church official. Jesus praises the church for not following this false doctrine and the teachings of Satan. Jesus reminds the church to remain fast until He returns. Follow the course. Remain faithful!


26 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, 27 and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as

when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. 28 And I will give him the morning star. 29 He who

has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

As He does with the other church, Jesus closes His letter to the church in Thyatira with challenge to those who are overcomers. He promises those who remain faithful to Him will be in a positon of rule the nations. Jesus has called the church to remain loyal to Him and follow His directions through out the age. We have to look forward to the time we will reign with Jesus for the Millenial kingdom.

The reference to the morning star is quite interesting. The morning star only appears when the night is over and a new day has dawned. This appears to be a reference to the dark times of the tribulation and the bright light of the millennial rule. We look forward to Jesus’s 1000 year reign and the reality that we also reighn with Him.

Jesus then closes with the statement “he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches,” as He does with the other churches.

ConclusionRandy states:

Many would rather experience God rather than study His Word. Many would rather worship God or fellowship with other believers than sit under biblical teaching- unless it was tailored to felt needs…. Ahab said about Micaiah, God’s faithful prophet in 1Ki 22:8 I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. Jezebel prophets prophesy only good things - peace and prosperity (Jeremiah 23:14-17). They never prophesy judgment. It is unbalanced, unbiblical and wrong.

When believers tolerate immoral actions allowing them to continue unchecked because we don’t want to cause conflict – we kill truth and rob hope.19

We cannot allow tolerance of sin to be our practice, especially in church. We cannot tolerate sin within the church. Anything that violates God’s word, God’s character should not be, cannot be tolerated in the church, even if it is not official teaching of the church and church leaders.

Questions.


Sardis

When you continue on the 1st Century Postal route out of Thyatira to the south about 40 miles, you end up in Sardis. Sardis was the capital of the Kingdom of Lydia. Sardis had several very productive industries, including jewelry, dye-making, and textiles, especially woolen textiles. These industries had made the city very wealthy. Sardis was also an important religious center in the region with a large temple to Artemis, which still partially stands. Sardis was home to a very

large nature cult focused on Artemis. The cult focused on death and rebirth. Archeologists have discovered evidence of active large church next door to the ruins of the temple to Artemis. There are also ruins of one of the largest Jewish synagogues known that appears to have had room for 1,000 to attend. A temple to Agustus was also

active in Sardis.

Sardis was also a military center. Sardis was located on a plateau which became an almost impregnable fortress. Sardis was at the junction of 5 heavily traveled highways, each 1500 below the city plateau.

It is believed that during the period of time in which John writes the words of Jesus to the Angel of the church of Sardis that 60,000 to 100,000 people lived in Sardis. With such a large synagogue and multiple other temples, religion was important to the people of Sardis.


3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

We again see that Jesus addresses this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. We have previously worked through the word Angel ἀγγέλῳ and what it potentially means. I have said that I believe the context dictates that the understanding of messenger is appropriate and would reflect the pastor or leadership of the church and not a spiritual being.

Jesus states that these words are from “Him who has the seven spirits of God the seven stars.” We have seen the seven spirits of God in the first chapter.


4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:

Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,

We discovered in looking at chapter 1 that Jesus is most likely echoing the book of Isaiah.

Isaiah 11:2 (ESV)

2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of counsel and might,

the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.

Dr. Smith in his book on Revelation frames it like this:

• The Spirit of God’s “ever in the present completion” (Yahweh).

• The Spirit of God’s practical ability or skillfulness to demonstrate truth (wisdom: hokhmah).

• The Spirit of God’s revealed discernment (understanding: bi-naw).

• The Spirit of God’s strategies (counsel: aytsaw).

• The Spirit of God’s powerful accomplishments (strength: giborah).

• The Spirit of God’s fierce awesomeness (fear: yiraw)20

We go back to Rev 1:20 where we are introduced to the 7 stars.




In explaining to John what he sees Jesus explains that the seven stars are the Angels of the 7 churches, or as we have seen in each passage, the church leadership for each church.

So why does Jesus begin His letter to Sardis with a reminder that He possesses the Seven spirits of God and who holds the leadership of the seven churches in hands?

I will come back to that question after we have worked through the letter to the church in Sardis to see if we can answer it better.20 Dr. Randy Smith, Revelation - Final, n.d.

Look at the second half of verse 1.


3 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.

“ ‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.

Jesus here in the 2nd half gives His complaint concerning the church in Sardis. Apparently, the church in Sardis had a reputation of being active and alive, but in reality, they were dead. Think about what Jesus is saying here of this church. They have a good reputation but they are spiritually dead.

Dr. Smith presents the principle this way:

Hindrance #5: Spiritual Apathy – When we allow the weakness to spread unchecked by vigilance and defense of the truth.21

The sense of the complaint Jesus makes against Sardis is that they are living in the glory of their past activities but are not active anymore. That is quite an indictment against any church.


2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.

Jesus then tells the church to “Wake Up.” I can just hear Jesus saying that to the church. Wake Up, get with it. It is time to get back to work.

Jesus says wake up and strengthen what remains alive. You better care for what is about to die so it does not die. Jesus then says that He has not found their works complete in the sight of God.

The apostle Paul tells us in Eph:

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God has ordained for us to complete works, works for us to do in our Christian lives. Jesus tells the church in Sardis that they have not yet completed those works God had preordained to do. We have been called by God to salvation and in response to the call of salvation, we have given works to do. It is the responsibility of every saved person to complete the works assigned by God.



3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I

will come against you.

Jesus then instructs the church in Sardis that they were to “Remember what they have heard.” What seems clear from Jesus’ direction to the church is that they had been properly taught, the gospel, and how they were to live and serve the Lord. They had had success in ministry but were now apparently living on their laurels. Jesus says go back and remember what you have been taught. Then go and repeat what you did before.

I love the next statement Jesus makes. Some scholars argue that If the church does not go back and relearn what they had learned before, which I believe means pay attention to or practice what they had learned, then when Jesus returns, without announcing, as a thief comes, they will not be prepared. They will be surprised. Jesus is not telling them they will not be saved, just that they will not be prepared when He comes back.

Other scholars argue that Jesus' return is not in view here based upon the context. Notice that Jesus says if they do not wake up, He will come like a thief. That makes this action by Jesus conditional. The rapture is not conditional so the return of Jesus can not be in view here. That would make this statement by Jesus to be in reference to punishment on the church that Jesus will bring. I believe that this judgment may have come when the city was attacked and despite being a fortress it fell and the church fell at the same time. Today only a tiny village stands where the city was and no church. They would be judged without warning, other than this warning by Jesus.


4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

Jesus acknowledges that there still are a few people have remained faithful. I love this next phase. A few people who have not pooped their pants. Soiled their garments is a statement by Jesus inferring the filth of the pagan religious practice that was a threat to every first-century church, including Sardis. These few remained faithful to following Jesus and had not become or remained entangled in the religious practice prevalent in the city. Jesus calls this group worthy.

I also would like to point out that by Jesus using the phrase “few names” it indicates that there were membership roles for the churches. Name of people who had remained faithful.

Their garments remained clean indicating their holiness. For the large number of Jews in Sardis, the clean garments would have reminded them of being ceremonially clean. They looked and acted like followers of Jesus, which should be the quest of all followers of Jesus.


5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my

Father and before his angels.

Jesus goes on to say that the one who conquers will be clothed in white garments. The word conquers is νικῶν (nikōn) which has a range of meanings including conquering, prevailing, overcoming, winning. It also has the idea of being morally clean or pure as a sense of the word. From that I get the idea that Jesus is saying that the ones who overcome the influence of the world and remain pure before God will ultimately be clothed in white garments.


8 it was granted her to clothe herself

with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

When we as a church and as individuals do the good works God has planned for us to do, when we keep ourselves focused on following Him, the end result is that we will be clothed in white robes of righteousness for all to see.

Not only will be clothed in long flowing white robes, but Jesus Jesus will acknowledge us before the Father and all the angels. Jesus will praise you before the Father and the angels. Think about what that scene will be like.

The word confess is ὁμολογήσω (homologēsō) which is most often translated as confess. But it has uses such as profess, praise, give thanks to, etc. Think about Standing in the throne room of heaven with all the angels watching and having Jesus praise you for your faithful ministry. If the words of I can only Imagine don’t come to mind here, I think you may perhaps be dead!

This statement to not blot out his name from the book of life and acknowledging before the Father would have been very important and understandable to the people of the Roman city of Sardis. As a Roman city, each Roman citizen’s name was recorded in the book of Citizens. The citizen also had to right to have his name called out before the emperor or other courts. It was virtually impossible to be removed from the Citizen registry. Citizenship, once granted, was forever.


6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Jesus closes this letter much like He does the others. He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. We have seen that to really hear something means to act upon it. Jesus makes it clear that we should act upon the message He has given us.

So let me go back to the question I asked at the beginning:

Why does Jesus begin His letter to Sardis with a reminder that He possesses the Seven spirits of God and who holds the leadership of the seven churches in hands? What is the message here?

Wait for responses!

Jesus refers to the seven spirits of God and to possession of the seven stars indicates His sovereignty over the church and the reality that Jesus is the head of the church as the sovereign head of the church, who gave the church life. Who better to renew life in the church than the one who gave life initially. Jesus reminds the church of Sardis, who He is, and the power He has.

Randy’s Principle here is:

Hindrance #5: Spiritual Apathy – When we allow the weakness to spread unchecked by vigilance and defense of the truth.22

Randy’s take here is that we must stand firm and vigilant in defending the church and the truth of the gospel. Failure to do that will result in a dead church, like Sardis.

When a church lives in the past, its reputation and its history, that church is dead. When a church is more concerned with form and ritual, that church is dead. When a church is more concerned about church activities than that God be glorified through those activities, it is dead.

When they try to grow and hold on to people, they become self-focused.

When it is more material than spiritual, it is dead. 23

Any questions on the letter to the church in Sardis?



Philadelphia

Philadelphia was also a city in Lydia. Also, like Sardis, Philadelphia was situated on the main road from Rome to the east. Philadelphia was often referred to as the “Gateway to the East” and “Little Athens.” It was called little Athens because of the many temples within the city. Despite being in a great place along the highway from Rome to the east, Philadelphia also had significant issues. Most notably was the city sat right on top of a fault line and earthquakes were prevalent. In 17BC it was completely destroyed by an earthquake which also did significant damage to Sardis and 10 other cities in the region. When the city was rebuilt many people refused to return

to the city and remained in the little villages and countryside rather than returning to the city. You can see from this top map of the seven churches that Philadelphia is near Sardis with a valley in between them. In this map, you also the major Roman roads in the region. In this photo, you can see some

columns of one of the temples in this city with a minaret of a modern mosque in the background. Archaeologically much does not remain in Philadelphia because of the earthquakes.


7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘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.

Again this letter is addressed to the Angel of the church of Philadelphia. Jesus then describes Himself as 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. I should point out that this is the first church in which Jesus describes Himself without quoting from what He said in chapter one.

Jesus does again echos, Isaiah, in His statement “who has the key of David.”

Isaiah 22:22 (ESV)

22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

The house of David was the house of the eventual Messiah, who would determine who would be given eternity with Him and who would not. Isaiah’s passage is a reference to Eliakim who had become the royal guardian of Ancient Jerusalem. A protector and guard. Jesus applies the

teaching of Isaiah to Himself. He alone has the power of salvation. As the possessor of the Key of David, a descendant of King David, He was the one set apart by God, anointed as Messiah who controlled entrance to the heavenly city.

I find it fascinating that Jesus would identify Himself this way to the church in Philadelphia. Let’s see if we can discover why He identifies Himself that way!

Dr. Smith’s principle for this letter is:

Hindrance #6: Dwindling Stability – When we won’t push to deliberately build the body of believers.24


8 “ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept

my word and have not denied my name.

In Jesus’ compliment of Philadelphia Jesus reminds them that He knows their works. But He also says that they have little power. They have remained faithful, but they have little power. Many claim that Philadelphia is the only church of the seven churches that Jesus makes no complaint about. I am not sure that is a proper assessment of the situation.

Jesus reminds them that He has placed in front of them a door that no one is able to shut. I think this speaks of tremendous opportunity for ministry given to the church, but apparently, they did not take significant advantage of it. As a small church, they remained faithful and they did some things but apparently, they did not exercise great power. Jesus provided a door that could not be closed by anyone else, indicating He was in control and was the power behind the church. But apparently, the church did not completely avail themselves of this power.

Jesus praises them for remaining faithful in keeping His word and not denying His name. But why does Jesus say that He knows they have but little power?


9 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down

before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.

As we saw previously, the Synagogue of Satan is most likely a reference to the Judaizers who attempted to highjack the early church and place upon the church rules not consistent with grace. We know that Judaizers were a large force within the early church, most likely including here in Philadelphia. Despite the force of the Judaizers, Philadelphia remained faithful and obedient to Jesus. Jesus hints at some Old Testament Prophecies that reflect Gentiles coming to the Jews for salvation. Jesus then says that the Judaizers will have to come to the church for salvation. They


will do this because they have seen that Jesus loves them. The church in Philadelphia is to be congratulated for remaining faithful despite the opposition.


10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell

on the earth.

Jesus continues His praise for the church by saying that because they have kept His word in patient endurance, He will keep them from the hour of trial. Unlike a similar statement to Smyrna, this statement appears to be a prophecy that Jesus will protect Philadelphia from the coming Tribulation. Scholars have long debated this verse as to whether it speaks of a pre-tribulation rapture or simply protection. I think in being consistent with the rest of scripture Jesus clearly is referring to rapturing the church out before the tribulation. But I recognize this statement alone is a little ambiguous.


11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

Jesus again encourages the church to remain faithful and loyal to Him. He tells them that in doing that they will protect the rewards they have already earned in ministry. Rewards they will eventually be able to lay at Jesus' feet in worship of Him. He is not talking about the loss of salvation here as some want this to say!


12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and 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 from

my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

Conquers here is the same word seen in Sardis, meaning overcoming, prevailing, sticking it out, being victorious, etc. The follower of Jesus who remains loyal to Jesus and completes the works planned for by God will be made a pillar in the heavenly temple. I think Jesus is using some symbolism here. The word pillar is στῦλον (stylon) which includes the sense of being a leader, support, load bearer. I think what Jesus is saying here is that the people that remain faithful to Him will be honored and identified as leaders and His supporters in Heaven. To the church in Sardis, Jesus said He would acknowledge, or praise them before His Father in heaven. I think He is saying the same thing here. The reward for faithfully serving Jesus is a positon for eternity in heaven.


13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Jesus again closes this letter with the same statement as the others. We should do what we have been told here.

Randy’s Principle here is:

Hindrance #6: Dwindling Stability – When we won’t push to deliberately build the body of believers.25

Philadelphia had been provided with a great opportunity for ministry but did not push to accomplish all that God had given them. Randy refers to the issue at Philadelphia as a church full of sickly anemic Christians. He gives some examples:

• Alzheimer’s Christian: Remembers only selectively what God has done before, but fails to be able to connect with what may be happening in the Kingdom around him today.

• Autistic Christian: Stuck on a phrase and often inappropriate in responses. Unable to connect to anyone that has no special training to understand them.

• Epileptic Christian: Not in control of all energies expended. Seems passionate but strangely disconnected from the body, randomly expending great energy not directed by any leadership or head.

• Leprous Christian: Unfeeling toward other parts of the body and infectiously causing a spreading numbness of insensitivity that kills good growth.

• Obese Christian: Ready to sit and eat with no real intent to get up and DO anything, they become expert food critics of the messages they hear.

• Burned Christian: Because of an experience that often has nothing to do with the current body they are in, they are in constant need of careful handling and touchy care.

• Anorexic Christian: Unable to see themselves as God says they are, they continue to self-inspect for every flaw, totally overtaken in their own issues.

• Heart Diseased Christian: Unable to function normally because of other contributing behaviors that have weakened their endurance.26

Any questions on Philadelphia?

Laodicea

At the end of the postal route is



Laodicea. Laodicea was near Colosse and Hierapolis. It was a very wealthy and prosperous city. It, like Philadelphia, had been destroyed by an earthquake. This one in 62 Ad and then speedily rebuilt. It was built on the banks of the Lycus River which provided ample water supply. It was named after Laodice, wife of Antiochus, the 2nd king of Syria. The main industry was wool cloth which was dyed and woven into very expensive and beautiful material for garments.

Dr. Smith’s principle for Laodicea is:

Hindrance #7: Luxury Distraction – When we focus so much on this world’s comfort, we forget this isn’t the real world.27


14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.

To the leadership of the church, Jesus writes, “The words of the Amen, and the faithful, and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.” Jesus identifies Himself as the “Amen.” The direct translation of Amen would be “so be it.” So, what do you think Jesus means by calling Himself the Amen?

I think it a reference to His sovereignty, which is behind all human events. So be it, what Jesus says.

Jesus also calls Himself the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. First faithful is obvious I think. Jesus is always faithful to those He has called but also to the Father’s plan. He bears true witness to the plan and authority of God the father.

But then Jesus says that He is the beginning of God’s creation. This statement has caused some confusion by some. I think Jesus here is linking His sovereignty with His faithfulness to God’s plan, all the way back to creation. From the time that God the Father instituted the plan Jesus was faithful from the very beginning in carrying it out. He was the agent of creation. The plan called for Jesus to step into the box He created and become subject to the box. Then to die, suffering to pay the price for our sins. I think all of that is wrapped up in this verse.


15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold,

I will spit you out of my mouth.

Jesus does not give this church any commendation, only rebuke. Jesus says I know your works, and they are neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm. What should we make of the use of terms hot and cold?

Many scholars want hot to refer to on fire for the Lord and cold to rejection of the gospel. While that may be plausible I think those are modern constructs and not what Jesus had in mind.


Laodicea was between two cities, about equidistant apart. Hierapolis had hot springs used for medicinal purposes. People would come from all over to get rejuvenated in the hot springs. Colosse was known for its very cold and pure drinking water. What kind of tea do you like to drink? Hot or cold, right, but not lukewarm, that tastes terrible.

I think what Jesus is saying to the church is that they don’t have the redeeming feature of hot water like Hierapolis nor do they have the redeeming qualities of ice-cold water like Colosse does. Rather He can find no redeeming qualities in the church in Laodicea. Jesus says that since He can find no redeeming qualities in the church He would rather just vomit them out of His mouth.

I think that when Jesus says He will vomit them out of His mouth He was completing the analogy of water from Hieropolis and Colosse and spit out the room temp water. I don’t think He was saying that he would un save them as that can’t happen. I think He is saying that He will judge them and deal with the lake of ministry and lack of productivity.


17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

Why did they not have redeeming qualities? Because they had deceived themself over their spiritual condition. They had told themselves that they were doing just fine when they did not follow anything that Jesus had told them to do. They were so convinced that they were good that they could not even see that they were not.

They may have looked good, since they produced great fabrics in town. They did not even see they were naked, and poor.

Jesus also said they were blind. This a play on words dealing with the medical school in Laodicea that had developed an eye salve that was used by rich people all over the Empire.

The church was so deceived by itself because in their own strength they thought they were doing good.


18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your

nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.

Jesus tells them to buy what they don’t think they need. In this spiritual metaphor, Jesus was telling them they needed to avail themselves of His power. They don’t think they need it but the really do. It is only through doing what God has called us to do that we will eventually wear white garments for eternity.

Jesus then played again on the eye salve from the medical school. Take Jesus’ spiritual eye salve so you can see what you are supposed to see. What is the eye salve Jesus has? That’s right, the Holy Spirit. As the Holy Spirit illumines for us what He wants us to do.


19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Jesus is rebuking them because He loves them. He disciplines them because He loves them. Jesus yells at them and says get zealous for this stuff and repent. Turn toward my direction and go with me in ministry he says to them.


20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

What do you think this verse speaks of? Does this verse speak of Salvation?

NO it does not. Look at the context. Jesus is talking to a church, a lukewarm church but still a church. He is not inviting them to salvation but to fellowship. They are saved, we know that because Jesus says he corrects those He loves. They are saved but not in fellowship with Him. Jesus is standing at the door of the church in Laodicea and asking them to join Him in fellowship, in union.


21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an

ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ”

As we have previously seen conquers is the idea of overcoming, enduring outlasting, those who can do that are the ones who follow Jesus, who adopt the power of the Holy Spirit and accomplish the ministry given to us by God.

Jesus then closes as he does the other letters to the seven churches.

Hindrance #7: Luxury Distraction – When we focus so much on this world’s comfort, we forget this isn’t the real world.28

Here we are - the modern believer in the west. We own many Bibles, but seldom really read any of them. We have hundreds of choices for church families – but we only go if there is something we are really encouraged by. There are lots of opportunities to serve Jesus in our community – but we cannot fit it in between the sports we play and the sports we watch. There are incredible numbers of places to share the Gospel – but there is little time because our Facebook friends need to know what we are cooking for dinner tonight. We love the children of our community –


but teaching them God’s Word would take time from seeing my friends in church. We love ministry – if someone could just put it together for us and let us come. …You see, we are BUSY people. We are TIRED people. We are IMPORTANT people – at the center of our world. We seek COMFORT – not commitment. We seek PLEASURE – not persistence in the tough things.

Here we are facing the hindrances of obstacles to follow God. They are sinful choices and fallen practices.

• I don’t always place my heart for God above all else.

• I pull back on my witness for fear of the reactions.

• I am tempted to join the unfaithful because they seem stronger.

• I tolerate immorality because I don’t want to fight everything.

• I get apathetic about the truth.

• I don’t push to deliberately build the body of believers.

• I focus too much on this world’s success and pleasure and forget this isn’t the real world.

I am a modern Christian. There are sinful choices that can cripple believers and churches. We must identify the dangers, and deliberately choose to walk away from the temptation.29

Any Questions?


Recap: - friendshipgracebrethren.com€¦ · Web viewRevelation Teaching Notes. Recap: Rev 1:1-3...

Documents

Transcript of Recap: - friendshipgracebrethren.com€¦ · Web viewRevelation Teaching Notes. Recap: Rev 1:1-3...