Letters to the 7 Churches (Part 2)

Smyrna (Persecution)

Large city

Today called Izmir (Asia Minor/Turkey)

Persecution

Gentile: emperor worship (Domitian)

Jews

Polycarp was martyred (Bishop)

LETTER

To the angel of the church in Smyrna.

From: the first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life. (Rev 1:17)

Isaiah 44:6 NASB95

6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me.

Isaiah 48:12 NASB95

12 “Listen to Me, O Jacob, even Israel whom I called; I am He, I am the first, I am also the last.

Contents: I know your... (First and Last)

Tribulation

Poverty (but you are rich)

2 Corinthians 8:9 NASB95

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

James 2:5 NASB95

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

blasphemy (Jews)

future suffering

Crown of Life

James 1:12 NASB95

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Commendation:

Concern:

Correction:

Call: He who has an ear let him hear

Exhortation: He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.

Pergamum (Idolatry and Immorality)

Large city

god worship (Athena, Dionysus…)

40 ft alter to Zeus

famous for medicine (school)

LETTER:

To the angel of the church in Pergamum

From: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Isaiah 11:4 NASB95

4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.

Ephesians 6:17 NASB95

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 NASB95

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Contents: I know where you dwell.

Commendation:

did not deny My faith.

Antipas “faithful witness” (martyred)

Revelation 1:5 NASB95

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood—

Revelation 3:14 NASB95

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

Concern: a few things against you. (Compromise of God’s word)

hold the teaching of Balaam. (Numbers 22-25) Balaamites (Balak)

things sacrificed to idols

commit acts of immorality

hold to the teaching of Nicolatians.

Revelation 2:6 NASB95

6 ‘Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Correction: Repent,

coming quickly

make war with mouth

Call: He who has an ear, let him hear...

Exhortation: He who overcomes

hidden manna - provision (Jesus=bread from Heaven)

white stone -

new name (on the stone)

Thyatira (Idolatry and Immorality)

Smaller city

trade guilds (union)

LETTER:

To the angel of the church in Thyatira.

From: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze.

Eyes - fire - refine for truth - sees and able to make right judgement

Feet - Bronze judgement

Contents: I know your deeds

Commendation: your love, faith, service, perseverance, and later deeds are greater than at first.

Concern: I have this against you…you tolorate the woman Jezebel (King Ahab).

Revelation Thyatira: The Church Where Tolerance Went to Seed (Revelation 2:18–29)

Jezebel was deceptive, idolatrous, domineering, scheming, and vicious.

Early Gnosticism? Body vs Soul - license to sin.

Revelation Thyatira: The Church Where Tolerance Went to Seed (Revelation 2:18–29)

False teachers—then and now—push our freedom in Christ to extremes, using grace as a license for sin

Correction:

Unless they repent…(v 21)

No other burden (v 24)

Call: He who has an ear, let him hear.

Exhortation: He who overcomes

i will give authority (Psalm 2)

morning star