Light the Lamp

// END GAME OVERVIEW

New Series: End Game (a peek into Revelation)

Bible Plan: Revelation Challenge - fortressyouth.group/bible

Facts about Revelation:

“Revelation” not “Revelations”

It is the revelation of Jesus Christ

Written by John; the apostle who also wrote John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John

The only book in the Bible that has a blessing for those that “read” and “hear” it

Revelation 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.

Revelation is translated in greek to apokalupsis (apocalypse). The word simply means “a revealing, an unveiling”

Tribulation isn’y limited to the last seven years of the world as we know it - tribulation is any kind of trouble or affliction. You can, and probably are going through some sort of tribulation

The books of Revelation and Daniel are Harmony Books - they talk about similar events

Key Verse:

Revelation 1:8 ESV

8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Student Pray

Two parts to look at tonight, but although we are taking them in two parts, they are very much related.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Student Read

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.

Revelation 1:12

The Scene:

Seven Golden Lampstands

these are seven individual lampstands with oil lamps sitting on top of each of them

Jesus is standing in the midst of the lampstands

Jesus’ Appearance

Clothed in a Long Robe

this represents great authority

Golden Sash on His Chest

hints to Jesus being THE high priest

the high priest in those days would have golden thread woven into their sash - Jesus’ sash is fully gold

Hair is Bright White

white hair was symbolic of great wisdom and age

white represents purity

Eyes like Flames of Fire

fire symbolized judgement

that look you get from your parents when you know you’ve done something wrong.

Feet of Burnished Bronze, Refined by Fire

burnished - shiny, gleaming

Bronze/Brass was the strongest metal of that day

symbolizes stability and permanence

the feet being this shows us a solid foundation

Voice like Roaring Water

Jesus’ voice has power and majesty

Niagara Falls Video

Sharp Two-Edged Sword

Jesus’ words are powerful

The Word of God is our weapon against the enemy

The Enemy’s Words

the enemy will use words to get inside our head and make us think things that just aren’t true

the enemy’s words cause:

doubt

frustration

distrust

Face as Bright as the Sun

the glory & majesty of Jesus is so great, it’s hard to gaze at him

John’s Reaction

Revelation 1:17–18 ESV

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.

Revelation 1:

John sees all this and falls at Jesus’ feet - and he doesn’t bow down all calm, he falls like he’s dead

John sees all this and falls at Jesus’ feet - and he doesn’t bow down all calm, he falls like he’s dead

Student to give an example of falling like dead

Jesus’ Response

Jesus places his right hand on John’s shoulder and tells him to fear not!

Even in all of Jesus’ greatness and majestic power, He is always going to extend compassion and love for His disciples!

— Part 2 —

Revelation 1:19–20 ESV

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.

Revelation 1:1

Seven Stars = the angels of the seven churches

Seven Lampstands = the seven churches

The Seven Churches

The seven church names were names of literally churches in John’s day - they were all located in Asia Minor

Map of Seven Churches

Theories about the Churches:

These are just letters sent to the seven churches, similar to the letters that Paul sent to churches

These represent time periods leading up to the rapture

These are seven types of churches that exists in the world throughout time

Church in Ephesus

Revelation 2:1–7 ESV

1 “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. 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. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 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. 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.’

Revelation

Church in Ephasus

Known For:

works

patient endurance

toil

testing of false teachers

resistance to evil

Warning:

forgotten your first love

repent & return to your first love

Reward:

eat from the tree of life (eternal life)

Church in Smyrna

Revelation 2:8–12 ESV

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. 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. 11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ 12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.

Church in Smyrna

Known For:

tribulation

poverty

Warning:

about to go through more tribulation, you will make it

Reward:

crown of life

Church in Pergamum

Revelation 2:12–17 ESV

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

Revelation

Church in Pergamum

Known For:

holding fast to Jesus’ name

did not forsake Jesus

Warning:

stop holding to false teachings and teachers

repent

Reward:

receive hidden manna

receive a new stone with their name written on it

Church in Thyratira

Revelation 2:18–29 ESV

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

Church in Thyratira

Know For:

works

love

faith

service

patient endurance

works are getting better and better

Warning:

tolerating and allowing the spirit of Jezebel

A Jezebel spirit seeks to draw God’s people into false religion—any kind!

• A Jezebel spirit seeks to draw God’s people into false religion—any kind!

It operates through control, false teaching, manipulation and intimidation.

It often identifies itself as a defender of the faith and promotes false prophets.

It opposes the Holy Spirit and all of His manifestations.

It hates the true prophetic word and persecutes God’s prophets.

repent

Reward:

given authority over the nations

Church in Sardis

Revelation 3:1–6 ESV

1 “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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Church in Sardis

Known For:

works

being “alive”

Warning:

works are incomplete in God’s eyes

you are not “alive”, but “dead” - you have the appearance of being alive

Reward:

clothed in white

name never blotted out of the book of life

Jesus will confess your name before God and angels

Church in Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7–13 ESV

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. 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. 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. 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. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 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. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Church in Philadelphia

Known For:

works

kept God’s word

patient endurance

Warning:

the hour of trouble is coming, but you will be kept from it

Reward:

you will be a pillar in the temple of my God

name of God will be written on you

Jesus’ new name will be written on you

Church in Laodicea

Revelation 3:14–22 ESV

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

Church in Laodicea

Known For:

works

“nothing”

Warning:

you are lukewarm, not hot or cold, just status quo

God will spit you out of his mouth

literally, throw you up, vomit!

Reward:

sit with Jesus on His throne

// Closing

Message Title: Light the Lamp

Jesus is standing in the middle of The Church, tending to each one

His love for us causes him to send these messages to us of encouragement and rebuke

All Seven of these churches are represented in this room - if I were to ask you to point out who was who, you could probably point them out.

Instead of pointing toward others, think about these seven churches and where you fit into the equation.

you might fall into more than one church

Smyrna & Philadelphia were actually told to keep doing what they were doing - they are on the right path

some tonight, I echo that, keep doing what you’re doing - you’re on the right path - keep seeking God, press through the trials!

Repentance

Each church was given a warning but also a chance to change their ways.

Each time, Jesus said there would be a reward attached to those that repented or pressed through!

Salvation

Repentance