Sermon Tone Analysis

*Place: Biddulph AOG.

Date: Pm Thursday, 2nd Feb. 2006.*

*Text: Revelation 1:20.

Theme: The 7 Churches of Revelation.*

*Introduction:                          Reading: Revelation 2:1-3:22.*

*          “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”

*

 

          In the book of Revelation, we step into a strange and unfamiliar world.

There are angels and demons, lambs and lions, horses and dragons.

Seals are broken, trumpets are blown, and bowls are poured out.

The result is that some consider its pages hard to study, I wonder why?

          BUT, this should not be, for the book of Revelation a part of the divine Word of God.

The book claims a special blessing for both readers and hearers, “*Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” chapter 1:3.

*No other book in the bible proclaims that blessing for those that study its chapters.

*1ST POINT: THE REVELATION.*

* *

*A.

WHOSE IS IT?*

*          “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants … And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John” chapter 1:1.*

*          *The New Testament word for “revelation” is to “uncover” or “to take away the veil” or “to bring from hiding.”*

*This book does not try to cover up or hide the message of God but rather to reveal it, to uncover it.

I do not understand all that there is in the growing of flowers, yet I enjoy the beauty of gardens.

I may not understand all that there is in the book of Revelation, yet I need to read it.

*B.

WHAT IS IT?*

*          *The message of this book is a revelation of “*things which must shortly take place” chapter 1:1.*

*          *It had a message for the day it was written, and it has a message for today.

It is therefore important to us.

Much is being written today about the church or by the church.

BUT, what does Christ Jesus say about the churches?

For He is the Founder, the Head, the Chief Cornerstone.

Note that Christ Jesus was in the midst of the candlestick, which means He had walked in the midst of theses churches, so He knew all about them.

He has walked in the midst of us also.

*2ND POINT: THE CHURCHES.*

* *

*A.

THE CHURCHES AT THAT TIME.*

* *

*          *The churches in the first Christians century were greatly oppressed.

The persecution that began under Caesar Nero had grown steadily worse until the whole Christian movement was threatened with death.

Could the church survive?

Yet they grew strong, because if you would face death because of your faith, you would become more faithful to Christ or walk away from God.

          Nothing before had been able to defy the might of the Roman Empire.

But, this was not the only peril.

The churches were also hampered by the threat of doctrinal error and worldly living.

*B.

THE CHURCH TODAY.*

* *

*          *The churches today face many of the same perils.

In scattered places of the world there is open hostility to Christian missions and persecution of believers.

Maybe we need a bit more persecution ourselves, to make us stronger in the Lord.

*3RD POINT: THE CHRIST.*

* *

*          *John saw Christ among the churches.

1.

In Ephesus, He saw a church that had left its first love, a backslidden church.

2.     In Smyrna, He saw a church, in the midst of tribulation.

3.     In Paramus, He saw a church that was faithful to His name.

4.     In Thyatira, He saw a worldly church.

5.     In Sardis, He saw a dead church.

6.

In Philadelphia, He saw a church that had a great opportunity for missions.

7.     In Laodicia, He saw a church that was lukewarm.

*CONCLUSION:*

* *

*          *I wonder that the risen Christ sees as He walks in this church?

I am sure He knows all about us.

*2ND CHURCH: SMYRNA, REVELATION 2:10.*

*THE MESSAGE TO A PERSECUTED CHURCH.*

*“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.

Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days.

Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”*

* *

*Revelation 2:8-11 *

*8.

And to the angel of the church in Smyrna (smir-na) write,*

*“These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: *

*9.

I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

*

*10.

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.

Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days.

Be faithful until 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.

He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”

*

* *

*“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer.”

*Smyrna was one of the few planned cities of the ancient world, and was one of the loveliest in all of Asia.

Smyrna became wealthy as a commercial centre.

It had one of the safest and best harbours and could be well protected from enemy attack.

But what is the message of Christ to this church?

*1ST POINT: COMMENDATION, REVELATION 2:8-9.*

* *

*          *Of all the seven churches mentioned in the first three chapters of Revelation, only two of them are not condemned; Smyrna and Philadelphia.

These are the churches of persecution and opportunity.

It was not easy to be a Christian in Smyrna.

There was a large Jewish settlement in the city that was especially powerful in business, social and its political life.

These Jews were very aggressive to Christians.

The Jews done all that they could to stop the preaching of Jesus Christ as the Messiah, and to stop the progress of the Gospel.

*2ND POINT: PERSECUTION, REVELATION 2:9-10.*

*    *

FOUR things were involved in the persecution suffered by the church at Smyrna.

*1.

AFFLICTION, verse 9 “I know your works, tribulation.”*

The word literally means “to be pressured.”

The world and the devil are always trying to afflict the Christian.

“To become one of the crowd,” or “to go along with the gang” or “not to be different.”

This kind of pressure is one of the devil’s most subtle temptations.

Yet the Bible says, *“Be not conformed to this world” Romans 12. *Do not let the world press you into its mould.

There was great pressure put on the Christians at Smyrna to conform.

This is still true with us today in the church.

*2.

SLANDER, verse 9 “I know the blasphemy.”*

* *

*“Of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.”

*When the Christian will not conform, the next step in persecution is slander.

So the Christians were falsely accused of being disloyal to the state.

In *Acts 6:14* the disciples were slandered because they changed the custom *“which Moses delivered.”*

Do not give the world anything to talk about, in your life, by your walk or in your talk.